It’s time for the photo finish. As 2014 draws to a close we thought we’d show off some of our favourite photography books of the year, as well as some forthcoming titles, scheduled for publication in 2015. These books showcase stunning, thought-provoking and important photographs that tell the story of the world around us, now, and at various points in history. So be inspired by these visionary photographers as a new year dawns.
Memory Unearthed: In 1944, Henryk Ross buried thousands of negatives in an attempt to retain a record of the atrocities caused by the implementation of Nazi policies. Memory Unearthed catalogues these recovered images, and is an important exposé of life in the Lodz Ghetto.
Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland: This dazzling catalogue on ‘America’s playground’ highlights more than 200 images from Coney Island’s history, including paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, posters, film stills, architectural artifacts and carousel animals. An extraordinary array of artists is represented, from George Bellows, William Merritt Chase, Reginald Marsh and Joseph Stella, to Diane Arbus, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Robert Frank, Red Grooms, Weegee and Swoon.
Dressing Up: Fashion Week NYC is Lee Freidlander’s homage to the people that make NYC fashion week work. He documents stylists, dressers, makeup artists and photographers, offering a new and refreshing ‘behind the scenes’ perspective on the glamour of high end fashion.
Aaron Siskind: Another Photographic Reality: By contextualising and comparing Siskind’s work, this volume explores the journey made from the early documentary realism of the 1930s to the experimental and difficult abstract work of the 1950s. Siskind’s trajectory has often been misunderstood; this book brings it into sharp focus.
The Palestinians is a timely record of a territory and culture in conflict. This book catalogues nearly 200 years of history with gripping and poignant photographs and is compiled and edited by Elias Sanbar, who is the Palestinian ambassador to UNESCO.
