Reading Recommendations: Photography Books
Hello everyone! For this month’s reading recommendations I decided to compile a list of some Photography books that I’ve enjoyed over the years. These books range from human interest stories to travel and have excellent photos that I think you’ll enjoy!
Synopsis: Controversy and Hope commemorates the civil rights legacy of James Karales (1930-2002), a professional photojournalist who documented the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March for Voting Rights with a dedication and vision that led the New York Times to deem his work “a pictorial anthem of the civil rights movement.”
Controversy and Hope is a wonderful collection of photos that capture the essence of the Civil Rights Movement. Each picture says a thousand words and has its own story. The photos are raw showing all the emotions wrapped up into each moment. It was interesting to see the photos and read some of the backgrounds how the photos came to be.
Synopsis: Stepping away from the lights and into the shadows, one adventurous photographer embarks on an underground voyeuristic journey, documenting a curious collection of images that provide a rare and intimate glimpse into a secret, mysterious and sometimes bizarre world.
Haikyo simply means “ruins in Japanese”. But haikyo also describes the Japanese version of the hobby known as Urban Exploration. I’m fascinated by urban exploration and this is one of my favorite haikyo books set in Japan. Seeing the quiet beauty of some these locations is breathtaking while some place have a more haunting look. Each photo says a thousand words.
Synopsis: In 2014, author and photographer Kyle Cassidy published a photo essay on Slate.com called “This is What A Librarian Looks Like,” a montage of portraits and a tribute to librarians. Since then, Cassidy has made it his mission to remind us of how essential librarians and libraries are to our communities.
This book reminds me of the library version of Humans of New York. Photo journal books absolutely fascinate me and that’s why I initially picked it up. It profiles a variety of librarians from all over and it was interesting to read why they chose that profession and what libraries mean to a community. An added bonus is that includes essays from notable writers such as Neil Gaiman about why they love libraries. A must read if you like these styles of books!
Synopsis: Once the mark of an underground subculture, tattoos have well and truly stepped out of the shadows and into the streets. Join photographer Nicolas Brulez as he searches Paris, Berlin and beyond for the most innovative and stylish tattoos in the world.
This is a different photography book than from what I normally would have picked up, but I liked how diverse the photographs are and learning the background stories of all the different tattoos shown. This book gives off some Humans of New York vibes, but with more of a tattoo twist!
Synopsis: From the refined homes of Tokyo to the nightclubs of Kyoto; from gangster chic to Harajuku street style; from ateliers and catwalks to city sidewalks and religious festivals–this book shows how the kimono has continued to be one of Japan’s most exciting wardrobe elements. Across Japan, women and men are rediscovering the kimono. Comfortable, versatile, and easily adapted to reflect one’s personal style, the kimono is the perfect canvas from which to create a head-turning ensemble for any occasion.
I’ve always have been interested in Japanese culture and I love how this photography takes a deeper look at the intricacies of kimonos and the artistry that goes into making them. They’ve got everything from modern to traditional kimonos and I loved the variety of colors of the design.
Synopsis: Humans of New York is the book inspired by the Internet sensation. With four hundred color photos, including exclusive portraits and all-new stories, Humans of New York is a stunning collection of images that showcases the outsized personalities of New York.Surprising and moving, Humans of New York is a celebration of individuality and a tribute to the spirit of the city.
Humans of New York is one of my favorite blogs on the web and I love how its shares people’s stories from all walks of life. This book only holds so many of the blogs entries, but it’s a good introduction to the HONY or for people who like to read human interest stories. This an inspiring book with heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking tales.
Synopsis: Many of us have vivid recollections of childhood visits to a public library: the unmistakable musty scent, the excitement of checking out a stack of newly discovered books. Today, the more than 17,000 libraries in America also function as de facto community centers offering free access to the internet, job-hunting assistance, or a warm place to take shelter. And yet, across the country, cities large and small are closing public libraries or curtailing their hours of operation. Over the last eighteen years, photographer Robert Dawson has crisscrossed the country documenting hundreds of these endangered institutions.
For bibliophiles, this is this is a photography book that I always recommend! This book takes a look at documenting libraries all over the US and sharing their stories. It was so cool to see all the types of libraries (big and small) and I was in awe of all the beautiful architecture. This is a must read!
That concludes my reading recommendations for photography/art books! What books do you recommend or what are your favorites? Comment below!
