Books for Andrea

[Andrea]

So, my dear partner Eve wants to tell Father Christmas what photo book to bring me on Dec 25th. Some of you may know my [lack of] style and hence the interests [portraits;B&W etc] I may have.
Any ideas. I am in the UK so some books may not be available this side of the pond.

[connealy]

For B&W, Immediate Family by Sally Mann.  There is a selection of pictures from the book on line.

For Color, anything by Sylvia Plachy.

[KirkT]

I'm sure you are probably already aware of his work, but Elliott Erwitt is always a favorite of mine.

And like what was discussed in a previous thread, Jane Brown's Faces is a really nice book.

You'll go broke going through Taschen's photography stuff.

[Peter Evans]

Two sizable photo books that have recently been heavily discounted but definitely don't have the depressing "remainder" aroma hanging over them: Louis Stettner: Wisdom Cries Out in the Streets and Soviets: Pictures from the End of the USSR. Only partially portraits, and the former even has some (gasp) color. Of course the latter is grim in places, but Oh The Humanity. No, really, it's great; and since it's a historical document as well as a collection of wonderful photographs it's particularly sad that it has been remaindered.

A bigger one is the recent monster collection of Edouard Boubat, published under different titles in the Youess and the Youkay.

Sorry, but I read the so-called "International Herald Tribune" on my way to work today, and the excesses in this paper for rich American francophobes stuck in my craw. So I'm feeling particularly francophile this morning. Yes, Willy Ronis (and I'm sorry to give you an Amazon link but FNAC seems not to be working right now).

[connealy]

Two sizable photo books that have recently been heavily discounted but definitely don't have the depressing "remainder" aroma hanging over them: Louis Stettner: Wisdom Cries Out in the Streets and Soviets: Pictures from the End of the USSR...

There is an an article and example photos by Louis Stettner in the current issue of Black and White Magazine.  That is the US publication, not the Brit one with the same name.  The magazine would be worth considering for a subscription.  It is pretty cheap for the quality of the content and the reproductions; it is the only photo mag I buy on a regular basis.

[connealy]

20th Century Photography, published by Taschen.  I picked this up for eight bucks used and reviewed it in the previous incarnation of the book reviews.  It is one of those very fat compendiums of nearly everything; I think Phaidon has one out too.  The Taschen one is nice because it has good critical and biographical notes.  This kind of book is very useful as a way to get a look at many photographers and to find ones you might want to follow up with later.  In going through the book today again, a couple of photographers that strike me as compatible with your style and interests are Robert Doisneau and Fritz Henle.  The images by both project a real connection between photographer and subjects.

[KirkT]

I have that one as well.  It was the worst thing I ever picked up!  Now I've been exposed to so many great photographers that I completely feel depressed.

The Link

[jake]

Having seen your photographs of hedges, narrow roads, bridges, and the seaside, you might like some of the earlier photography. William Henry Fox Talbot or Julia Margaret Cameron might be two in particular to check. And you might like some of the landscapes of Michael Kenna or some of the panoramas of Pentti Sammallahti. Both are master technicians and great artists, something that can be had separately. And I always recommend the Czech women photographers, because I think they are some of the best - Dana Kyndrova, Dagmar Hochova, & Emila Medkova. Finally - Sylvia Plachy, who is great - she carries in her bag (typically) a Leica, a Widelux panorama, and a Holga. How could she not be great?

[Andrea]

Just to let you know, Father Christmas must read this site as i got a Willy Ronis book on Dec 25th - and very good it is too.
Thanks again for all your input.