Hot Tip: 'Seeing Things'

I've had a number of favorite photobooks over the years, but many of them are maybe not what you'd expect. (Or maybe you know my quirkiness quite well by now and they're exactly what you'd expect.) One is an old catalog published in 1995 by the Fraenkel Gallery in San Francisco, a major publisher of photography books during the past half century. It's a modest deluxe paperback with heavy folded covers, very well printed, called Seeing Things. The cover is a charming found snapshot of a child jumping off a wharf piling, one foot lining up perfectly with the horizon. The book was published in honor of the gallery's 15th anniversary in 1994, and consists of 50 photographs from the gallery's first 15 years—a sampler of disparate work from throughout the history of photography at that time. It doesn't make any argument other than of taste. I will admit that I can't find my copy at the moment, so I probably shouldn't characterize its contents too closely! My books are in a state of woeful disorganization as they have been all of my life I'm afraid. Never once in my ever-lengthening years have I had adequate shelving. (Maybe I'll start getting rid of my photography books so I can come closer to the goal of adequate shelving that way.)

For a very long time I've assumed that Seeing Things was long, long out of print. So I was pleased to see a recent email blast from the gallery announcing books they have on sale...and there it was! I have no idea if it's been available all this time or if they just found a few extra boxes in a warehouse or something. Anyway, you can get it right now, NOS (new old stock), which is fairly amazing. It's even marked down a bit, from $50 to $38, perhaps still expensive by 1994 standards but not by today's. It's a very high-end gallery, one of the leading photography galleries in America and indeed the entire world.

Passing this along in case you might be interested.

Mike

Original contents copyright 2024 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below or on the title of this post.)

Featured Comments from:

Kenneth Tanaka: "Thank you for the alert on this, Mike. I’ve visited the gallery several times and became acquainted with Mr. Fraenkel and his staff while working on an exhibition project with a museum in 2011. I’ve purchased a couple of other of the gallery’s books and special catalogues but missed this one…until today! Thank you.

"By the way, the Fraenkel Gallery is one of the two most genuinely photographically devoted and knowledgeable private dealers in America. Howard Greenberg in New York City is the other. These two galleries are responsible for igniting and keeping most of the most essential embers hot in the world of true fine art photography. Make the effort to visit them if you’re in their towns."

Comments

[Jeff]

I’ve visited the Gallery many times since it opened in 1979, both on business/vacation trips and later when I lived in the Bay Area. Jeffrey always did a nice job curating his print collection and books. But I haven’t been since 2009, and conditions have changed a lot since then in downtown SF. Hope the space is still doing well.

[Alex G.]

I have that book, it's one that I've returned to many times. I have zero recollection of where or when I picked it up. It's a very tasteful selection of what feels like the 'canon,' with just enough of the idiosyncratic to make it interesting. I've never thought to look to see if it has sequels. I'd love to get the subsequent decades covered in a similar fashion.

[s.wolters]

Almost bought a book with the same title as a Christmas present for my young cousin. An Aperture publication written by Joel Meyerowitz. Just like another title from Aperture, Eyes Open by Susan Meiselas they are aimed at children who want to learn about photography, but I don't think one of these books will bring them much further. They are too sophisticated. Both books look great though. Probably would have got Eyes Open for myself if I hadn't already bought a pile of other new titles. This Fraenkel Gallery Seeing This book seems also nice for kids, or am I wrong? Any other suggestions? I have already been searching for days and it's eating me up.

[Alex G.]

The Catherine Edelman Gallery in Chicago was another important photo-centric exhibition space. I’m distressed to learn that it closed last year!

[Kenneth Tanaka]

@ Alex G. - Yes, Cathy Edelman finally gave up her gallery.

But, nearby, Stephen Daiter Gallery is an excellent photography dealer and has been open in Chicago's River North area on Superior Street for a long time. He also occasionally has excellent unique publications associated with exhibitions.

[Richard Sloves]

As of 12.11.2024 "You cannot add "Seeing Things" to the cart because the product is out of stock."