Coffee Table Books

gandalf · 11-09-2007 11:23AM #1

Ok just about to buy the first coffee table for the new gaff and I need to get a "Coffee Table Book" for it.

So what would your ideal or recommended photography Coffee Table books be?

City-Exile · 11-09-2007 11:27AM

Through the Lens: "National Geographic" Greatest Photographs

PaulieC · 11-09-2007 11:32AM

Star Trak. Classic modern portrait photography

TJM · 11-09-2007 11:52AM

Three must have books:

Full Moon - Stunning photos from the Apollo missions.

The Earth From the Air - Words can't do this justice so have a look.

The Sea - French photographer who captures beautiful maritime images.

Calina · 11-09-2007 12:01PM

I have the following:

I'd second the Earth from the Air and the Philippe Plisson selections (I have a few of his books and posters myself) except gandalf, I think you're more into street photography?

In that case I think you might be interested in some of the Robert Doisneau books (I'm angling for the one about the occupation of Paris).

If you're based anywhere in town, gandalf, might be worth taking a look at the bookshop in the National Gallery just to get a feel for some stuff, or possibly (although I don't remember it being so good) in the bookshop in Temple Bar Gallery of Photography.

OT but TJM - have you been to the Plisson Gallery in La Trinité/Mer? My favourite photography gallery in the world.

rymus · 11-09-2007 12:08PM

Raw: Volume 1 - http://www.lulu.com/content/502329
Made for coffee tables

Hugh_C · 11-09-2007 12:17PM

gandalf wrote:

Ok just about to buy the first coffee table for the new gaff and I need to get a "Coffee Table Book" for it.

So what would your ideal or recommended photography Coffee Table books be?

Erm, might be stating the obvious but why don't you roll your own? Looks like you've some pretty strong images on your flickr so why not roll your own on photobox or some of those other places 'round the intrawebs.

hc

thebaz · 11-09-2007 12:20PM

rymus wrote:

Raw: Volume 1 - http://www.lulu.com/content/502329
Made for coffee tables

i'd suggest Understanding Exposure by Peterson .. and if you have any money left "Learning to see Creatively"

gandalf · 11-09-2007 12:36PM

hughchal wrote:

Erm, might be stating the obvious but why don't you roll your own? Looks like you've some pretty strong images on your flickr so why not roll your own on photobox or some of those other places 'round the intrawebs.

hc

Well I could but I don't feel what I have so far is good enough. Anyway so far this is throwing up some brilliant ideas and books, so much so that I will have to buy several tables

Anyway its about time we had a thread like this again.

PaulieC · 11-09-2007 12:39PM

gandalf wrote:

Well I could but I don't feel what I have so far is good enough. Anyway so far this is throwing up some brilliant ideas and books, so much so that I will have to buy several tables

have you seen the price of some of these publications? If you bought a few of them, you'd have to sell the coffee table to pay for them...

TJM · 11-09-2007 12:44PM

Calina - haven't been there but I'll now add it to my list of places to go.

Incidentally, Chapters on Parnell street sometimes has very good prices on photography books. Otherwise, if you're shopping online you'll find some of these books much cheaper on Amazon.com rather than .co.uk (even factoring in the extra shipping from the US). It's not VAT (books are zero rated). Go figure.

rahtkennades · 11-09-2007 12:54PM

cambo_gueno wrote:

have you seen the price of some of these publications? If you bought a few of them, you'd have to sell the coffee table to pay for them...

haha.

If you're in Dublin, check out Chapters Bookstore on Parnell Street (top of Moore Street). They usually have sales on big weighty tomes of the type you're looking for.

adonis · 11-09-2007 12:56PM

what about kramers coffee table book about different coffee tables?
the book also folds out to be a coffee table! best idea ever

thebaz · 11-09-2007 01:00PM

thebaz wrote:

i'd suggest Understanding Exposure by Peterson .. and if you have any money left "Learning to see Creatively"

maybe its not so funny , as its the only book on my coffee table , along with a few ancient newspapers and some more old unpaid bills

Calina · 11-09-2007 01:04PM

TJM wrote:

Calina - haven't been there but I'll now add it to my list of places to go.

