My favorite photography books of 2023: perfect gifts for photographers
With hundreds of photography books published every year, it can be easy to miss a classic. I’ve rounded up my favorites of 2023, from inspirational monographs to practical technique guides. And so, in no particular order...
The School of Photography Beginner’s Guide
$24.99/£19.99
Octopus
Could this be the best photo technique book published in 2023? TSoP founder Marc Newton takes the reader through the basics of photography.
My verdict: An excellent photography primer that eschews slabs of text for an easy-to-follow visual approach.
Life, Death and Everything In Between
$95/£80
Gost
A new book celebrating the work of revered British photographer Don McCullin, Life, Death and Everything in Between showcases new and previously unseen work. Publisher Gost Books says that the new volume is neither a retrospective nor a definitive publication, but presents “a selection of images valued by McCullin with the benefits of both hindsight and wisdom, encapsulating his prolific, varied, and ongoing career.”
My verdict: From images of postwar London to recent works in the Middle East via his gritty war photos, this is a must for fans of McCullin’s photography.
Landscape Photographer of the Year Collection 16
$40/£35
Ilex
The 16th edition of the Landscape Photographer of the Year book proves that this is the competition to win if you’re serious about shooting scenics. The latest collection of winning entries is a visual treat for followers of landscape photography.
My verdict: Keep your LPOTY books set up to date with another superb set of landscape photos to explore.
Tokyo Unseen
$45/£19.95
teNeues
Another volume in this ‘unseen cities’ series from teNeues. Lukasz Palka takes the reader on a tour of one of the most intriguing and captivating places on earth. A riot of modernity and kinetic energy that’s home to 14 million people, Palka still manages to capture moments of calm and reflection away from all the bustle.
My verdict: Straddling the genres of street and urban photography, this is a fascinating document of Tokyo.
Lee Miller: Photographs
$45/£30
Thames & Hudson
Cover model turned fashion and war photographer, Lee Miller had an extraordinary life. Introduced to photography by her father, she turned to the medium after studying art. This collection of her work comprises 100 photos taken between 1930 and 1953.
My verdict: Showcases the breadth of Miller’s oeuvre – there’s something here for all photographers to savor.
Remembering Leopards
$60/£49.50
Remembering Wildlife
Remembering Leopards is the eighth book in the Remembering Wildlife series and celebrates the beauty and wonder of this elusive and endangered big cat. Eight sub-species of leopard appear over the 196 pages of this hardback book, including African, Indian, Sri Lankan, clouded and snow leopards. High production values show the photos at their best and profits from the book will support various leopard conservation efforts around the world.
My verdict: This is a visual treat for leopard lovers, and a must-buy book for wildlife enthusiasts looking to do their bit for conservation.
Joel Meyerowitz: A Question of Color
$27.95/£20
Thames & Hudson
We take color photography for granted these days, but it wasn’t always so. In this book, a photography legend makes the case for equal billing for colour.
My verdict: A compelling and well-argued case for color from a leading exponent of the form.
ViewPoint: Human Stories through the Smartphone Lens
$39.99/£30
Ilex
Jo Bradford has compiled a volume of human stories told through the medium of smartphone photography. Bradford interviews 54 people about their lives and photography, each of whom describes the images they supply.
My verdict: A wide-ranging survey of photos from around the world, and a real insight into the image makers.
David Hurn: Photographs 1955–2020
$85/£60
RRB Photo Books
Hurn is a bona fide great of documentary photography, and this new book features famous photos as well as lesser-known ones. 129 black-and-white pictures, taken around the world, appear with explanatory notes.
My verdict: An essential collection of Hurn’s ‘non-fiction’ photography from one of the masters of the craft.
Store Front NYC
$40/£28.60
Penguin Random House
Over two decades, the photographers James and Karla Murray captured frontages of ‘mom-and-pop’ shops in New York City. Many have now been lost to development, so Store Front NYC freezes slices of time in the evolution of a city. With this second volume on shopfronts, the Murrays have created something special.
My verdict: An exploration of local communities in NYC and the small businesses that serve them.
Other photography book guides:
