Christmas Present

This was my Christmas present to myself. Having bought few photography books all year, I splurged and bought the deluxe slipcased edition of Edward Weston Fiftieth Anniversary Portfolio from Lodima Press. It's a delicate, slender volume and absolutely wonderful—a virtual facsimile of the original, with the text from the original portfolio printed on the same kind of paper, and breathtaking reproductions.

The deluxe edition is sold out but if you're interested you can still buy the hardcover direct from Lodima. I don't have any connection to this book whatsoever, except as a buyer of it.

But speaking of connections to books, while you're on that page, do you remember that several years ago Michael A. Smith of Lodima Press offered copies of his book Edward Weston: Life Work, published at $225, to TOP readers for only $140? The sale copies sold out very rapidly.

Well, have a look on that page at what that book costs now...a cool $1,000. Hope you've already got yours!

Mike

P.S. I'm still working on the Book of the Year post, but I'm already out of steam for today.

P.P.S. We have a great book sale coming up after Christmas, our second one from Yale University Press.

Original contents copyright 2017 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Paul: "I just received the Edward Weston slip-cased version of this book. The reproductions are phenomenal. You could frame them and nobody would know they are not original prints."

QT Luong: "The Lodima site doesn't mention that the portfolio consists of 12 photographs; they can be seen here."

Mike replies: Thanks Tuan. That page serves as good basic information about what the set is, and its value.

Comments

[Daniel]

I have a number of books from Michael and Paula and Lodima Press. Highest quality reproduction around. They are also some of the finest photographers you will ever see. Paula's book HIGH PLAINS FARM is a favorite. Shows where she grew up on a ranch in Texas. All 5x7 and 8x10 images that are reproduced beautifully.
You don't go wrong buying their books.

[High Plains Farm is one of my favorite books too. --Mike]

[QT Luong]

The Lodima site doesn't mention that the portfolio consists of 12 photographs, they can be seen here: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20912/lot/27/

[Kenneth Tanaka]

I purchased a copy of "Life Work" when I met Michael and Paula here in Chicago a few years ago. It's a wonderful, straight-forward presentation free of artifice, unlike so many photo books these days. The work speaks for itself and the über careful production values speak for the work.

A thousand dollars, eh? No, I'm keeping my copy, thank you.

Congratulations on scoring a copy of the new book. Looks really lovely.

[Andre Y]

Mike, thanks for that reminder: I just ordered my copy. And I also have a copy of Life Work from when you recommended it. Since wildfires are burning my part of California, I've had to take inventory of things I might take with me should I need to evacuate, and I think the photo books bought one at a time over the years are probably worth far more than all of my photo equipment combined!

[Bob Gary]

Mike, how about offering a very limited edition of your photos, maybe of a particular selected subject or series?

[Daniel]

I hope one of those under consideration for Book of the Year is THIS LAND, An American Portrait - by Jack Spencer. It is one of the best I have seen in a long time. It is not straight photography as he works the images. It is absolutely beautiful work.