Looking at Photobooks (More Than Once), by Shane Lavalette

I’m hesitant to call myself a book collector. I’m not obsessive, or excessively concerned with the things that many collectors are. Maybe I’m more of a librarian? I’ve always liked the idea of a personal library – growing, changing, ageing with time.

Still, without intending to, I’ve begun to accumulate more books than I can possibly spend time with. They’ve moved around with me, from apartment to apartment, bookshelf to bookshelf, but over the years some of the books have been a bit neglected. It’s true. Sometimes I only look at a book once, and then it just sits there. I think about those shelves and feel a little heartache because of those books that I’ve only flipped through briefly. Yes, there are bigger things to be concerned with, I know, but the thought of a lonely book can be rather sad.

Before getting too sombre, I decided to consider some of the recently published books that I’ve found myself excited about and have returned to more than once; the ones which have held my attention, that have been read, re-read, and in turn reminded me of what makes being a “librarian” so great.

Artist: Justin James Reed
Title: 2013
Publisher: Horses Think Press
Year: 2012

Artist: Alec Soth
Title: Looking for Love, 1996
Publisher: Kominek
Year: 2012
BUY

Artist: Rafal Milach
Title: In the Car with R
Publisher: TCB Press
Year: 2011
BUY

Artist: Asger Carlsen
Title: Hester
Publisher: Morel
Year: 2012
BUY

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photos courtesy Photo Eye

Artist: Raymond Meeks & Mark Steinmetz
Title: Orchard Volume 3: Idyll
Publisher: Silas Finch
Year: 2011

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photos courtesy Photo Eye

Artist: Hannah Whitaker
Title: Imaginary Landscape No. 1
Publisher: Blonde Art Books
Year: 2012
BUY

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photos courtesy Shane Lavalette

Artist: Gregory Halpern
Title: A
Publisher: J&L Books
Year: 2011
BUY

Artist: Sharon Harper
Title: From Above and Below
Publisher: Radius Books
Year: 2012
BUY

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photos courtesy Photo Eye

Artist: Melissa Catanese
Title: Dive Dark Dream Slow
Publisher: The Iceplant
Year: 2012
BUY

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photos courtesy Ahorn Magazine

Artist: J Carrier
Title: Elementary Calculus
Publisher: MACK
Year: 2012
BUY