New collection: Documentary Photo Books
Following the relaunch, we decided to reorganize all the categories and tags on our website to make it easier for our readers to navigate the library.
While the work is still in progress, we have prepared some book collections organized by genre, and the Documentary is the first of them.
Here are some of our top picks, exceptional examples of documentary photography and photo book publishing craft.
Mountaintop to Moonscapes photobook by Alan Gignoux
Covering the environmental and social disaster in the Appalachian region of the United States driven by ruthless coal mining, Alan Gignoux uses a combination of aerial and traditional documentary photography to depict the ruined landscape and the life of the communities around it.
Large-scale images of demolished mountains boldly convey the devastating effect of the coal mining industry, which turned Appalachia into the so-called “resource colony” of the United States.
Despite being the largest coal supplier in the country for dozens of years, Appalachia has turned into the poorest, least developed, and least healthy region of North America. The new mining technologies, such as mountaintop removal, have dramatically worsened the situation, influencing not only the environment and ecology but also replacing the traditional shaft mining and, hence, taking jobs from locals.
They literally blow away whole mountains:
“Explosives are used to blast between 400 and 600 feet off the mountaintop.”
This exemplary documentary body of work (Alan also produces a short film) is turned into an interactive performance in the form of a hand-made book designed and bound in a unique way. The team uses origami-like techniques to illustrate the destructive power of mining to the landscape.
Edited in parts, the book offers a holistic view of the issue, touching both environmental, social and economic sides.
Soul Calling photo zine by Pengkuei Ben Huang
In a much simpler and minimalistic format, this zine presents a profoundly deep and touching project, documenting the traces of the 2011 Great Japan earthquake and tsunami on the coast of Iwate prefecture years after the tragedy.
Pengkuei Ben Huang focuses on “the grieving survivors and their personal journey of healing as the region itself gradually recovers.”
Serene landscape scenes with almost no visible traces of the catastrophe are mixed with harsh and high-contrast black-and-white images depicting the community's life in, as we feel, an upbeat and very optimistic mood.
But the central thing is the photographs of the letters written to those taken away by the disaster. Zak Dimitrov writes in his review on 🔴 mnngful.com:
… there is no trace of anger in the letters, perhaps because enough time has passed, but nevertheless a commendable feat of human fortitude. As they say, time is the most effective healer, although no amount of time would make one forget the death of their son, father, or friend; it’s commendable how these people have embraced life as it is and are doing their ultimate best to move on.
This multi-layered, emotionally painful, yet simultaneously uplifting and hope-giving story is a remarkable example of documentary work.
The Last Stand photo book by Marc Wilson
Marc Wilson traveled over 23,000 miles to 143 locations along the coastlines of the UK and northern Europe between 2010 and 2014 to produce this long-form documentary project covering still visible remnants of World War II.
Focused on the landscape and disappearing in it, monumental military structures, Marc opens a chance to feel, see and read the memories of this tragic past war.
Deserted, motionless concrete giants are absorbed by nature. They became a part of this landscape, lost their function and meaning, and were forgotten. But their monumentality and permanence tell the story so loudly—the war, tragedy, fear and loss were here almost a century ago and will stay here forever.
Marc is known for his long-form documentary projects, most of which are focused on the subject of war and history. Such work deserves the deepest respect and, without exaggeration, admiration.
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