The Best Photography Books to Gift This Holiday Season
We think photography books make thoughtful and unique gifts, especially for that person on your list who seems to have everything. Photography books offer a meaningful way to connect with a recipient’s interests and personality while being something they likely don’t already own. Even people who prefer minimalism often have a few cherished photography books lying around their space! We are excited to showcase these crowd-pleasers to suit various interests—from skateboarding to dogs, Alpine travel, sand dunes and more.
Cone of Shame by Winnie Au
“The hard plastic post-surgery cone is every dog’s worst nightmare. But in this stunning collection by celebrated photographer Winnie Au and designer Marie-Yan Morvan, it becomes an iconic statement of personality and visual wit. Each dog featured in this book models a bespoke cone made from unique materials—everything from eggshells to repurposed pool noodles to luxe suede and silk flowers.”
Last Days of Summer by Hugh Holland
“Explore the captivating world of 1970s California skateboarding through Hugh Holland’s lens in Last Days of Summer. This complete archive, enriched with many never-before-seen images, an introduction by acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey, and extensive interviews, unveils the evolution of a legendary subculture and the photographer who documented it all.”
What the Bees See by Craig P. Burrows
“Discover the magical world of the honeybee with this deluxe book, featuring 70 stunning images shot with ultraviolet technology.
“A comprehensive look into the amazing science of bees, this book collects mesmerizing ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence (UVIVF) photography of flowers and nature and offers fascinating research that explores every aspect of our relationship with honeybees. Learn about the history of beekeeping, current environmental impacts affecting bees, and the rise of bee products in medical and wellness spaces. As you travel through the world of bees, you’ll discover a diverse range of flora showcased in a whole new light through the ultraviolet spectrum, from orchids and anemones to manuka and cactus blossoms.
“A gorgeous gift for environmentalists and photography fans alike, this in-depth photography books invites us to reimagine the world from a bee’s point of view and better understand its importance to the future of all life on earth.”
Queer Power Couples by Hannah Murphy Winter & Billie Winter
“This photographic celebration of queer love and excellence gathers fourteen LGBTQ+ power couples, offering a glimpse into the journeys that led to their meaningful relationships and thriving careers.
“From designer Debbie Millman’s ardent courtship of writer Roxane Gay to the romantic and creative relationship forged between Perfume Genius bandmates Mike Hadreas and Alan Wyffels on stage during their first world tour, this beautiful book offers a closer look into the lives of fourteen inspiring LGBTQ+ couples and the meet-cutes, success stories, and personal reflections that made them the role models they are today. These icons come from a range of backgrounds—they are trailblazers who lead research labs, kitchens, and news organizations; create life-giving art and music; and tell queer stories in award-winning books, films, and television shows.
“With in-depth original interviews by journalist Hannah Murphy Winter and intimate photography by their wife, Billie Winter, this diverse collection is a jubilant celebration of queer love and an empowering reminder to younger LGBTQ+ generations of their limitless possibilities.”
Camo by Thandiwe Muriu
Camo, by photographer Thandiwe Muriu, is the first publication to chronicle the work of this international artist, celebrating the vibrant portraits she creates that combine cultural textiles and beauty ideologies. Muriu takes us on a colorful, reflective journey through her world as a woman living in modern Kenya as she reinterprets contemporary African portraiture.
As the sole woman operating in the male-dominated advertising photography industry in Kenya, Thandiwe Muriu has repeatedly confronted questions around the role of women in society, the place of tradition, and her own self-perception. These experiences inspired her personal project of cultural reflection: the Camo series. Camo was the catalyst for her to push new boundaries in her photography, leading her into a deeply personal artistic journey.
One Year on a Bike by Martijn Doolaard
“From Amsterdam to Singapore. Martijn Doolaard traded the convenience of a car and the distractions of daily life for a cross-continental cycling journey: a biped adventure that would take him from Amsterdam to Singapore. Leaving behind repetitive routines, One Year on a Bike indulges in slow travel, the subtlety of a gradually changing landscape, and the lessons learned through traveling.
Venturing through Eastern European fields of yellow rapeseed to the intimate hosting culture and community in Iran, One Year on a Bike is a vivid chronicle of what can happen when the norm is pointedly replaced by exceptional self-discoveries and beautiful sceneries. Doolaard shares the gear and knowledge that made his trip possible alongside the passionate curiosities that served as his impetus.”
Wanderlust Alps
“Stretching from France all the way down to Slovenia, Europe’s most majestic mountain range encompasses eight countries. Wanderlust Alps charts the region’s most treasured routes and guides the reader every step of the way. Aimed at those with an appetite for adventure, this book offers a rich mix of treks for hikers who wish to brave the elements.
“Through enlightening maps, first-hand tips, and breathtaking photography, Wanderlust Alps illustrates why the range’s craggy peaks and verdant plains make it an outdoor playground in any season. Expect dazzling content to inspire hikers of any experience and skill level, stunning landscape photography, and helpful hints and information on how best to enjoy more than 50 epic trails.”
Buy Wanderlust Alps here. Also in this series are photography books Hiking Legendary Trails and Wanderlust Europe.
