All I Want for Christmas is a Photobook

Photobook Reviews, Episode 8 – by Kate Schultze

In the zine article we published a few months ago, we spoke about getting into photo books even though, for the most part, it is an expensive hobby. So I’ve attempted to compile a list of photobooks I picked up this year I wouldn’t wanna miss on my bookshelf. Some of them for under 20€, but definitely all of them under 40€. And I’ve even included some photo theory and also something in between that might save some peoples Christmas.

I would go as far as saying this has become a classic. Photobook enthusiasts will KNOW this book, and not just because the design is (I’m just gonna say it) really fun.

Presented in the form of a replica pack of Chinese cigarettes, Until Death Do Us Part is a miniature book that highlights the surprising role cigarettes play in Chinese weddings. As a gesture of gratitude, it is customary for the bride to light a cigarette for each male guest. This book is part of Thomas Sauvins Silvermine project, an ongoing exploration of contemporary Chinese culture, built from an archive of half a million negatives salvaged from a recycling plant on the outskirts of Beijing.

Since 2017 Hidefumi Nakamura has been documenting Japanese public toilets on his instagram account @toilets_a_go_go. The publisher Handshake now decided to make it into a photobook, that reminds one of a paper calendar. This photo book can also be seen as an architectural map showcasing Japanese aesthetics and culture, revealing the creativity of its designers. The perfect gift for lovers of Japan and architecture (and toilets I guess).

This book was impossible to get hold of when it first came out two years ago. Luckily now it’s been reprinted and everyone can get a chance to read Tim Carpenters thoughts on the “essential usefulness of the practice of making photographs”. This is the first piece of photo theory I am recommending. In his book long essay he argues “photography is unique among the arts in its capacity for easing the fundamental ache of our mortality; for managing the breach that separates the self from all that is not the self; for enriching one’s sense of freedom and personhood; and for cultivating meaning in an otherwise meaningless reality”. This book was... I’m gonna use the word enlightening. So if you are stuck in a bit of a creative rut, or know someone who is, give this a read!

The second essay I am recommending is probably a little easier accessible. Neither just photo theory, nor a photo book, but something in between by one of my favourite photographic artists at the moment, Charlie Engman.

In Hello Chaos, a Love Story, Charlie Engman explores the contradictions of contemporary visual culture through a playful, genre-bending narrative. At its core is Kitty, a mute cartoon character on a doomed quest for the attention of her estranged counterpart, Mickey. Amid the chaos of imagery, technology, and mass production, Engman examines the raw vulnerability of seeing and being seen. Illustrated with original and found images, the book offers a striking commentary on the complexities of perception in the modern world.

Let’s move back to more traditional photo books, but not too traditional of course. This book I picked up because I fell in love with the simple yet very effective design. A perfect example of images and book making supporting each other wonderfully.

The theme of the book is pretty straightforward, photographs of Danish teenage bedrooms. I appreciate all books that spark a new interest in the mundane, and let me tell you, never have messy teenage bedrooms looked more interesting to me. A portrait book without any people.

This book I only picked up about a week ago. The title here already gives away the content. It is indeed 2.143 screenshots looking out from a McDonald’s window, categorised by their similarities. It’s like playing Where’s Wally but for adults interested in seemingly boring landscapes. A study of modern living, industrial sites and to me a commentary on class and capitalism. If you, like me, enjoy a weirdly big monotonous book and appreciate geographical accuracy and research, this one's for you.

This book has probably the most classic approach to a photobook in this list. Julian Slagman showcases a decade of work documenting his two younger brothers, Mats and Jonah, as they navigate childhood, adolescence, and brotherhood. The images, ranging from individual portraits to shared moments, explore growth, vulnerability, and the passage of time. Slagman captures the mix of pensive and playful, wild and serene moments, while also highlighting Mats' story of going through scoliosis. These physical reminders contrast with the brothers' strength and resilience. The book reflects on the delicate concept of brotherly relationships.