Forty years ago the eminent writer and critic A. D. Coleman was interviewed about the market in photography books. Coleman observed that a dedicated critic or collector could gather a large percentage of new releases in the “fine art photography” category. While such comprehensive acquisition is practically unthinkable in 2018 and many features of the publishing business have enabled this geometric expansion, certain aspects of the photobook ecosystem remain in place. I recommend reading the interview; it first appeared in Photography Between Covers: Interviews with Photo-Bookmakers, a collection of conversations exploring the scene in the late 1970s (copies available for $15 at the Visual Studies Workshop). Coleman reprinted the interview in four installments on his “Photocritic International” web site; access part one here.

BTW and ICYHN, TC Photo has a decidedly photobook-ish inclination (see our monthly community gathering, 3RDWDS, and stay tuned for future developments).