Collecting Photography Books

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Do you have/collect fine art photography books? What are the reasons that you do and how do they help you photography? What are some of your favorite photo books that you might like to share with the group?

[@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631]

Photographers are not masters. Photography is just a box that u press a button. Most photographers are just known for one picture.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

@@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631 I think there are some that produce consistently excellent work. Not that I love every photo they’ve taken, but as a whole I am inspired by the work of many

[@BELsJapan]

Lots of books, interesting your video👍new friend here and always support🤝😘

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks so much!

[@edwolpov3282]

Thanks, Howard, you've brought up a topic close to my heart: collecting photography books. I've got over 500 books in my collection, some of them signed, first editions, rare and out of print books... and even some signed Ansel Adams technical books (he told me that he hated to sign his technical books, but he did it because I put on my "disappointed" face and he obviously took pity). Over the years (and I've had more than just a few), I've collected these books because the photographer was an inspiration to me and I needed to spend time studying their work. Back in the days when there were many independent ma & pa bookshops, it was easy to find rare or out of print books that were being sold very inexpensively. Either the shop owners didn't know their true value, or they were just trying to quickly deplete their stock. I was fortunate to pick many of these books up for under $10, and I now see that they're worth thousands. Lucky me... but I would find them hard to part with, even at those inflated prices, as they still are an inspiration for me. There are so many that I like that it's hard to pick just a couple of favorites, but since you asked... Larry Clark 1992, Tulsa, and Teenage Lust. Not quite my style of photography, but he certainly pushes the envelope, as well as Sally Mann's, Immediate Family. Of course, there are all of the classics including Adams, Weston, Strand, Bullock, Cartier-Bresson, etc. But it's the ones that push things a little bit farther, like Michael Kenna, Marie Cosindas, Josef Sudek, and Ralph Eugene Meatyard that I find particularly interesting (and 180 degrees out of phase with my photographic style). Why don't I collect photography books anymore?... I'm out of room! And besides, you can't find that rare bargains anymore because all of those little bookshops have vanished into the either.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks for sharing that Ed. Funny about Ansel and the 'disappointed' face! I have just one book signed by him that I picked up very reasonably a bunch of years ago on eBay (lol, I've got a few of those year things as well). And the inspiration is why I have collected the books as well. We do have one great 'ma and pa' bookstore left here where there are a good number of old photography books at cheap prices. I love going there and looking through the books and often pick one or two up in like the $10-20 price range, not because they hold any real value at this point but because, as you say, I like what's in them. I know the names and work of some of the photographers you mention, but certainly not all of them. And I love discovering new photographers whose work inspires me, so now I am going to be having to look up the names of those you mentioned that I'm not familiar with! So thanks for that as well.

[@danwoodliefphotography871]

Nice books and presentation. Photo books that have enhanced or changed my photography include Todd Hido's "House Hunting," Frank's "The Americans," Michael Kenna's works, and Sally Mann (I shoot a lot of Civil War battlefields, and she inspired me to occasionally interject more out of focus and out of the ordinary elements into them). I also love street photography and dogs, and my Erwitt books are one inspiration there. I was lucky to get a signed copy of one of his books at a great price from Magnum a few years ago. I love Genesis by Salgado as well. I was just thinking a few days ago that he seems to be the most unreachable, as far as being able to do anything that approaches his quality.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

We have similar tastes Dan! I have a good number of book by the photographers you mentioned. Very inspiring!

[@kellyshaw9677]

TERRIFIC job Howard. I enjoy your you tube videos. Doesn't surprise me that you can get the point across in 3 minute clips. Great points to allow each person to use their own opinion and inspirations. I am sure you made Nancy proud! 👍🏼

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks so much Kelly. I really appreciate that. I remember Nancy every time I’m in Oregon because that was my first workshop with her. And of course your mom was there. Looking forward to photographing with her when I get back! Thanks for commenting :)

[@kenbello2174]

I have a small collection of fine art photography books, too. I've also branched out to paintings and drawings for added inspiration. Also, I find music to be a constant inspiration for photography. It helps with your mental state. I don't listen to music while I'm shooting but I can "hear" it in my head.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Yes, I think that any kind of art can be an inspiration to our photography! And I know exactly what you mean about hearing the music in your head because I do too. I wonder if we should be worried :). Thanks Ken!

[@chengkengwoe7783]

Thanks for sharing this..👍👍💪💪😀😀

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks....glad you enjoyed it!

[@ericflynn4524]

Photography books were a new concept to me when I started school back in August, I'm looking forward to beginning to accumulate my own personal collection (but I'm thankful to my university for extended my checkout on the 20 lbs. of photo books until we're allowed back on campus hopefully next semester). Thank you for showcasing some of your collection!

