But The Good News Is...

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Fists, Lithuania 2007 © Andrew Miksys

Certain factions of the GOP are showing their true colors over the Sonia Sotomayor nomination.

But the good new is...

I’ve been thinking a lot about photo books lately as I begin the arduous but enlightening process of making a maquette for Stranded. So I was happy when news of two compelling new books came my way.

From Not Niigata © Andrew Phelps

Andrew Phelps is offering a pre-sale special edition of his upcoming book Not Niigata. When you purchase the special edition you will receive it before the official release date plus you can choose any image from the book and Andrew will send you a print. Sounds like a great deal. Contact Andrew directly to find out more.

From Your Golden Opportunity is Comeing Very Soon © RJ Shaughnessy

RJ Shaughnessy continues the liberating trend of the self-published book with the very intriguing Your Golden Opportunity is Comeing Very Soon. He was kind enough to send me a signed copy. The book features images of what appear to be urban crash sites taken at night with Weegee-esque flash. RJ has limited the number of books to 500 and each includes a hand written edition marking and signature. It’s available at Dashwood and Colette.

The super talented photographers Juliana Beasley and Andrew Miksys along with four others have won the 2009 Siskind Foundation grant. Congratulations to them on this well-deserved honor.

While I Was Away

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I have been on the road for the better part of a week finishing my Stranded project. I will post about my trip in a day or so when I get my bearings and wrap my head around the experience. In the meantime, here some housekeeping updates on things that happened while I was away.

Domesticated was named to the photo-eye Best of 2008 books lists of Chris Pichler of Nazraeli Press and Heather Prichard of photo-eye, Nymphoto and Two Way Lens posted interviews with me, and Domesticated got a nice write-up by Eliza Honey on the The New Yorker's Book Bench.

Number Two! Number Two!

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After a three week stint as the best seller on the photo-eye bookstore list, my book has stumbled all the way to number two. So, which photography heavyweight ended the Domesticated dynasty? Eggleston? Parr? Strauss?

Nope. I was knocked down a peg by Jessica Lange. Hey, I loved her in King Kong, but come on...

Hmmm, I just took a peek at her work and it's not bad. Kinda okay in fact. Alright, Lange, you've bested me this week, but I am coming back like Nixon.

Good people, I beseech you. If you care about photography or have any desire to fuel my unhealthy competitive nature, buy a copy of Domesticated now! But, hurry. There are literally only a few signed copies left.

Holiday Gift Guide

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It's that time of year again. The time when everyone presses pause on their daily toils, surrounds themselves with friends and family, and ponders what gifts they will get Amy Stein this year. Well, to help you out I have prepared a handy-dandy guide to photography things I would want for Christmas and/or Hanukkah. Of course, you could also get these items for others in your life, but I would love you more.

First off, some lovely and reasonably priced prints ($28-$125) from the Library of Congress and Museum of the City of New York:

Blossom Restaurant, 103 Bowery © Berenice Abbott

Untitled [Peck and Peck] © Samuel H. Gottscho

Weeki Wachee Springs 1945 © Toni Frissell

Atlanta Houses © Walker Evans

Commuters © Jack Delano

I love photography books too and my tastes run from reasonable to super expensive.

I had the good fortune to shoot Leigh Ledare this year for Monopol and have been in love with his work since. His book Pretend You're Actually Alive would look great on my bookshelf.



Errata Editions is offering Limited Edition sets of their Books on Books series for only $200. That's four classic titles for only $200.



Those books would make me happy, but I would do back flips if I got a copy of Paul Graham's A1: The Great North Road. A signed, mint version is going to set you back a pretty penny.



If you are interested in getting a great book for yourself or a photography lover in your life, I strongly suggest picking up a copy of Domesticated. I happen to have some insider information and can tell you there are only a handful of signed copies left on photo-eye. Wink wink, chop chop.

Domesticated is Book a Day on Photo-Eye

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Domesticated is the Book a Day selection on the photo-eye site (it's also the top seller!). Yesterday the Book a Day selection was America, so you know I roll in good company.

Pre-order Signed Copies of Domesticated from Photo-eye

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You can now pre-order signed copies of my Critical Mass book, Domesticated, on the photo-eye bookstore site. It is a lovely little book sure to bring you years of page-turning, photo-gazing joy.

And, because it's a competition book put out by Critical Mass, only 600 will be available for sale and there won't be a second printing. Talk about an instant collector's item.

Pre-order now!

