Steidl

How to publish a book



La Maison Steidl - Hermes book by Koto Bolofo

This brief interview between Scott Shuman and Koto Bolofo is a rather wonderful eye-opener into the world of photo book publishing. Or to be more precise, the rarefied world of Steidl book publishing. I seem to have quite a few Steidl books, including the eleven-volume example that Bolofo refers to here.

It’s his series on Hermès, which came out in 2011, but I remember waiting two years for as the publication date kept moving! (I blogged about it here and here and someone recently emailed asking if I’d be interested in selling it. Answer: no thank you!) (more…)



Capturing the black experience: Jamel Shabazz and Gordon Parks



Malcolm X by Gordon Parks

This week is all about taking time to think about the troubles in America and consider our individual parts in the Black Lives Matter narrative. For once there is no excuse not to do something. If you’re on Instagram you will have seen all the black square posts for #blackouttuesday designed to create a pause for us to think about how we can actively support anti-racism. Whether that’s donating to Black Lives Matter causes, reading up on the everyday racism experienced by black people, well, every day, or buying from black owned businesses, it all helps.

Culturally, two important sources of information for me are Jamel Shabazz and Gordon Parks. (more…)



What’s the deal with Gerhard Steidl?



Gerhard Steidl
I blame Gerhard Steidl for the reason I nearly break my neck every time I descend the steps into my office. The fact is, I have a confession: I have a book problem. Books are OK to spend money on, right? They’re objects of learning and curiosity and they’re also symbolic of taking time in a sped up word. And some are objects of beauty even more ravishing than a Prada shoe or a Valentino sweater. (more…)



Sneak Peek: Arthur Elgort – ‘The Big Picture’



Gotta love Instagram for sneak peeks. I saw this one on hairdresser Christiaan’s* Insta, it’s of Arthur Elgort with his next photo book, The Big Picture.

It’s being published by Steidl again who singlehandedly win the argument of why print is still relevant – theirs are just the best quality books in every way. The book comes out in November.

*Christiaan doesn’t need a surname, and is apparently working on his own book, fyi