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks Eric! I really do love my photo books, they can be very inspirational. I have amassed them over many years. They grow on you and before you know it you're looking for space to keep them. It's very addictive. You've been warned :)

[@paulkennedycreativemedia]

I really need to get my hands on some of these books. Fantastic inspiration.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks so much Paul. Glad you enjoyed it! It does make you want to take more photos when you see great work by other photographers.

[@meanderingpassage]

I use to have a small collection of fine art photography books but after deciding to spend several years on the road as full-time RV'ers I sold them. It wasn't an easy decision but we were getting rid of so much else that the pain of selling them was lost in the rush. Now that we're no longer RV'ing I've resisted purchasing new hardbound books. I did enjoy this video, Howard. But for me, it was a bit like touring a chocolate factory while on a diet. :-) Keep them coming!

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

I’ve often wondered what it would be like to just go travel for like a year in an RV, photographing along the way, visiting locations that you thought would be fun and interesting. I guess you know. I’m sure it was challenging as well. Touring a chocolate factory while on a diet’. I love that line 😊

[@PaulFaracePhotography]

Wow you have a lot of photography books haha! That is one place I lack, I should search out more books! I'm usually just pretty frugal lol. The inspiration is great though and you can't replace holding a physical beautiful book. Great vid Howard, loved all the points you made.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

I do have more than a few of them....my wife thinks too many :) but I have amassed them over many years. You bring up a good point about the holding of a beautiful physical book. Sort of like the sense of holding a print instead of just viewing it on a screen.

[@AndrewWaltonPhotography]

Great video Howard and some inspirational photographers and inspirational photographs there.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks Andrew. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@photoguy1957]

Well done Howard. Thanks for spending more of my money... :). As you know Marci, Nancy's daughter has indeed created a Kickstarter to get her Mom's wonderful book reprinted. They have met and surpassed the goal! Still time to get the book at a reduced cost before the campaign is over.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks John. The book is wonderful and the link to the Kickstarter is in the description. I have a hard cover copy but still couldn't resist going in for the new version as I understand it has many new pages that didn't make it into the original hard copy version! I was the second person in....I think you were the first :) And thanks so much for letting me use your photo of Nancy, you really managed to capture her in a wonderful way.

[@thevalleywalker]

I have a small collection of photography books, most are landscape photography books. Love Kenna's work but still to add any of his books to my collection. The photographers I admire and have books by are mostly UK photographers.. Joe Cornish & Charlie Waite are probably the best known although I will collect lesser known photographers if I enjoy their work. I have only got one States photographer in my collection, that is Joseph Holmes "Natural Light" but I am waiting for Ben Horne's book to arrive, there has been a delay on the publishing due to the Covid 19 situation. I have just subbed and will catch up on your other videos later. Atb Alan

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks Alan! I enjoy Cornish and Waite as well, though I don't think I have any of their books. I was familiar with Joseph Holmes's name but not really his work and will have to look up Ben Horne, as I'm not familiar with him.It's always interesting me to see other photographer's work and how they interpret their surroundings. It's likewise interesting that when I go someplace to shoot with several friends we never come back with images that are alike even though we were pretty much in the same place. I appreciate your subscribing as I have just recently started the channel. Looking forward to more of your videos as well.

[@FabrizioZago]

Great books, Forms of Japan was on my wishlist already. I have his other book, Holga, great one. I got lucky with one photobook from Alexey Titarenko, "The city is a novel", payed a standard price when it came out for a book of that size, now worth much much more. Thanks for sharing these authors!

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks Fabrizio. I have Holga as well. I hadn't heard of Titarenko before and Googled him. Very interesting work and I particularly like his depiction of motion. That book does look like it is worth quite a bit now but aside I bet the images are quite inspiring! Thanks so much for sharing that as now I am going to have to look into his work further.

[@FabrizioZago]

@@howardgrillphotography2280 Yes the images are very good and inspiring. I didn't know this photographer, I've discovered him on "The art of photography" channel and I've decided to buy the book. I was quite surprised to see how much the price increased, now I wouldn't buy it.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

@@FabrizioZago LOL yes, you could buy a very good piece of photo equipment for that price!

[@FabrizioZago]

@@howardgrillphotography2280 I was actually thinking about it, but at the moment I'll just wait. I don't want to regret selling it and anyway I would need to find the buyer who wants to spend that amount of money for a book.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

@@FabrizioZago yes, I was just commenting about the value. Ultimately the value is only as great as someone will pay and it might be difficult to find a buyer. Besides, it's great art and a wonderful thing to have and be inspired by. I'd keep it too!

