Rangefinder Magazine
August 2005

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Beyond Light: American Landscapes, by Robert Werling, Foreword by Cole Weston
Hardcover, $75, 120 pages, ISBN 1858942969, Merrell Publishers, www.merrellpublishers.com

This is a lovely volume of landscape by California photographer Robert Werling. Werling’s work is in collections in the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the International Center of Photography. In this book, his black-and-white photography takes us to the heart of nature’s majestic canvas in locations ranging from California to Alaska, Arizona to Nevada and beyond. Cole Weston, son of famed photographer Edward Weston, provides the foreword.

The Front Lines of Social Change: Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade,
by Richard Bermack, Foreword by Peter N. Carroll
Softcover, $19.95, 122 pages, ISBN 1597140007, Heyday Books, www.heydaybooks.com

As much as the current generation of Americans likes to believe it invented everything under the sun, the truth is that activism against war is not a recent phenomenon. In fact, there was resistance by Americans to the Spanish Civil War (1936–39), a conflict that Ernest Hemingway captured in his great novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls. The photo-essay Front Lines captures the stories and images of the surviving members of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, a group made up of close to 3000 young, idealistic Americans in Spain who joined 35,000 people from around the world in the fight against Franco’s fascists supported by Hitler and Mussolini. For their cause they were labeled communists and black-listed back in the U.S. Nevertheless, most have participated in virtually every progressive social movement for civil liberties and equal rights in America. This fascinating untold story was captured by documentary photographer Richard Bermack, who juxtaposes portraits of the veterans in their winter years with photographs taken in their youth as members of the Brigade, a heartbreaking yet energizing comparison.

Purple Hearts: Back From Iraq, by Nina Berman
Hardcover, $24.95, 96 pages, ISBN 1904563341, Trolley Books, www.trolleybooks.com

The physical and emotional scars of war are not often covered in local or major newspapers, but they exist. The photography and writing in Purple Hearts bring home the pain and/or pride of these severely wounded American veterans of the Iraq War, each one a recipient of the military’s Purple Heart award. The composition is not sensationalistic, and it encourages you to look, see and feel. The images are accompanied by first-person interviews with the soldiers, who discuss their lives, reasons for enlisting, and experiences in Iraq.

iWITNESS, by Tom Stoddart
Hardcover, $69.95, 356 pages, ISBN 1904563295, Trolley Books, www.trolleybooks.com

This beautifully designed and produced photography book covers an ugly truth: Mankind is in deep pain. Tom Stoddart’s photos bear witness to events that bring both despair and sometimes hope. We see the plague of famine and AIDS in Africa, the sudden death and struggle for daily survival during the civil war in the Balkans, and the destruction of the conflict in Iraq. There is no doubt that this book can bring you to tears, and it is not something you want to look at unless you are prepared to admire Stoddart’s abilities, while entering a very pensive mood. But pensiveness is really a virtue, and this is a volume that serious collectors of photography should have.

Mr. Mkhize’s Portrait & Other Stories From the New South Africa, by Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin. Softcover, $18.95, 196 pages, ISBN 1904563317, Trolley Books, www.trolleybooks.com

The new South Africa in this publication is not one for the cruise ships. Instead, it’s the South Africa where people live and establish their lives, families, businesses and homes within the new paradigm. As the authors recount, “We met Mr. Mkhize in a migrant worker’s hostel in a township outside Johannesburg, South Africa. He told us that he had been photographed twice before in his life. The first time was for his Passbook, a document that allowed the apartheid government to control his movements. The second was for his ID book, which allowed him to vote in the country’s first democratic elections. Ten years later we met him and took his picture.” Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin returned to their homeland of South Africa and documented life there 10 years after the end of apartheid. They captured fabric-of-life events and people such as Matapa Maila, a contestant in Miss Teen South Africa who has no memory of apartheid; Mandllenkosi Noqhayi, a circumcision initiate who is studying to become an accountant; and Mishack Masilela, a contestant at the Miss Gay Soweto competition, who wants to be able to marry the man he loves.