There is No Off Switch for Jason Polan's Genius

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Lionfish © Jason Polan

Sunday my good friend Jason Polan will be doing something special for the Editions/Artists' Books Fair. As usual, it's pretty much genius.

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I will be making drawings for a book called 100 People I Saw At The Editions/Artists’ Books Fair. The book will contain 99 people I saw during these three days. Once the drawings are completed I will print the book, in an edition of 100 to be available on Sunday at noon. The book will be available for purchase at the Esopus table (#59) at the fair. The book will cost $20. If you choose to purchase a book, you will be drawn in your copy, completing the project and becoming the 100th person in the book.

I will be there to pick up the book and have Jason drawn my picture. You should too.

Domesticated Book Landing Soon

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The cover of Domesticated

My first book, Domesticated, will finally be arriving in a couple of weeks. I've lived with this sucker for a long time now, sequencing and resequencing, editing and reediting, designing and redesigning, and then waiting and waiting while it was being printed in China. During the wait, the book managed to win the Photography Book Award at the New York Photo Festival. And now, it's only a matter of days. Yah!

The book features twenty-six images from my Domesticated series as well an essay by the great Alison Nordström of George Eastman House. You will be able to purchase the book through Amazon, photo-eye, and everywhere fine photography books are sold.

I will also be giving away some signed copies on my blog, so stay tuned!

Hijacked on Flak Photo

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Last week Andy Adams of Flak Photo fame was in New York and we finally got a chance to chat in person. Andy is a great guy and Flak Photo is proving to be an indispensable source for great photography content.

This month Flak Photo has been highlighting work from the photo book, Hijacked, Volume One. You definitely need to get your hands on a copy of Hijacked because it is gorgeous (and because I'm in it!). If you are looking for some additional motivation to purchase Hijacked, go to Flak Photo now to get a taste of some of the work featured in the book.

Pre-order America

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Sweet Jeebus Yes! Zoe Strauss' book is almost here! Pre-order you copy here and here.

Movies I Can't Wait to See

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Blindness and The Road are two of the best books I've read in, well, ever. Both books are being made into major motion pictures to be released this year. I am excited and nervous as all hell. On paper both movies look pretty good, but you never know with these things. Fernando Meirelles and John Hillcoat, I beg you not to fuck these up.

I've Been Hijacked

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I just received two copies of the wonderful new photo book, Hijacked Volume One: Australia and America. The book was edited by Mark McPherson & Max Pam and is an excellent survey of emerging photographers in Australia and America. They were kind enough to include eight of my photos over twelve pages in the book. Also included are friends Jon Gitelson, Lisa Kereszi, Bill Sullivan, Shen Wei, Grant Willing and Alana Celii.

Mark McPherson has been quite the hustler and has managed to set up book launches and exhibitions in New York, Berlin and Australia. The video below is from ABC Australia about the exhibit at The Australian Centre for Photography in Sydney.



Pick up a copy today.

But The Good News Is...

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© Anneke Joris

The wonderful image above was created by Anneke Joris. Anneke sent me a nice note and said she was inspired by my photo, Howl. I love that someone in Belgium can see my work online and be moved to create their own fantastic piece of art. Thank you Interweb!

Darius Himes reminds me about the Blurb photo book competition, Photography Book Now. Photo books have never mattered more to an artist and even if you don't win it would be wise to get your work in front of such a solid lineup of jurors.

Teaching © Alison Malone

In other art news, the 2008 School of Visual Arts MFA Photo, Video and Related Media thesis show opens today at the Visual Arts Gallery. It's another great year and a great opportunity to see young talent before they hit it big. Keep an eye out for Allison Kaufman's very moving Dancing With Divorced Men piece and Alison Malone's ethereal The Daughters of Job.

Syracuse, Berlin and a Solo Show at Koch Gallery

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Groceries, 2007 © Amy Stein

I was in New York City just long enough to catch my breath and now I am in Syracuse starting my month long artist-in-residence with Light Work.

Berlin was a blast and I owe many thanks to Sascha, Silke, Tim and Elisa at Pool Gallery for their endless generosity during my stay. I had a great time hanging with Dylan Chatain, Robert Lyons and meeting Mark McPherson at the Hijacked book launch and exhibition at Neunplus. The Berlin scene is like everything you've heard only better. I can't wait to go back.

Also, I am very pleased to announce my third solo show of the year (wtf?) begins June 12 at the Robert Koch Gallery in San Francisco. This one, like the others before was sudden and unexpected. That sounds wonderful, but it is tough business trying to prepare for a show with only a couple of weeks notice.

