I didn't buy enough photo books this year to author a 'best of' list, but here are five books that I really enjoyed this past year.
William Eggleston
Paris
While
Paris is unlikely to change anyone's opinion on the photography of William Eggleston, it's a solid book for anyone who may already be a fan. Along with the images, there are a few of Eggleston's drawings interspersed in the book.
Edward Hopper & Company
This book basically takes what might be my favorite painter's work and discusses his influence on some of my favorite photographers. It's a fantastic little book but sadly already out of print and demanding high prices.
Jungjin Lee
Wind
Released late in the year by Aperture, this book has served as my introduction to Lee's beautiful work.
Wind features atypical, intriguing landscape photographs produced on homemade paper hand coated with a homemade emulsion.
Sarah Greenough
Looking In: The Americans
This is by far the most obsessive photobook of the year. Greenough's look at
The Americans is several times larger than the book it analyzes. The highlight of the expanded edition is a look at Frank's contact sheets for the project.
Peter Kayafas
O Public Road!
Peter Kayafas' collection of American road-trip photographs has a title I wish I had thought of first. And the book comes with a song by Eef Barzelay of Clem Snide fame, bringing music and photography together in an effective way. A great concept.