Icons of Photography: The 20th Century, by Peter Stepan
Softcover, $19.95, 200 pages, ISBN 3791333364, Prestel Publishing, www.prestel.com

This is a must-have guide to some of the world’s greatest photographers of the 20th Century. A pleasure to hold and to read and a perfect addition to the library of any fan of photography, the book includes two-page illustrated spreads of each artist, along with an interesting essay on their work. The styles range from portraiture, photojournalism, and abstraction, to landscape, fashion, and other genres of photography. Most viewers would agree with the publisher’s statement that “the selection of masterworks presented here demonstrates the beauty of photography in all its variety.” Icons of

Professional Model Portfolios: A Step-by-Step Guide for Photographers, by Billy Pegram
Softcover, $29.95, 128 pages, ISBN 1584281375, Amherst Media, www.amherstmedia.com

Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head-to-Toe Guide, by Jeff Smith
Softcover, $29.95, 128 pages, ISBN 1584281340, Amherst Media, www.amherstmedia.com

These two photographer’s guides are extremely useful in addressing areas that might otherwise require a lot of experimentation and loss of time. The first book, Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head-to-Toe Guide, is literally about posing subjects from head to toe, whether for casual, glamour, or journalistic work. From avoiding turkey necks on models to adjusting legs and feet, this guide gives you a lot of valuable options. The second book, Professional Model Portfolios, A Step-by-Step Guide for Photographers, shares practical knowledge about the modeling industry, portfolio basics, and agency requirements. Photographers learn how to work with models for the best possible results, create and refine a standout portfolio, and sell that product to agents in the United States, England, and Asia.

Ambiguous Ambassador, by Tseng Kwong Chi
Hardcover, $65, 120 pages, ISBN 1590051173, Nazraeli Press, www.nazraeli.com

Almost two decades ago, Joseph Tseng donned a second-hand Mao suit for a family outing that required formal wear. The reactions the uniform provoked from people around him were surprising and inspiring—transforming him from overseas visitor to formal representative of a different culture. This insight was the catalyst for the series of self-portraits in which Tseng Kwong Chi (he reverted to his birth name) posed in front of landmarks and nature sites like the Statue of Liberty, London Bridge, Notre Dame, Disneyland, the Canadian Rockies and the Grand Canyon, all the time in his Mao uniform. Tseng Kwong Chi died at age 39 in 1990, but his work is still greatly appreciated and collected, as illustrated by this Nazraeli publication that includes 95 four-color plates.

Beluga, by Jean Van Cleemput
Hardcover, $39.95, 174 pages, ISBN 3936709114, Goliath Books, www.goliathbooks.com
A unique book of nudes and fish, with high-quality binding as well as photographic reproductions. Nudes and raw seafood may sound a bit risqué, especially when set in an Antwerp Chinese restaurant, but after looking at about 10 pages you start to get past the impact of the unusual subject matter and begin to see the savory artistry of this project by Belgian fashion photographer Jean Van Cleemput.

Sound of Summer Running, by Raymond Meeks
Hardcover, $50.00, 68 pages, ISBN 1590051122, Nazraeli Press, www.nazraeli.com

Raymond Meeks’ black-and-white photography book of smaller-than-scale images somehow performs the great feat of capturing the essence of the miracle of carefree summer days. The photos are of modern times but produced in a manner that evokes the tone of 19th century prints. Whether the subject is a jar of tadpoles and frogs, a girl and her dog, or birds flying over a marsh, the impression of color and exploration never subsides. The book was published in an edition of 1000 copies, printed in duotone on matte art paper and bound in Japanese cloth.

