What’s On Your Photo Bookshelf?

A brief look at the most recent photo books sitting on my bookshelf. What’s on your bookshelf?

Architecture of Authority
Richard Ross

I’m fascinated by architectural photography. I don’t want to do it, but I have a real appreciation for people that can because it’s much harder than it seems to capture the essence of a room or a buildling (let’s not even start with perspective correction). Ross’s book is even more interesting given the role of “authority” in society whether it’s Guantanamo or a Montessori pre-school.

H2O
Howard Schatz

The renown ophthalmologist-turned renown commercial photographer compiles the best of his underwater images. I first saw Howard’s work when he spoke at the Eddie Adams Workshop. It was one of those experiences where your conception of photography is blown out of the, er, water.

Howard now serves on the Board of Directors, and still speaks every year. And unlike a lot of photographers who live on their past work, Howard only shows work from the past calendar year at the Workshop. Two years ago he revealed that his team figured out how to “throw” water into a consistent shape and have it act like a mirror. I’d tell you the secret, except then I’d have to admit that I don’t actually know it.

On the Beach
Richard Mizrach

Rachel and I have independent man-love for Richard Misrach, and especially for his new work in On the Beach. It’s partially because the images are shot in my hometown of Hawai’i, but I actually fell in love with his Salton Sea work when I saw it hanging at Houston’s on Park Avenue. Speaking of which, the owner of Houston’s is allegedly a huge contemporary photography collector, and you can see all kinds of great stuff while you’re chowing down on their artichoke dip.

This book is impossible to find. It started its touring exhibition at the Contemporary Museum in Honolulu, and by the time it reached stop #2 in Chicago, the book was sold out. But given the fact that it measures 20″x16″, it’s sort of like 80 pages of art prints.

Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot
Ashley Gilbertson and Dexter Filkins

First off, Ashley is a guy from Australia. Second, we deal with a weird phenomenon in our information world. Namely, we’re surrounded by excellent war photography from people like Ashley, and thus we lose an appreciation for how difficult and how dangerous it is to create these pictures. I’ve played paintball and my body was shaking like polaroid picture from fear, so I can’t imaginne what it’s like to be in a real war zone and have to compose photos with skill and precision.

The Big Penis Book
Dian Hanson, Editor

The girls behind me at the office were giggling, and I turned around and saw The Big Penis Book on their screen. Ah yes, the joys of working in the photo business. But really, it’s sort of like a car crash, you can’t help but look at the obscenity (don’t shake your head like that, i know you agree) — and it’s exactly what one would expect of Taschen. And let’s just say, you’d feel pretty stupid if you made some snide remark to the cover model about “Is that a banana in your pocket,” only to find out that it wasn’t.

I’m going to spare you the teaser shots. Go get the book if you’re really curious.