[@LieslHuddleston]

Hi Howard! I finally made it over and have subscribed, this is a great video with many good points. I have no books on photography so far, everything I've learned was either through KZbin or self-discovery and I rarely spend time looking at photography by other photographers. In some ways, I have found this helpful to find my own voice and am slowly noticing a style developing. However, I recently began to realize that it is time to start studying more about the history of photography and research masters of photography, after all that is what I have done for years as an artist (drawing/painting) and studying art and masters of art has always been fascinating to me. So your video is timely for me and I'm glad you made it, thanks! It's interesting to hear about your influences and how much you like Nancy's book, and I can definitely relate to her philosophy regarding connecting to your subject. I looked at the Kickstarter for Nancy's book and it has ended, once it is published I'll look at getting a copy. Just this week I ordered my first vintage lens and an adapter to use it with my DSLR and I'm converting a small studio space in my home for some still life photography, that is going to be my next adventure over the next month as our summers are brutal here and I'm not enjoying being outside as much. It's nice to meet you and I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos :)

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks so much Liesl! The Kickstarter was being done by her daughter, which is sort of neat. It got fully funded very quickly, as Nancy had a lot of students that she had at her workshops. Vintage lenses are really neat and can give such unique effects, I hope you will make a video to show us what you get :) I am glad you enjoyed the video as I really enjoy looking at good photographs. Nice meeting you and look forward to seeing more of your videos as well!

[@LieslHuddleston]

Thanks :) I'll see if this lens is in the condition as described, you never know when you buy something from eBay. If it works, I'll definitely make a video about it. If not, it was a $100 mistake LOL

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Have you also done any work with the Lensbaby?

[@LieslHuddleston]

No, but they do look like interesting lenses. I may rent one sometime.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

@@LieslHuddleston I have a friend that does amazing flower work with them. Check out radisselaine on instagram if you'd like to see.

[@WalterStinnettPhotography]

I enjoyed the video, Howard! I really love seeing the works from early photographers. I don't have any of these books but I have purchased the books of my photography mentor, Glenn Randall.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Glad you enjoyed it Walter! Just Googled Glenn Randall....he's got some beautiful work.

[@WalterStinnettPhotography]

@@howardgrillphotography2280 Yes he does. I am actually going to be attending one of his workshops in Aug. in the San Juan Mts. of CO.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

@@WalterStinnettPhotography sounds fantastic. Hope you will show us some of the photos you take and tell us a bit about the workshop afterwards in a video!

[@WalterStinnettPhotography]

@@howardgrillphotography2280 Most definitely!

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

@@WalterStinnettPhotography Great....will look forward to it!

[@lozypix]

great video! what is your recommended website/store to purchase photography books?

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Great question! I think it depends if you know what you be want or are just browsing. For browsing check out the suggestions on the photoeye.com site. If I know what I want I’ll often just check the price on Amazon or buy direct from the photographer. Thanks.

[@davidlewis726]

A very inspiring video, thank you. I feel that for many people especially those enduring the current epidemic and concomitant financial difficulties when it is a choice between a photography book and photography equipment, it is almost inevitable that equipment will win out. Vivian Maier, is the photographer who has the greatest influence on my photography. P.S. I keep seeing an advert on KZbin where a man says, "To be a great photographer, there's one thing you need to understand, lighting." If by any chance you know him could you tell him please, that the one thing that you need to understand, is where the shutter release is?

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Thanks for commenting David! You're probably right about the pandemic finances and gear vs books.....I have amassed my books over many years. In some ways though inspiration and ideas from books might actually be more valuable than at least some gear might be. I like Maier quite a bit also...great street photographer. Amazing that she went undiscovered for so long. Makes you wonder how many others that are no longer with us remain hidden from the public eye despite having so much to contribute!

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

Almost forgot, I think the photographer in the ad is Joel Grimes. Shutter release is, indeed, quite important lol.

[@alcapitan01]

Nothing from Dorthea Lange? Though I'm mostly a nature/landscape photographer but probably 75% of my photography books are portrait photographers.

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

I do have a couple of books of Dorothea Lange and I enjoy her work. She would have been a good choice to include as well. Come to think of it, Edward Weston is one of my all time favorites and I didn’t put in any of his books either. I don’t know all that many portrait photographers. I do have books of Karsh’s work. If you have time drop a few names of portrait photographers we might enjoy.

[@paulkennedycreativemedia]

Wow. I really did not know that some of these books cost sooooooooooooo much. Wow. I do have some photography books but because of my other job I can get them for free. 🤪😉 But not anymore as I now work remotely 😭

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

It really is amazing how expensive some of them can be. But those are for first editions of classic books that I think people buy more for either investments or as part of a book collection, as opposed to seeking photographic inspiration. For the inspiration part we can luckily buy the reprinted editions for more human prices.

[@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631]

@@howardgrillphotography2280 those inflated costs of 1st edition photo books are from inexperienced sellers possibly

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

@@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631 I guess if they really want to sell them they bring the price down to where they can make the sale!

[@alessandrachavesphotograph3857]

Steichen: A Life in Photography

[@howardgrillphotography2280]

I think I have seen that in a local used bookstore that has a fair sized photo book collection. I'll have to check it out next time I am back there. Hopefully it's still in business post-Covid!