Treasures and Errors

[@jeric3857]

alec is like my art teacher now except there are no tasks and deadlines lol

[@oktoberivanov1265]

Hello, Alec Soth. It took me some time, but I finished watching your videos. I am from Central Asia (you know it's a bunch of countries with -stan in the end) so there is literally no contemporary art or photographic education here, also I can't afford to study in EU or USA. So for me all your videos were literally treasures, I learned a lot. I probably will never do such cool and groundbreaking stuff as people done in all books you showed, but still I am grateful for this opportunity to learn. All this knowledge made my life reachear and overall better. Thank you. Keep up good work.

[@AlecSothYouTube]

Thank you!

[@AaronHardinPhoto]

Mary Frey is otherworldly. I just can’t fathom how she has made so many incredible images.

[@ZisisKardianos]

Interestingly and surprisingly the exhibition catalog is available in its entirety as a downloadable low res pdf in the MOMA site. I stumbled upon it completely by accident when looking for something else. Thanks for the informative and enjoyable video Alec.

[@ZisisKardianos]

Forgot to say that I'm looking forward to every video of yours with great anticipation

[@jacquelinejournals]

Gotta say that I love the dated typography in the teen bedroom book. Really goes with the era of the photographs

[@CoanBread751]

Alec, I have been making photos for around a decade now but your channel is turning me into a photographer. I can't explain the value that your videos provide for those of us who didn't have the opportunity to study the history and art of photography in an academic setting. This world of photobooks is so obscure and hard to access that it is nearly impossible for someone new to rediscover, explore, and study many of these artists. Between the KZbin uploads and your Magnum course, I have a completely new understanding of what it means to pursue photography as an artist. I have learned to slow down, to plan and think about what I am trying to accomplish rather than taking photos of whatever catches my eye. The pursuit of the photographic project, book, study, and narrative has captivated me. I have sold much of my useless gear and am investing in photobooks. Your view of photography has set my artistic life in an entirely new direction. I can't thank you enough.

[@AlecSothYouTube]

Thanks so much Jeremy. Much appreciated.

[@johngskewes]

Alec, thank you so much for these rambling book talks - they are fantastic and I am grateful for your openness. Thanks you much, you have a place by my fire anytime.

[@AlecSothYouTube]

Thank you

[@dianakorniichenko]

Dear Alec, What a pleasure meeting you for the first time in Bildband Berlin yesterday. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement. Hope to see you in Berlin in July. All the best, Diana (like the princess)

[@matttttt63]

Melissa Anne Pinney was an instructor of mine at Columbia College. Her work is really lovely and she's still doing great work in Chicago.

[@billyosb]

so happy every time one of these videos is published

[@hoagyguitarmichael]

Another great video. Raises fascinating questions: Was Mann's Immediate Family work not included because of the controversy around it at the time? Why are those photographers being published now? (Not why published, but why now?) What is the fascination with large prints (more square inches for the buck? Indication of "seriousness?" I would also love to hear you to talk about what distinguishes so many of those photos from family snapshots. I can sense it when I see it but can't put it into words. Thanks for the education.

[@peterwear5033]

I’ve recently started getting back into photography, and I’m forever grateful to have these videos as a basis for understanding how photography and photo books work as a medium. thanks alec!

[@ttposthumus]

I know she aint no Merican photographer but Annelies Strba would fit perfectly in this list of domestic themed photography. Very magical work!

[@jeffeliassen]

Loved this video. I saw that Verberg show at Moma, bought the book there, and look at it frequently. One of the best shows I've ever been to, so immersive and inviting. Thanks for all you do

[@Raevenswood]

I've been catching up on past installments and I'm glad to see a brand new episode today. I find a lot of value in these so thank you for putting in the time to bring these to us.

[@AlecSothYouTube]

thank you

[@RR-bd4bm]

Thank you Alec, fantastic selection of books and images!

[@olemelkevik]

Thank you for sharing! Your lectures are always very inspiring. This makes me want to do something with my own family photos.

[@chopster01]

Another great one. Sohier and Frey are amazing. Trying to lay my hands on a copy of Sheron Rupp’s book. Thank you for these!

[@JK-ql2en]

I think these kind of videos add an important dimension to the books reviewed. I feel many of the books published just get thrown out there, not considering why one should buy them. Inspire new projects, teach something, document something make a point. While with some books the intention is very clear, often it is not well communicated and videos like this one close that gap. Please keep going …

[@patriciaprieto2917]

Another wonderful video! Thank you Alec! You are very generous. I use your videos in my teaching all the time :)

[@mylesstauffer2981]

i have now officially watched all of your videos and now i am sad there’s no more :( can’t wait for more

[@antoniacafati5602]

another great video!

[@winetime69]

Alec: Thanks for another insightful video. I spent most of the day trimming trees and your video was much, much, much better than trimming trees. Have a great weekend!

[@Dario-33]

Dear Alec, you mentioned Larry Sultan's Pictures from Home as (perhaps) one of your top five favorite photo books of all time. Will we have the honor of watching a video where you enlist your favorite photo books of all time? Best regards. Dario

[@AlecSothYouTube]

It's a good idea, but often the reasons are so personal, so I'm not sure I would do a good job articulating it.

