A great coffee table book not only makes a thoughtful and memorable gift, it acts as a kind of cultural ornament for visitors to flip through while you bring them drinks. here are 10 (technically 13) of my favorites.
There was a time when receiving a book as a gift was not appreciated. but the older I get, the more I enjoy a good book. what constitutes a good book is not just the text, however, oh no, if you add the words “coffee” and “table” to the front, you unlock new aesthetic criteria. Not only can the right photography book be a rich vein of inspiration and art, but the experience of even handling the item has a level of tactile satisfaction worth repeating.
You are reading: Photography coffee table books
After my tongue-in-cheek article last month on what photographers don’t want for Christmas, I started working on a more useful resource for gifts photographers might want. A staple member of that list since before I even articulated the idea was a good coffee table photography book. if you’ve never seen or held a good one, it’s worth it. Forget those flaccid glossy print textbooks and instead flip through a carefully bound photography book with high-quality printing and thoughtful image selection and presentation. here are some of my suggestions.
1. sebastião salgado: genesis
I went to see the exhibition of this in London and was jolted awake with awe. Salgado’s images are often a festival of monochrome with perfect contrast, composition, and clarity.
2. peter lindbergh: a different vision of fashion photography
This lofty tome ought to be a staple for any fashion photographer, but honestly, a landmark artist worth studying from the point of view of any creative discipline. Lindbergh is one of the godfathers of fashion portraiture, and the images in this book are powerful and iconic.
3. don mccullin: the new definitive edition
Mccullin’s documentary was one of the most heartbreaking revelations I’ve ever seen about war photojournalism. I realized after watching it several years ago that it was like you could see the effects of war and tragedy on McCullin immediately, even without meeting him. there’s a calm, easygoing, somber way to it, and while it’s heartbreaking, the resulting images throughout his long career are important and captivating.
4. miyoko ihara: misao, the big mama and fukumaru the cat goodbye hello
our writer anete lūsiņa put me on this, and as a cat lover (although I refuse to go into the false dichotomy of cats versus dogs; I’ll take both), I fell in love with this strange little creation. it’s pure bliss strong enough to make you briefly forget about Brexit or whatever you’re worried about.
5. robert frank: the americans
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One of the more famous entries to this list, but no less worthy. Robert Frank’s work perfectly captured an era in America that is enticing and fascinating whether you’re an American or like me, not.
6. vivian maier: street photographer
If you haven’t heard of Vivian Maier, I’m not going to spoil the story for you: go find her or watch the documentary “Finding Vivian Maier”. one of the most mysterious photographers of all time, intensely private and with an almost incomparable eye for street photography.
7. Gregory Heisler: 50 Portraits: A Photographer’s Photographer’s Stories & Techniques
a portrait photographer I have great respect for and whose images you’ll probably recognize whether you’ve heard of him or not. this is the closest entry to “instructional” on this list, and his stories are a worthy complement to a stellar body of work.
8. nicole england: resident dog: amazing homes and the dogs that live there
As far as I can tell, this book is not very well known and certainly one of the least famous on this list. I’m not even sure how I came across it, but it was in my bookmarks, and I’m glad it was. the concept is this: incredible architecture, but with a dog in the shot. the execution is excellent, and I also like that this balances my cat/dog karma for the item.
9. kristen lubben: magnum contact sheets
It’s hard to use the word “raw” in the context of art without sounding like an insufferable tool, but you may have to take the risk. The reason this book is so compelling is that it really boils down to the basics. there are 139 contact sheets, with 69 photographers, spanning 70 years, scrawled with notes and other scars of the editorial process.
10. graydon carter: vanity fair: portraiture: a century of iconic images
I’m a huge fan of vanity fair as a publication, and your portrayal over the years has certainly played a part in that. To me, no image has the lasting appeal that a portrait does, which means you’ll come back to this book again and again. It features everyone from Pablo Picasso to Chris Rock, with no two images alike. Also, the foreword is by a British colleague, former Vanity Fair editor and one of my personal heroes, Christopher Hitchens.
honorable mentions
My shortlist for this article was already over 10, and then I asked my fellow writers for suggestions, and it just got out of hand. however, I will add three honorable mentions that are a bit different from my picks:
1. mike oblinski: storm chaser
A terrifying look at storms in North America and a reminder that London’s public transport stops working with the first snowflake of the year is ridiculous. (suggested by alex cooke)
2. q.t. luong: treasured lands: a photographic odyssey through america’s national parks
a serene tour of the national parks of the united states with various images. this article about the book is worth reading. (suggested by ryan mense)
3. alex webb: the suffering of light
There is a “look” to early color photography that grabs and holds me, especially if the film’s inherent color tone is toned down. This book is a festival of bold colors, startling contrast, and disparate places. (suggested by jason vinson)
what coffee table photography book would you suggest?
Now, I want some suggestions from the community. What books did I miss that you recommend? what’s on your proverbial coffee table? share them in the comments section below.
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