In almost any industry, one of the best ways to improve your own craft is to immerse yourself in its most notable work. If you’re a writer, for example, you’ve most likely read Ernest Hemingway or Truman Capote, and if you’re an artist you’re probably familiar with anyone from Edouard Manet to William De Kooning. But with the ever-evolving medium of photography, along with its wide-range of material, a proper direction can sometimes be difficult to determine. So, we’ve summed up a list of the “Top 40 Best Selling Photography Books on Amazon” to help you discover new sources of inspiration. Whether you’re into adorable pet portraits or compelling street photography, there’s surely something for nearly any type of photographer or enthusiast.
“Top 40 Best Selling Photography Books on Amazon”
40) Richard Kerns: Action by Dian Hanson, published by TASCHEN Books
This book is Kerns’ most revealing to date, as it follows young women in their most intimate moments throughout his New York City apartment. Sexist to some and sexy to others, this edition comes with a “panic cover” to slip over the book to avoid public censure.
39) The Seventh Dog by Danny Lyon, published by Phaidon Press
“The Seventh Dog” brings readers on a journey through the career of Danny Lyon, one of the most influential documentary photographers you need to know. The story, which begins in present day and goes back in time through the 1950s, has been named one of the season’s best photo books by Time Lightbox.
38) Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 by Richard Avedon, Carol Squiers, Vince Aletti, Philippe Garner, and Willis Hartshorn, published by Harry N. Abrams
Richard Avedon is known as the most successful fashion photographer of the 20th century. From his early photos for Harper Bazaar to his contributions for The New Yorker, this book is a must-have for any fashion enthusiast, tracing back seven decades of Avedon’s timeless work.
37) Vivian Maier: A Photographer Found by John Maloof, published by powerHouse Books
Vivian Maier, along with being a professional nanny, was an impeccable street photographer who took over 100,000 photos throughout the 1950s to the 1990s. This book will be released in October, 2014, but has made the list due to an extremely high volume of pre-orders.
36) Seashells by Josie Iselin and Sandy Carlson, published by Harry N. Abrams
“Seashells” celebrates the beauty of nature with elegant “portraits” of seashells. Equally an art book and an informative read, the captions and introduction explain why certain shells looks the way they do, while the photos capture the beauty of nature.
35) Helmut Newton: SUMO by Helmut Newton and June Newton, published by TASCHEN Books
The original publication of “SUMO” broke the record for the most expensive book published in the 20th century, and it’s now available for only $99.61! A tribute to influential and controversial photographer Helmut Newtown, this book features his fashion work, nudes and celebrity portraits, some of which are currently shown at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
34) What is a Photograph? by Carol Squiers, Geoffrey Batchen, George Baker, and Hito Steyerl, published by Indie Digital Publishing
The medium of photography has been constantly changing since it first began, and especially since the 1970s. With forever evolving technology, such as cell phone cameras, the very definition of a photograph is always up for debate. In “What is a Photograph?” Squiers traces the specific aspects of experimentation while encouraging future developments of photography.
33) Mitch Dobrowner: Storms by Mitch Dobrowner and Gretel Ehrlich, published by Aperture
Born in Bethpage, NY in 1956, Dobrowner has been chasing storms since 2009 throughout the West and Midwest. “Every storm is different; each has a unique character,” says Dobrowner. “My job is to capture a ‘portrait’ of each storm I encounter.” His work has been published among the Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, and Time LightBox.
*Read our interview with Mitch Dobrowner in our Fall 2013 issue, available here.
32) Uelsmann Untitled: A Retrospective by Jerry N. Uelsmann and Carol McCusker, published by the University Press of Florida
Working pre-computer solely on photo-montage and known as one of the forefathers of the manipulated image, this book traces Uelsmann’s idea of transforming photography from a form of documentation into a revision of what is already real. “Uelsmann United” is the largest collection of Uelsmann’s images in a single volume.
