A Tiny Little Book Store

I opened up a tiny little book store today.

You can find it at Mostly True Books.

It consists of books and films that I own, which have actually influenced me in a (hopefully) positive manner.

You can get your own copies from my store via Amazon.

The most surprising thing about this exercise is how hard to get, or expensive some of these books are today (then again some are really cheap).

I know I've missed a lot of titles, specially some by dear friends. I'm getting to them, don't worry. In the mean time, I'm ready for suggestions (which I guess I'll have to buy if I don't already own), and I'm also ready to explain or defend some of my choices.

For the record, I don't own a copy of "One Eyed Jacks" so it is technically not eligible for the list.

Comments

[Michal Daniel]

The Craft of Photography, David Vestal
http://www.amazon.com/Craft-Photography-David-Vestal/dp/0060144971

[Kenneth Jarecke]

OK that's done. A buck for the book and $3.99 for shipping.

[You_gob_of_snot]

Easily the best thing I've ever seen regarding camera subject relationship, light, and lighting.

Visions of Light
http://www.amazon.com/Visions-Light-Cinematography-Néstor-Almendros/dp/630583685X

Try before you buy at Youtube (nine parts)
Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry5eHHcskic

I pull it out about once every six months just to watch it over and over. Also, great interviews by some the featured DPs.

Try finding the Johnny Burnett's Balad of the One Eyed Jacks. Pretty fun old tune to go with a classic Brando flick.

[Kenneth Jarecke]

Yes, big oversight, but I got THE AMERICANS by Robert Frank up there now.

Remember, this isn't really about technical books and it has to be books that I own.

Thanks for the emails.

[Tom Leininger]

Nice selection. I am glad I got the Winogrand 1964 before it got expensive. Do you own Figments of the Real World, if you don't you should.

[Kenneth Jarecke]

Okay, now I've ordered FIGMENTS OF THE REAL WORLD, so add $28.94 (with shipping). This could get out of hand, like a drug dealer using his own product.

[Paul Gero]

Exiles, Koudelka

[Kenneth Jarecke]

Yesterday when I started this, I was unable to find EXILES anywhere on Amazon. I don't own the book, I didn't have any money or a real home at the time when I should have bought it, but I certainly spent a long time studying it(your copy). So I considered it eligible for the list.

I found two copies this morning starting at $322, so it is now in the store.

I also found TRUTH NEEDS NO ALLY, which is one of the books every photojournalist should read, not because they don't know it, but because it is nice to have someone else reconfirm it for you in print.

[Matt Miller]

one of my favorite recent books is jonas bendiksen's satellites. just some wonderful images in a very affordable book.

i've been keeping an eye out for deeds of war for years. not that i could pay a few hundred for it, but i have not even seen one.

thanks for starting this... there are so many good shooters out there i am not familiar with.

[John Boal]

It's not a photo book (didn't see any requirement as such) but George Catlin's North American Indians (with Intro by Peter Matthieson) is an amazing collection of letters and paintings done by a man who immersed himself amongst the Indians of the North American Plains in the 1830s. Really an amazing read.

[Paul Gero]

Ken, check out Far Cry by Paulo Nozolino, a really amazing though obscure Portuguese photographer...

His work is haunting...mysterical, moody and fits well with this group...

I didn't see "Just Another War" on the list, btw.

pg

[Kenneth Jarecke]

I know, JUST ANOTHER WAR, the book I did with Exene Cervenka a lifetime ago (or so it seems).

1) It did really change me as a photographer and a person, well the experience of making it certainly did, but I'm not a unbiased judge on the whole situation, still it felt a little cheap to list it.

2) I really don't want to see it selling used on Amazon for three dollars, so I kind of prefer to just not look. I know in the past that hardcovers were going pretty high, but the softcovers tend to go for a little less than a cup of coffee.

For the record, I really think it is a great book that holds up even to this day, and now I'll look...

OK, used can be had for anywhere between $6.24 to $500, now I can't tell if the $500 is hard or soft (but it has to be a hardcover}.

In all fairness, the hardcover is pretty hard to find. I've only got a handful myself.

I'll put it in the bookstore and recommend the new softcover for $14.88.

[D. Weber]

Great recommendation on Far Cry!

I'll throw a couple that I like in there, and recent purchases. One called State of Emergency by South Korean photographer Suntag Noh, about North and South Korea, published by Hatje Cantz, German book publisher and Paradise l'Ost by German photographer Uli Bohnen, photos from Eastern Europe over the last 20 years.

And Ken, no Winterreise by Delahaye? I consider that a masterpiece of the last 20 years of photography.

Also have been looking at Miguel Rio Branco. His colour is amazing, a swirl of blood, Jesus, boxing and feathers. Great! I prefer Silent Book. One last forgotten and under-appreciated book is Eli Reed's Beirut: CIty of Regrets, I saw it once at a library and have been steadily searching ever since.