Important Photo Books I should see before I die?

I would definitely recommend starting with "American Photographs" and "The Americans." Both groundbreaking bodies of work that arguably redefined photography.

"Uncommon Places" by Stephen Shore, too.

"Sleeping by the Mississippi" and "Niagara" by Alec Soth are two of my favorite modern books. I swear, "Niagara" brings me to tears! I haven't seen "Broken Manual" (from here to there) in book form yet, but I hope I get to soon.

"Meetings" by Paul Shambroom.

"The New West" by Robert Adams.

"American Prospects" by Joel Sternfeld.

If you're into the whole RFF aesthetic, you'll probably like anything by Stieglitz, HCB, Robert Capa, Winogrand, or Bruce Gilden.

Also look for books by Jeff Wall, Gregory Crewdson, William Eggleston, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Nan Goldin, Justine Kurland, Sally Mann, Ryan McGinley, etc.

As far as modern photographers go, Christian Patterson is killing it. Oh, and Rineke Dijkstra. Hope that gets you started!
 
Thanks all. I've spent the evening updating my wish list on Amazon. So many great and interesting suggestions. So much to explore. Cheers.
 
I love the idea of 'need' -- especially 'The only _____ you'll ever need'. What a staggeringly limited view of the world! At best, I'd recommend a few books that I prize especially -- and I have hundreds of books on photography, conceivably even a couple of thousand.

Far more than following the crowd, I'd recommend seeing what comes up by chance. Or going to a REALLY GOOD photo book shop and looking around.

Cheers,

R.
 
i'm trying to find a "really good photo book shop" .... can be surprisingly difficult (or easy), depending on where you live.
 
There's a raft of great books to delve in -- on the other hand, money and space on shelves limited. You could do worse than to start with Cartier-Bresson's 'Decisive Moment' and Frank's 'The Americans'. Their work helped shape a photographic tradition still in currency, though they sort of veered in different directions. Walker Evans is also fundamental for that tradition ('American Photographs'), in a way Atget too. Eggleston ('Guide') and someone like Nan Goldin ('The Ballad of Sexual Dependency') will provide some pointers to navigate yourself in today's photographic world. There's really so much that can be recommended, and a great deal outside the aforementioned tradition, but I think if you start with the above you'll slowly find your way to what interests you more.

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Well, It may not be a book, but the internet can be an open one though, or at least an eye opener. Member PKR regularly updates this thread: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=95325 with lots of great links to photo sites, not gear sites.

And since he was complaining a few weeks ago that nobody but a few regular users take a look at the last updates, he'll be happy to see some fresh blood coming in. And he'll keep up the good work!!!

(Yes PKR, i've got it bookmarked ;))

Nescio.
 
"Minamata" by W. Eugene Smith.

"Contact" or "Not Fade Away" by Jim Marshall.

"New York" by Reinhart Wolf.

"Portraits" by Richard Avedon.
 
Harry S. said:
Contemporary works:
Alec Soth- "From here to there: Alec Soth's America"
Click to expand...

I just discovered that Alec Soth's studio is a mile or so from my house...

I have a smattering of photo books. One of my recent ones is Graham Nash's "Eye to Eye". One of the things that made me want to take up photography over 40 years ago was his self portrait on the cover of "Songs for Beginners".
 
Pablito said:
The only photography book you need:
The Decisive Moment
Henri Cartier Bresson
However, be prepared to pay up to $5,000 or more for a really nice copy with the Matisse cover.
Click to expand...

I'm not a big HCB fan at all but I did recently see the french 1952 edition with the Matisse cover for €420. From the description says it has some minor folds on a couple of pages but apparently none that touch an image. If anyone's interested, feel free to pm me and I'll send you the link to where I saw it.
 
keytarjunkie said:
"Sleeping by the Mississippi" and "Niagara" by Alec Soth are two of my favorite modern books. I swear, "Niagara" brings me to tears! I haven't seen "Broken Manual" (from here to there) in book form yet, but I hope I get to soon.
Click to expand...

I could not agree more regarding "Niagara". There's hardly another book that has had such a profound effect on me.
I'm really hoping the trade edition of "Broken Manual" comes out soon. Steidl hat December 2012 as a release date on their website but it seems it's been pushed to Januar 2013.
 
well thanks to this thread, I have these books added on my shopping cart on amazon
The Americans - Robert Frank
A Year in Photography: Magnim Archive
The Family of Man - Edward Steichen
Photo:Box - Robert Koch

have these on my 'Saved for Later' as fiance would kill me if I order too many books at once
Henri Cartier-Bresson: Photographer
Mario Testino: Private View

and I just bought these last week
New York: 365 Days
The New York Times Magazine Photographs
The Sartorialist
The Sartorialist: Closer
Street View: The New Nylon Book of Global Style
Street: The Nylon Book of Global Style
the last 4 are because I'm into street fashion
 
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