Incidentally, Chapters on Parnell street sometimes has very good prices on photography books. Otherwise, if you're shopping online you'll find some of these books much cheaper on Amazon.com rather than .co.uk (even factoring in the extra shipping from the US). It's not VAT (books are zero rated). Go figure.

Must check it out. I keep promising myself The Sea but it is such a big book...

magicbastarder · 11-09-2007 01:15PM

things as they are by the world press photo foundation; winners of the competition, in the context of the articles they were printed in.
one of the best photography books i've ever seen.

leinsterman · 11-09-2007 01:52PM

City-Exile wrote:

Through the Lens: "National Geographic" Greatest Photographs

I have the National Geographic one and I really like it ...

... I recent visited the International Centre for Photography in New York and they had an excellent exhibition (which comes with a coffee table book) on African American Portraits ... It is sitting near my coffee table at home ... but not on it since there are too many other coffee table books on the table ...

Here is the link -
http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.2106459/k.C3D3/Let_Your_Motto_Be_Resistance.htm

... and the book is in their online store -
http://shopping.icp.org/store/

rahtkennades · 11-09-2007 01:56PM

Calina wrote:

Must check it out. I keep promising myself The Sea but it is such a big book...

On recommendation, I just dropped in to Chapters, and they have 'The Sea' for somehting in the €30 bracket.

I picked up a copy of 'Full Moon' as recommended above (it was the first book I saw when i walked in the door!) for €12.99!

Cabaal · 11-09-2007 02:14PM

Must have a look into some of the books listed here, National Geographic one sounds good

I've always like the National Geographic, I suppose I should talk to a uncle of mine he has about 20 years worth of them on a set of shelfs in his hallway

TJM · 11-09-2007 02:26PM

rahtkennades wrote:

I picked up a copy of 'Full Moon' as recommended above (it was the first book I saw when i walked in the door!) for €12.99!

That's superb value. I paid about €17 on Amazon and thought it was a steal at the price.

Just in case anybody else needs persuading, here are two of my favourite images:

Most of the Apollo images are now available on the Project Apollo site. This one [not part of the book - just a random image] gives some idea of the scale of the Saturn V:

Cabaal · 11-09-2007 02:52PM

Always loved that earth in space one, imho it shows just how careful we need to be on this planet and how fragile it is

Calina · 11-09-2007 04:51PM

Is Chapters open on Sunday?

Beano · 11-09-2007 05:00PM

underneath the escalator (the one that takes you from the first floor down to the ground floor) at the back of Easons on O'Connell street they have a pile of books on special which usually include some national geographic coffee tables books. Head straight on pass the information desk and its to your right.

adonis · 12-09-2007 09:24AM

what about any of the gary larson (far side books)
perfect for a coffee table!

jlang · 12-09-2007 11:24AM

Calina wrote:

Is Chapters open on Sunday?

Fairly sure they are.

Calina · 12-09-2007 11:26AM

Thanks. Might traipse in and do a little light retail therapy.

City-Exile · 12-09-2007 11:53AM

I've just found €100 worth of Waterstones gift vouchers in my wallet. They were a birthday present, which I'd forgotten about. Might treat myself this evening. There are some great suggestions in this thread. Thanks guys.

magicbastarder · 12-09-2007 11:56AM

go with my suggestion, it's the best. but you knew that.

Calina · 12-09-2007 12:10PM

City-Exile wrote:

I've just found €100 worth of Waterstones gift vouchers in my wallet. They were a birthday present, which I'd forgotten about. Might treat myself this evening. There are some great suggestions in this thread. Thanks guys.

You can "forget" about 100E worth of book vouchers? I'm impressed.

OMG. They would be burning a hole in my purse...

City-Exile · 12-09-2007 12:17PM

Calina wrote:

You can "forget" about 100E worth of book vouchers? I'm impressed.

OMG. They would be burning a hole in my purse...

They were just in there with receipts & those silly little vouchers you get in Boots.

Now if they were beer vouchers, that would be a different story.

Calina · 12-09-2007 12:23PM

City-Exile wrote:

.....those silly little vouchers you get in Boots....

the image just gets better....:D

Coffee Table Books

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