31) Untold: The Stories Behind Photographs by Steve McCurry, published by Phaidon Press
What’s better than a biography told through photographs? As the second Steve McCurry book on our list, “Untold” delves into McCurry’s personal archive that reveals the journals, portraits and maps behind 14 of his most fascinating projects.
*Read our review of the book in our Spring 2014 issue, available here.
30) Ansel Adams 2014 Wall Calendar by Ansel Adams, published by Ansel Adams
“The Wall Calendar” is an annual best seller with more than 100,000 copies sold each year. This 2014 edition features 13 reproductions of Adams’ most renowned work that reflects of the changing of the seasons with nature studies, mountain vistas and landscapes of the American West.
29) Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent by Carine Roitfeld, Oliver Zahm, Alex Wierden and Cathy Horyn, published by Rizzoli
Fashion visionary and muse Carine Roitfeld is credited for launching Tom Ford’s career at Gucci and transforming French Vogue into one of the industry’s most renowned publications. Essential for those interested in forefront fashion and femininity, this book features an inside look into Roitfeld’s creative thought process.
28) Things Come Apart: A Teardown Manual for Modern Living by Todd McLellan, published by Thames & Hudson
This book offers a reinterpretation of the mechanical world with photos of the inner-workings of modern technologies. From Ipads to expresso machines, these 181 photos spark curiosity for dissection and perception of everyday objects.
27) Carleton Watkins: The Stanford Albums by Cantor Arts Center, published by Cantor Arts Center in association with Philip Wilson Publishers
The Gold Rush brought thousands of people west to strike it rich, but upstate New York native Carleton Watkins acquired a talent for photography instead. Between 1860s and 1870s, Watkins prospected the American West with a camera, capturing iconic images of waterfalls and peaks throughout the Yosemite Valley. These images were so captivating they caused Abraham Lincoln to introduce the Yosemite Act of 1864 which was the first step in the creation of the U.S. National Park System.
26) India: In Word and Image, Revised, Expanded and Updated by Eric Meola and Bharati Mukherjee, published by Welcome Books
Meola has routinely returned to India for more than a decade, photographing the unique and sprightly culture of this highly diverse country. This new edition takes readers on a visionary journey through the Taj Mahal, spectacular ruins, and more, accompanied by literary works from contemporary and classical Indian writers.
25) Maddie on Things: A Super Serious Project About Dogs and Physics by Theron Humphrey, published by Chronicle Books LLC
In the midst of a photojournalism project, Humphrey took photos of his coonhound Mattie during his spare time, capturing her doing what she has always done best: standing on things. While balancing gracefully on anything from bicycles to watermelons, this book expresses the offbeat talent of this imaginative dog with a collection of Instagram photos.
24) Walker Evans: American Photographs: Seventy-Fifth Edition by Lincoln Kirstein, Walker Evans, and Sarah Meister, published by The Museum of Modern Art
The original edition of this book was published by The Museum of Modern Art in 1939 and has since influenced modern photography, film, literature and other visual arts. Although this new edition was created with new reproductions, it also captures the look and feel of the original photos that have become the iconic images of essential America. The Walker Evans exhibition closed at the MOMA in March, but luckily, the images are available in this book!
23) Time and Tide: Photographs from Praia Piquina by Christian Chaize and Jen Bekman, published by Chronicle Books
The winter’s over and spring is here, so why not warm up for the summer with images of Mediterranean travel? In this book, Chaize chronicles an intimate beach in the south of Portugal over the course of eight years, resulting in photos that are appealing to anyone who loves the beach and photography alike.
22) Ansel Adams: 400 Photographs by Ansel Adams and Andrea G. Stillman, published by Ansel Adams
Adams is known as one of the most honored American photographers of the 20th century. This book, which is 440 pages long and includes 400 photos, presents a collection of his work starting with when he first obtained a camera at 14 years old.