21st Volume VI, Flesh & Spirit, Edited by John Wood. Several contributing photographers
Softcover, $75, ISBN 1892733137 21st: Publishers of Fine Art Photography Books, www.21stphotography.com

The latest from the fine art publishers who bring us 21st: The Journal of Contemporary Photography. The new edition comes in three versions, Trade Edition ($75), Deluxe Edition ($3000) and Museum Edition ($9000), with each edition being more rare and luxurious. Flesh and Spirit is an international survey in which the finest contemporary Belgian, Chinese, English, French, Greek, Mexican, Spanish and American photographers are paired with the writings of an admirable selection of novelists, playwrights, poets and historians. Included are images by Jayne Hinds Bidaut, Flor Garduno, Brigitte Carnochan, Robert Stivers, Don Hong Oai, Toni Catany, Wouter Deruytter, S.J. Staniski, Carol Munder, Ariane Lopez-Huici, Dimitris Yeros, Greg Gorman, Jerry Spagnoli, Toni Catany, Christpher Bucklow and Philip Trager.

The New Boutique: Fashion and Design, by Neil Bingham
Hardcover, $49.95, 192 pages, ISBN 1858942578, Merrell Publishers, www.merrellpublishers.com

With 250 color illustrations of the most exciting new retail shops around the globe, The New Boutique is essentially a photography book. The topic is the visual and architectural presentations that represent the collaboration between some of the world’s most critically acclaimed architects and designers and leading fashion houses. The tour takes us to the major fashion capitals, where we see Philippe Starck’s work for Jean Paul Gaultier in Paris, Frank Gehry’s project for Issey Miyake in New York, Sybarite’s Marni boutique in London, Claudio Silvestrin’s flagship store for Giorgio Armani in Milan, and Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron’s Prada Epicenter in Tokyo.

AnimaleriE, by Jayne Hinds Bidaut, Introduction by John Wood
Hardcover, $60, 194 pages, ISBN 0292705913, University of Texas Press, www.utexas.edu/utpress

Pet stores serve a purpose, and though there are people on both sides of the issue of whether or not they are humane and necessary, the one thing that can’t be argued is that for some animals it’s a very lonely life. Animaleries are French pet stores, and American photographer Jayne Hinds Bidaut creates images that somehow speak in a way that the subjects cannot. Says Jayne, “I watched the horrors and dramas of [the animals], of their lives within a container.” But don’t think this is a sad tale of animal misery. Bidaut is somehow able to make each image a captivating treasure, worthy of an exhibition in and of itself. Accompanying the images is an essay by John Wood of 21st: The Journal of Contemporary Photography, who provides a critical appreciation of Bidaut’s work. The book is part of the Wittliff Gallery Series, an archive and creative center established at Texas State University—San Marcos.

The Joy of Digital Photography, by Jeff Wignall
Hardcover, $24.95, 304 pages, ISBN 1579905781, A Lark Photography Book, Sterling Publishing, sterlingpub.com

The title says it all, but not quite. The publication does cover topics like DPI, JPEG, pixels, TIFF, and computers for use by professional and amateur photographers. What the title doesn’t say is how well done this book is, and how hard it is not to ignore the information inside and just look at the fantastic full-color glossy pictures. If ever a how-to guide was a source of inspiration for better work and for something new for your coffee table, this is it.

Incredible Eyes, various photographers
Hardcover, $39.95, 96 pages, ISBN 0967489857, TCB-Cafe Publishing, www.cafeandre.com

Finally, for those of you who have read my articles on publishing photography books, you will be interested to know that our team at TCB-Cafe Publishing has released our first book of photography in five years. Incredible Eyes highlights over 30 international photographers’ interpretation of the eye under themes such as fashion and beauty, nature and ecology, multiculturalism and ethnic diversity, and eroticism. Though we are very pleased with the results, we’ll leave it to you to decide if by following our own advice we have succeeded in delivering a quality publication. Rangefinder’s Bill Hurter was a contributing editor to the project.

A.K. Crump has over 25 years of experience in photography, and is founder and publisher of TCB-Cafe Publishing. His first book, the photo-essay entitled Green Eyes, the Greenest Fields, came as a result of time spent in Brazil and France, and includes a cover photograph which also appeared on the front of American Photo magazine. Green Eyes has been featured in publications such as Petersen’s PHOTOgraphic and Rangefinder magazines, as well as a planned Canadian documentary. Other books from TCB-Cafe Publishing are The Cafés of San Francisco, which includes over 300 full-color photographs, and the upcoming photo-essays, Brazilian Royalty and Sand.