Bettina Lockemann. Hatje Cantz, (160p) ISBN: 9783775752718. Photography, read 30/12/25, Paperback ★★★★☆

Thinking the Photobook

I bought this on a whim at The Baltic in Gateshead as I’ve always been fascinated by the photobook and have several book that collect these in a catalogue.

I’d just recently finished another quite theoretical art book which was extremely dense, this book though thorough was also extremely accessible and Bettina Lockemann explained her theories extremely clearly and with a progression in each article that was logical and at a speed that, I think, even non-art experts could follow.

Written as several articles exploring various aspects of a photobook including it physicality and how we interact with one through the way that the photographs are arranged in it, what aspects of narrative and its relation to time as a phenomena this leads us to a clearer understanding of the study of photobooks as a distinct subject rather than a subset of books or single images.

It has clarified a lot in my mind and will help with how I approach the exploration and reading of photobooks in the future.

It also adds a lot to the books that were written by Gerry Badger and Martin Parr and helps pick apart some of their ideas and thoughts.

A great book that helps push the boundaries of research and thought on the phenomena of the photobook.