21) Richard Renaldi: Touching Strangers by Richard Renaldi and Teju Cole, published by Aperture
Working on the street with a large format eight-by-ten-inch view camera, Renaldi locates strangers throughout cities across the U.S., then pairs them up in provocative poses. Although these relationships only last for a moment, subjects are pushed beyond their comfort level, and the resulting images bring question about the thought of positive human connections within diverse societies.
20) Steve McCurry: The Iconic Photographs by Steve McCurry, published by Phaidon Press
In this worldwide collection of photos, McCurry brings together a beautiful array of images that feature farmers, city streets, dramatic mountain landscapes and more. These photos are shown as either full-page or double-page spreads and are presented in an uninterrupted sequence.
*Read our review of the book in our Fall 2012 issue, available here.
19) The Art of Boudoir Photography: How to Create Stunning Photographs of Women by Christa Meola, published by New Riders
This book goes beyond photography and offers detailed information on how to make women look and feel beautiful by enriching their sex appeal. From the pro model to the soccer mom, Meola intimately familiarizes herself with her subject creating an impassioned collection of work. She also covers every step in creating a successful Boudoir shoot, including “Do and Don’t” tips along with editing techniques in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
18) Paris in Color by Nichole Robertson, published by Chronicle Books
Perfect for those who love art, design and color, Nichole Robertson brings readers on a journey of serendipitous discovery throughout the most romantic city in the world—Paris!
17) Atget, Paris by Hans-Christian Adam, Eugene Atget, and Andreas Krase, published by TASCHEN Books
Although Charles Marville is considered “the photographer of Paris,” he wasn’t only one who went to work. This book features photos of Old Paris by Eugene Atget, who systematically documented the city down to the very smallest detail with his bulky large format camera.
16) Annie Leibovitz at Work by Annie Leibovitz, published by Random House
Author of The New York Times best selling book “A Photographer’s Life,” Leibovitz brings her work full circle with the technical descriptions and stories behind her most famous images. With about 90 images discussed in detail, her featured work spans from her coverage of the Nixon resignation in 1974 up until her controversial photos of Queen Elizabeth in 2007.
15) Vivian Maier: Self-Portriats by John Maloof, Vivian Maier, Elizabeth Avedon, published by powerHouse Books
As the second Vivian Maier book on our list, this exclusive look inside the life of the newly discovered street photographer unveils the most intimate photos of the artist to date. With as many as 60 black-and-white and four color self-portraits, readers get closer to the reclusive artist than ever before.
14) The American Nurse by Carolyn Jones, published by Welcome Books
Beginning in New York City, this award-winning project captures stories from American nurses and celebrates their role in the country’s healthcare system. From documenting universal health care tactics to exploring the nurses who evacuated patients during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, this book presents an enriching portrait of one the key soldiers in America’s health care system: the American nurse.
13) The French Cat by Rachael Hale McKenna, published by Stewart, Tabori and Chang
Known as one of the most successful modern animal photographers, McKenna explores the country of France and its felines throughout both rural and urban landscapes. The photos, which are juxtaposed with quotes by French cat lovers and McKenna’s heartwarming narratives, will bring out the “awwws” from start to finish.
12) The Americans by Robert Frank and Jack Kerouac, published by Steidl
Bankrolled by a Guggenheim Foundation stipend, Robert Frank traveled across the U.S. in the 1950s and photographed a portrait series of its countrymen. There’s racial tension, glamour, love and despair, all of which is countered by Americans’ love for sports cars and Frank’s vision of America’s future.
11) National Geographic Simply Beautiful Photographs by Annie Griffiths, published by Focal Point
In this book, award-winning photographer Annie Griffiths displays a captivating visual journey through photos found in National Geographic’s famed Image Collection. With light text and photos that speak for themselves, Griffiths reflects the theme of beauty through chapters organized around the aesthetic concepts of light, composition, moment, motion, palette and wonder.