[@MrDealmeidaesilva]

Thank you for your time

[@anoncommentz]

Thank you for these videos, so informative, inspiring, and relaxing.

[@CRJines]

Sally Mann... I was thinking just before you said it.

[@aboutphotography]

It's always great to hear your thoughts!

[@MichaelCroghan]

Time style culture, love the everyday, more magic in the banal than people realise. Wish people were more open to photographic work like that in todays society without having major agendas or just being. Amazing how all comes back to the teachings of John Szarkowski and Garry Winogrand, people don't have time for the time today, while everyone is searching for the new thing, the everyday is always here, photograph it with your own self slant it will speak poetic literature like Homer's lliad.

[@stephenfowler7583]

Thanks for your time and effort, really informative.

[@6wermz]

Love these videos. Havnt even watched it yet but I'm sure its gonna be good

[@HeidiRaatz]

This was a really fascinating look back, picking up on the now. Good question, the "why now"? What role might the global pandemic have played in this (re)focus on the domestic? I also find myself thinking about what the curatorial process must have been like, identifying the emergent theme of the domestic in the 80s ("the current state of the American Dream of domestic happiness") choosing which contemporary photographers (~70!!) to include. MoMA's website has some great content, including images of the exhibition installation where you can get a feel for some of the "conversations" happening between the different photos on the gallery walls that you maybe no longer have the opportunity to experience in the 2-page spreads of the catalogue. Thanks, as always, for another great video.

[@garonkiesel1646]

Thank you. Enlightening as always.

[@danwongphoto]

The only thing on the internet worth spending time with is this channel

[@arnoldmmanda]

Hi Alec, we love the videos. Would you please increase the audio output to at least double the current level. Thank you

[@AlecSothYouTube]

Noted. I don't understand why it is loud on my devices and not on some others, but I'll look into this.

[@phiswe]

25:51 On that same sentiment, can you maybe make a video sometime about Robert Adams’ _Beauty in Photography: Essays in Defense of Traditional Values_ and photo books relevant to it?

[@robwarren4425]

A fine video.

[@karlbailey2113]

Where did you get such a neat hat! Thanks again as always for such great thoughts and education.

[@peterpcarroll]

These videos are such an amazing public good

[@CristianGeelen]

Enjoyed it as always. :)

[@mariagutu2325]

Love it. Thank you ❤️

[@leoquesto9183]

Another knockout. Thank you!

[@jameskendall74]

Interesting that you flag up the design of Adrienne Salinger’s book as jarring. It’s by David Carson, probably the most influential and highly regarded designer of the 90s. I really like it, but I can understand it’s very much of its time. Love the video. It’s such a great catalogue. I would have loved to have seen the exhibition. Thanks for doing these.

[@tomleiningerphoto]

A good example of David Carson being restrained.

[@AlecSothYouTube]

Wow, didn't know that. Thank you.

[@rogerhyland8283]

I always end up spending money watching these videos.

[@photomitch]

This book/exhibition reminds me a lot of "The Family of Man" from the fifties. I think some could say that it's the 90's version of that exhibition. But I wish the "Pleasures and Terrors of Domestic Comfort" was more diverse. I think Galleries and museums are bending over backwards to make sure women are resented, that they over looking women of color. White people are not the only ones creating art.

[@ridovicsandras]

wow

[@garrytrinh3062]

How can an exhibition catalogue even be considered a photo book, let alone the most influential photo book of the 90s? Were photo books in the 90s that bad? Just an insult to all those photographers that published photo books in the 90s.

[@slimnics]

turn up the volume bro

[@ohstanley3058]

Great introduction of books, some I was unfamiliar with! Thank you for that Alec. I do wish you would also allow a person of color to be a presenter as well. You, as a white CIS male have privilege that should not only be used to highlight photographers but also let them speak as well. no offense but we see enough white faces in photography. Please reach out to the Black Trans and LGBTQIA+ community and find someone to take your place occasionally! Also would you be willing to pledge to feature at minimum 50% Black or LGBTQIA+ photographers each episode? I know we are few and far between but We will support you Alec! Allies unite! :) thank you

[@justininfrance]

What a strange comment, it is both racist and demeaning. You are suggesting people of colour need white people to promote them. It's his channel, he presents it. How about a photographer of color starting their own channnel?

[@withaminutetogo]

Ugh, go away

[@ohstanley3058]

@@justininfrance my apologies if my comment was demeaning. I didn't mean it that way. but this is true: #1. Black people cannot be racist against white people. Racism = Power. #2. we don't NEED white people to promote us, but for the history of photography (and just about everything else) there is White Privilege. It does exist. White photographers should help open the door and their channels for under represented voices from people of color. This goes especially for CIS white males who have dominated the space. #3. There have been many black and brown photographers who have been overlooked because of systemic racism in photography. How many black trans photographers are there in Magnum?

[@HHCronikO]

21:17 ✌🏻💦

[@willyan9251]

Do these glasses enlarge those eyes quite a bit? lol

[@Raevenswood]

Yawn 🥱