Understanding Photobooks: The Form and Content of the Photographic Book

by Jorg Colberg

Understanding Photobooks is a user-friendly guide to engaging with the photographic book― or, as it is widely known, the photobook. Despite its importance as a central medium in which many photographers showcase their work today, there is surprisingly little information on the mechanics of the what exactly it does and how it does it. Written for makers and artists, this book will help you develop a better understanding of the images, concept, sequence, design, and production of the photobook. With an awareness of the connections between these elements, you’ll be able to evaluate photobooks more clearly and easily, ultimately allowing for a deeper and more rewarding experience of the work.

Genres: Photography, Books About Books

210 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2016

Reviews

[Nolan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this as a gift and was upset when I looked up the cost. This book is not of good quality and is overpriced. Ironic. Pictures and text are difficult to see because of print quality and paper type (discussed at length in the book), and the content is repetitive and dogmatic ("no computers!"). However, it’s also the most conversational and approachable text by Jörg Colberg I've read and I finished the book in only a couple of hours (I read his essays on 'Conscientious' for years but struggled to finish most of them). I’m working on my first photo book and have also made several smaller books, all on the computer (at least in the beginning). Printing your own mock book is expensive and not accessible to many photographers I know. There is good information in this book, but nothing that can't be found elsewhere. I could only skim the guest essays because they are white ink on gray paper and even more difficult to read. Weird choice. Buy a photo book to consider this topic instead.

[Hazelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

well now i know lol