Winogrand's "The Animals" and "Public Relations" reprinted

Sean Reid · 06-24-2005

In case there are some on the list who didn't know this, Garry Winogrand's "The Animals" and "Public Relations" have both been reprinted and are available in hardcover for less than $20.00 each (if I recall correctly). Both books were very rare and expensive on the used market and are certainly worth having. I grabbed copies of both from "Barnes and Noble dot com". I'd recommend snapping them up before this run sells out because who knows how long it will be before (or even if) they'll be reprinted. I recommend the following Winogrand books:

The Animals
Public Relations
Women are Beautiful
Stock Photographs

Also...Aperture reprinted some Paul Strand classics such as "Tir A Mhurain" which is another book I had been searching for. The first run of those was up to $400+ or so used. Strand books I recommend:

Un Paese (sp?, don't have it nearby)
Tir A Mhurain
Time In New England
Ghana

It seems like now is a very good time for one to be building and or expanding one's personal library of monographs.

Cheers,

Sean

Chuck A · 06-24-2005

These are both great books. Mr Winogrand has been one of my favorite photographers since my college days. My instructor at the time even had a story of being photographed by him on the streets of NY. It was a great story.

Great stuff, I have a soft cover of "Public Relations" that I bought in 1977. It is a little worn but I look at it often.

BTW, I am the guy who bought the LC1 from you a while back. Good camera, that I have since sold. I enjoyed the look of the photos but just had trouble getting past the RAW buffer and AF lag. Also, being stuck to ISO 100 was a problem too. The files were just too noisy for me. I am eyeing up the R-D1 but I have yet to see one in person.

Sean Reid · 06-24-2005

Hi Chuck,

That's right, I remember that now. I'd certainly recommend trying out an R-D1 if you get the chance.

Cheers,

Sean

gns · 06-24-2005

I bought those reprints of the Winogrand titles even though I have copies of the originals as well. My copy of The Animals has the price written inside the cover... $2.99. I remeber buying it. It was in Yosemite National Park at the Ansel Adams gallery (1973 or so). I picked it up off the bookshelf and was totally amazed and couldn't put it down. My freind thought I was a little nuts. Here we are in this great park, in the Ansel Adams Gallery surrounded by these big beautiful prints, and I'm enthralled with this little tiny book of pictures of the Bronx Zoo. That was my first real introduction to his work. I'm still enjoying that book.

I don't get Gas attacks, but I do buy a lot of books (mostly monographs).

Sean, I will check out Strand again based on your recommendation. I admit that I never really payed much attention to his work. Perhaps I missed something.

Thanks

kbg32 · 06-24-2005

"Women Are Beautiful" is one of my favorite Winogrand books. I met him many years ago when I was a student and working selling darkroom equipment and supplies at Camera Barn in NYC. It was one of those quiet summer Saturday mornings, that foretold it was going to be a slow day. I saw a heavyish man enter the store with a a very beat Leica M4 around his neck. He looked vaguely familar. He bought up a huge supply of outdated paper. It was only when the floor manager came up and said hello to him, that I realized who it was. Needless to say I was speechless, but we talked for bit. It was great. The only autograph I got was on his credit card receipt! He was buying the outdated paper for making contact sheets.

Sorry if I digress from the post. Just brings back a lot of memories. Working in that store was hell, but I came away meeting some great people and getting a supplemental education. In those terms it was great.

Thanks for the heads up Sean.

Sean Reid · 06-24-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by gns

I bought those reprints of the Winogrand titles even though I have copies of the originals as well. My copy of The Animals has the price written inside the cover... $2.99. I remeber buying it. It was in Yosemite National Park at the Ansel Adams gallery (1973 or so). I picked it up off the bookshelf and was totally amazed and couldn't put it down. My freind thought I was a little nuts. Here we are in this great park, in the Ansel Adams Gallery surrounded by these big beautiful prints, and I'm enthralled with this little tiny book of pictures of the Bronx Zoo. That was my first real introduction to his work. I'm still enjoying that book.

I don't get Gas attacks, but I do buy a lot of books (mostly monographs).

Sean, I will check out Strand again based on your recommendation. I admit that I never really payed much attention to his work. Perhaps I missed something.

Thanks

I like the story. In the midst of all those books of competent and accomplished photography you found a strange little masterpiece. That people like us would take little books like these so seriously puzzles a lot of people. Strand is worth a second look for sure, he's one of the best classical photographers who ever worked.

BTW, I think it was you who turned me on to the availability of these Winogrand reprints. Thanks.

Cheers,

Sean

the sloth · 06-24-2005

i might have to buy the animals one...theres some really odd and funny stuff in that.

I have figments from the real world which is really excellent retrospective but never goes indepth into any of his fixations.

Sean Reid · 06-24-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbg32

"Women Are Beautiful" is one of my favorite Winogrand books. I met him many years ago when I was a student and working selling darkroom equipment and supplies at Camera Barn in NYC. It was one of those quiet summer Saturday mornings, that foretold it was going to be a slow day. I saw a heavyish man enter the store with a a very beat Leica M4 around his neck. He looked vaguely familar. He bought up a huge supply of outdated paper. It was only when the floor manager came up and said hello to him, that I realized who it was. Needless to say I was speechless, but we talked for bit. It was great. The only autograph I got was on his credit card receipt! He was buying the outdated paper for making contact sheets.

Sorry if I digress from the post. Just brings back a lot of memories. Working in that store was hell, but I came away meeting some great people and getting a supplemental education. In those terms it was great.

Thanks for the heads up Sean.

My pleasure. WAB has taken a lot of heat since it was published but I think its a great book - honest, simple, clear about its subject. I managed to find a first edition of that and of Stock Photographs before they both got priced into the stratosphere. I like the Winogrand anecdote.

Cheers,

Sean

Sean Reid · 06-24-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by the sloth

i might have to buy the animals one...theres some really odd and funny stuff in that.

I have figments from the real world which is really excellent retrospective but never goes indepth into any of his fixations.

The books that were made while he was alive are the ones we know reflect his sense of what work should be included, in what order, etc.. He usually collaborated on these, of course, and I prefer the earlier books that were developed by subject.

"Fixations" is a really interesting word you used above. There's something to it.

Cheers,

Sean

gns · 06-24-2005

[QUOTE: The books that were made while he was alive are the ones we know reflect his sense of what work should be included, in what order, etc.. He usually collaborated on these, of course, and I prefer the earlier books that were developed by subject.]

I always prefer to seek out the original work too, whether it's art books, music, whatever.
I will buy compilations, "Best Of's", etc. Often they offer some valuable insights. But the original is what I really want- for the reasons you stated.

popeye · 06-24-2005

Now I know what to do with that Borders gift card in my wallet. Thanks for the info!

ddunn · 06-24-2005

Thanks for the heads-up on the Winogrands.

Also just republished is Danny Lyons' "Destruction of Lower Manhatten." Not about the World Trade Center, but about the leveling of the mid 19th Century neighborhood (including Radio Row) so the World Trade Center could be built. Well worth having.

the sloth · 06-24-2005

I think figments is probably the best 'best of' for any photographer as its all selected by Szarkowski and it has a nice 25 page essay by him on Winogrand. Szarkowski's just as cool imho as all the new school of photographers he brought up.

gns · 06-24-2005

[QUOTE: Szarkowski's just as cool imho as all the new school of photographers he brought up.]

I saw his recent show at SF MOMA. He is quite a good photographer in his own right, although he kept his own work out of the limelight while working at MOMA. I always recommend his "Looking at Photographs" to anyone newly interested in photography.

Cheers