Oceano by Lana Z Caplan
“These are the dunes of Edward Weston’s iconic photos; of Cecil B. DeMille’s 1923 buried movie set for The Ten Commandments; of the Dunites— the artists, poets, nudists, and mystics who lived in dune shacks from the 1920s to the 40s—hosts to Weston during shooting trips; and fundamentally, of the native Chumash. These dunes now host a landscape of ATVs, inciting a decade-long legal battle with nearby residents over air quality. Lana Z Caplan attended Air Pollution Control District hearings, met with historians, scoured archives, and collaborated withyak tit?u tit?u yak ti?hini Northern Chumash tribal leadership to excavate these histories in images. Ultimately, Oceano questions the legacies of colonization, photographic history, utopian ideology, and the future for the politically charged and environmentally threatened Oceano Dunes.”
American Bedroom by Barbara Peacock
“American Bedroom is an unfiltered poetic photographic journey viewing Americans in their most intimate dwelling: the bedroom. The nature of the project is unguarded portraits of individuals, couples, and families that reveal the depth of their character, truth, and spirit. The images are paired with quotes from each subject and are full of subtle details that invite us to contemplate the idiosyncrasies of each enigmatic life.”
Great Bars of New York City by James and Karla Murray
“Photographers James and Karla Murray invite readers inside the doors of thirty legendary watering holes to discover how each has contributed to the social and cultural fabric of New York City.
“For nearly three centuries, people have been gathering in New York City taverns, bars, and pubs. Celebrating the historical significance of thirty of those establishments, this book features gorgeous full-color photographs by James and Karla Murray.
“Each drinking den is paired with engaging descriptions that capture the location’s unique identity, penned by journalist Dan Q. Dao. There’s the White Horse Tavern, frequented by writers such as Dylan Thomas and James Baldwin; the Stonewall Inn, renowned for its role in the LGBTQ+ rights movement; the King Cole Bar in the St. Regis Hotel, a sophisticated lounge adorned with a mural by Maxfield Parrish; and quintessential neighborhood dive Rudy’s Bar & Grill, where cheap beer and free hot dogs are served with a side of vintage grittiness.
“Filled with legends and stories, it also includes a map. Whether they’re looking to soak up some NYC history or raise a glass to fit their mood, this helpful guide will ensure readers that they’ll find a place to have a good, stiff drink.”
Buy Great Bars of New York City here.
Gregory Crewdson
“For more than three decades, Gregory Crewdson has been luring viewers into the worlds of his cinematic, highly detailed, and assiduously crafted photographs. This retrospective catalog features images from nine series that represent a broad chronological spectrum of Crewdson’s oeuvre.
“Included are selections from Twilight, the eerie and often darkly humorous photographs inspired by Stephen Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Beneath the Roses, which illuminates townscapes, forest clearings and broad, desolate streets with unsettling clarity; the black and white images of Sanctuary, shot on location at the legendary Cinecittà studios on the outskirts of Rome; Cathedral of the Pines, a paean to the beauty and tragedy of a gritty western Massachusetts town; and Eveningside, in which moments of alienation and wonder occur within the confines of quotidian life. With highest quality reproductions, paper changes, and incisive essays by photography expert Walter Moser and other esteemed art historians, this exhibition catalog reveals why Crewdson’s powerful, elegiac and painterly photos draw comparisons to old master painting, staged photography and auteur cinema.”
Beware of the Woman Artist by Laure Adler and Camille Viéville
“Traversing decades and continents, these fifty gorgeously illustrated profiles celebrate pioneering women who at once fought against and transformed the male-dominated artistic establishment of their time.
“From mystic and groundbreaking color theorist Hilma af Klimt to the multi-disciplinary storyteller Megan Rooney, this thoughtfully curated and stunningly illustrated collection celebrates the rich tapestry of creativity and perseverance of women artists of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
“Organized chronologically by year of birth, this book features multi-page spreads that include an introductory text accompanied by dazzling full-color reproductions of each artist’s work. Readers will discover the enormous variety of contributions from women of color such as Elizabeth Catlett, Saloua Raouda Choucair, Bertina Lopes, and Faith Ringgold; women from non-western cultures, including Kubra Khademi, Irene Chou, Zarina, Wook-Kyung Choi, and Nairy Baghramian; work that explores the female body by Marlene Dumas, Rebecca Horn, Valie Export, and Ana Mendieta; and the radical, groundbreaking work of Judy Chicago, Lygia Clark, and the Guerilla Girls.
“Throughout, readers will gain an understanding of the enormous struggles women artists have faced; of the incredible accomplishments they have achieved in the face of sexism, ageism, and racism; and how, despite these advancements, they continue to fight for recognition in a culture and climate dominated by men.”
Buy Beware of the Woman Artist here.
Two Worlds: Above and Below the Sea by David Doubilet
“The ocean covers more than seventy percent of our planet, and yet we rarely glimpse its depths – and especially its exquisite beauty as documented by legendary photographer David Doubilet. His work in and on water has set the standard for decades. In this remarkable and highly-anticipated collection by artist and diver David Doubilet, whose innovation, eye for beauty, and passion for conservation have long set the bar for underwater photography, Doubilet unites life above and below the water’s surface.
“Spotlighting a stunning selection of images from Doubilet’s 50-year career, spanning the Galapagos to the Red Sea, the icy waters of the Antarctic Ocean to the tropical Great Barrier Reef, this body of work raises important questions about conservation and global warming, topics never far from the headlines. ‘I want to create a window into the sea’, he says, that invites people to see how their world connects to another life-sustaining world hidden from their view.”
Buy Two Worlds: Above and Below the Sea here.
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