Elis’ five Favorite photography books
À Propos De Paris - Henri Cartier-Bresson: This was a gift to me from my husband when we were still dating and I was starting to study photography in college. It's only become more and more special as I found myself in love with Paris in the last few years. This book is like taking a stroll through the city. HCB's images always carry layers and layers of meaning and I love opening it to a random page and discovering something in a photo I hadn't noticed before.
Genesis - Sebastião Salgado: As a Brazilian, I carry a certain amount of pride in having Salgado as my fellow countryman. He's an anthropologist, a environmentalist, and an empath. In the late 1990s he and his wife singlehandedly took on a project to replant an entire forest in Southeast Brazil. I love him for that alone. As a photographer, one of his main objectives is to record a world we might no longer realize exists. Genesis is a collection of spectacular images of vanishing cultures and pristine landscapes.
An American in Provence - Jamie Beck: I've been following Beck's career since I discovered her work on Tumblr back in 2008(ish). Her still lives and self-portraits are so alive with color and movement. This entire book is just a treat to the eyes.
Vivian Maier - Street Photographer: I'd be surprised if someone in our little group didn't know this one. I think Maier's work spoke to all of us and inspired all of us. We don't know what was her impetus to photograph, but I like to believe it was curiosity and joy. Her photos are so alive and because of that it feels like she is too, right there on the other side of the camera.
Arresting Beauty - Julia Margaret Cameron: A book to get lost in. I started paying attention to Cameron's work more recently, but it has quickly become my go-to for inspiration. Especially when I want a visual sense of calm and poetry.
