Pictures that made the mags (4/5)

I always enjoy books that are a permanent record of an exhibition, especially, as mostly, I can't get to see the exhibition. This one on photography took place from May to September 2020 at the New York based Jewish Museum.

The four essays cover in depth the photographers whose work, with the help of publication art directors, shaped the visual appearance of many magazines, mostly New York based. I'm not sure why the copy and photos are very heavily organized around fashion magazines and why the monthly McCall's doesn't get a mention. Otto Storch, the magazine's Art Director used plenty of well know photographers, like Wingate Paine, Dan Wynn, Paul Dome (for stunning food shots) Art Kane, George Olden et cetera. Missing also is a mention of Marilyn Kaytor, a features editor at Look magazine who commissioned photos by Irving Penn, Ben Somoroff and Arthur Rothstein.

There are plenty of great color and mono photos throughout the pages but I was disappointed that there are hardly any magazine spreads that show how the photos were used. Playing card-size thumbnails of the editorial pages next to the large version of photos would have given the reader a much clearer appreciation of a photographer's work. 

A worthwhile look at the subject that I feel could have had a stronger editorial focus. 

Eye candy for the DIY fan (5/5)

I had a relative who would have loved this book. He didn't believe his garage was for the family car but a workshop for him to make and repair stuff. He had a huge pinboard wall with all his tools clipped onto the right place (I bet he might have found a space for this book on the board). I could imagine him flicking through the pages and saying "Yeah, got one of those" or, maybe, "That one looks interesting for some jobs. I ought to buy one."

I bought the book basically because I liked the excellent design (publication designers do that sort of thing). The publishers DK have really gone to town to produce a visually stimulating book. It was a clever idea to create still-life pictures by laying all tools out on colored paper and photographing them from above with space left for the headings and text.

I do wonder though who the book is aimed at. Excellent as a tools reference book in an educational library but really eye candy for DIY folk though nicely it can be picked online for virtually next to nothing (the postage will probably cost more).