Here are the details on the show:

Amy Stein | New American Fables
Robert Koch Gallery
June 12 - August 23
49 Geary Street, 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA
Opening Reception: July 3, 5:30-7:30pm

On the Road

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From Hijacked, Rhonda + Chantelle © Graham Miller

I am leaving this morning for a week in Berlin to see my show at Pool Gallery and attend the book launch and exhibition of Hijacked at Neunplus. After that I will be meeting my husband in Italy for a needed week away from all things photo. When I return to the states I go immediately to Syracuse for my month long Light Work residency and then to San Francisco for the opening of my solo show at the Robert Koch Gallery. Between Syracuse and San Francisco I will be in Chicago for the opening of Beyond the Backyard at the Museum of Contemporary Photography.

It's all very exciting, but the idea of being away from home for so long is freaking me out.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

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Last night was surreal. 400 people packed into a little piece of elegance in a warehouse in DUMBO. A cellist plucking maudlin stings as a series of presenters, photographs and winners flashed before the crowd. And then Martin Parr announcing the nominees for the Photography Book award.

"And the winner is...Amy Stein."

Strange and wonderful things happening at the New York Photo Festival.

New York Photo Frenzy

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Football, 2000 © Juliana Beasley

New York City is thick with photographers and photo related sorts right now as the New York Photo Festival gets under way. A ton of festival related events are going on, but I will be hiding away printing for a big solo show I will announce very soon.

If you want to enter the eye of the photo storm and attend one event I suggest Book Soup. Never before have so many photographers with books been assembled in a single room. And they all have pens! My very dear friends Juliana Beasley and her book Lapdancer and Rachel Papo and her book Serial No. 3817131 will be part of the action. Buy their books and get them signed.

Here are the details:

Book Soup
A Photography Panel Discussion and Book Signing Event

Thursday, May 15, 2008
Panel Discussion: 8–9pm
St Ann’s Warehouse
38 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Book Signing: 9–10pm
The powerHouse Arena
37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

I Love Gifts in the Mail: Patrick Romero

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© Patrick Romero

A couple of weeks back Patrick Romero sent me a copy of his self published book, 28 Famous Views of Los Angeles. I have been so busy of late that I haven't had an opportunity to write about it until now.

Patrick's book is a short but wonderful stroll through a Los Angeles that exists someplace between popular legend, personal myth and fading reality. The images perfectly capture the hazy beauty and vague temporality of the city and I would hope a smart L.A. gallerist out there would contact Patrick and show these little gems ASAP.

UPDATE: If you want your own copy of 28 Famous Views of Los Angeles send Patrick an email. The book is a steal at $20 and supplies are limited, so chop chop.

New American Fables Installation Shots

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The good folks at Pool Gallery were kind enough to send me some installation shots from my New American Fables show that is up right now. In related news, yesterday I booked a ticket to Berlin so I can see the show in person and catch the Hijacked book launch and exhibition at Neunplus. Ich bin ein Berliner!

Jessica Dimmock and The Ninth Floor

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© Jessica Dimmock

This Thursday Jessica Dimmock's The Ninth Floor opens at Foley Gallery this Thursday. If you haven't seen Jessica's work yet check out the show or pick up her book. You will be hard pressed not to be effected by the work.

Anna Sirota is a student of mine from Parsons. She was moved by the images from The Ninth Floor and approached me about writing a review of the book on my blog. I am a big fan of writing about your own work and the work of others, so I was happy to oblige.

Here's Anna's review:

The drug epidemic in America has escalated to an all time high. People all over the country are falling into the abyss of addiction and the war on drugs is an endless and seemingly hopeless endeavor. Many feel disconcerted and disgusted with the idea of injecting a lethal chemical into their veins, but the importance of recognizing and discussing the emotional pain and suffering that addicts experience on a daily basis is the way to initiate change.

Jessica Dimmock’s “The Ninth Floor” is a hauntingly uneasy documentation of young heroin addicts living in squalor. Jessica successfully captured the stale, dismal atmosphere of the space, once a representation of beauty and class. The vacancy disintegration of each of her subjects is palpable. Through a muted color scheme and a straightforward snap-shot perspective, Jessica Dimmock evokes feelings of sadness and sympathy. The images are genuinely disturbing and impossible to be ignored. If this book is not a cause for reflection, then nothing can be.

Here are the details on the show:

Jessica Dimmock | The Ninth Floor
Foley Gallery
547 W 27th Street, 5th floor
New York, NY 10001
Apr 17 - May 31, 2008
Opening reception: Apr 17, 6 - 8 PM