10) Underwater Dogs by Seth Casteel, published by Little, Brown and Company
They run, they leap and hit the water with a splash—but what happens beneath the surface? Underwater Dogs presents a playful and exhilarating collection of over 80 underwater dog portraits, which is a reminder that even the most lovable pups carry a primal instinct at heart.
9) Dancers Among Us: A Celebration of Job in the Everyday by Jordan Matter, published by Workman Publishing Company
This project began when Jordan Matter asked a renowned Paul Taylor dancer to perform in a place where dance is unexpected. The resulting image shows her dressed in up in a business suit and leaping across a New York subway platform. There is no photoshopping, tricks or gimmicks, but only a photographer’s vision of being fully alive in the moment.
*Read our interview with Jordan Matter on our blog here.
8) Where Children Sleep by James Mollison, published by Chris Boot
By displaying large-format photos of children’s bedrooms around the world, “Where Children Sleep” delivers a serious essay for an adult audience, while remaining engaging and educational for children. The photos are accompanied by extended captions that tell the stories of each child, from the U.S. to Mexico, all the way to Nepal and India.
7) Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris by Sarah Kennel, Anne De Mondenard, Peter Barbierie, Francoise Reynaud, and Joke De Wolf, published by University Of Chicago Press
Beginning with Marville’s city scenes and architectural studies throughout France and Germany in the 1850s, this book surveys the artist’s entire career and includes his famous photos of Old Paris before its demolition. The “Photographer of Paris” exhibition closed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, so check it out on paper instead!
6) Vivian Maier: Out of the Shadows by Richard Cahan and Michael Williams, published by CityFiles Press
Yet another Vivian Maier collection, “Out of the Shadows” contextualizes Maier’s work and creates a gripping portrait of her career as an artist. Displaying her work as a street photographer, this book features more than 300 duotone photos printed on 105# paper with flood varnish.
5) Gregory Heisler: 50 Portraits: Stories and Techniques from a Photographer’s Photographer by Gregory Heisler and Michael R. Bloomberg, published by Amphoto Books
Accompanied by humorous stories, Heisler shares 50 portraits of celebrities, athletes and world leaders. From his marvelous portraits of Michael Phelps and Denzel Washington to his notably controversial portrait of President George H.W. Bush, Heisler presents a gorgeous collection of color and black-and-white photos, while revealing his creative and technical processes.
4) Henri Cartier-Bresson: Here and Now by Clement Cheroux, published by Thames & Hudson
This book explores Cartier-Bresson’s career as a photographer, activist, journalist and artist. Best known for his powerful observations on the worldwide effects of poverty and revolution, this book was published to accompany France’s first major retrospective since the photographer’s death in 2004. It includes over 500 illustrations and photos in color and black-and-white.
3) Find it in Everything by Drew Barrymore, published by Little, Brown Company
Check out actress Drew Barrymore’s personal collection of images as she shares photos of heart shaped patterns and objects that she’s accumulated over the past ten years. “I have always loved hearts,” writes Barrymore, “The way that continuous line accomplishes the most extraordinary thing—it conveys love.”
2) The Oldest Living Things In The World by Rachel Sussman, Carl Zimmer, and Hanz Ulrich Obrist, published by University Of Chicago Press
Throughout the past decade artist Rachel Sussman has traveled the world photographing organism 2,000 years old and older. With photos on every continent—from desert shrubs in Africa to 5,5000 year old moss in Antarctica—her book displays a collection of ancient organisms alongside the compelling tales of her global adventures.
1) Vivian Maier: Street Photographer by Vivian Maier, John Maloof, and Geoff Dyer, published by powerHouse Books
Although Maier took over 100,000 photos, she never showed them to anyone until they were brought to light in this book by historian John Maloof. As the fourth Vivian Maier book on our list, along with being the number one best seller, this collection features humorous, enthralling and outright raw images of city life throughout America’s post-war golden age.
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