Behind every great photograph is a story.  For every noteworthy image there are many more images taken before and after “the moment” that are often left unseen to anyone but the photographer himself.

Featuring a diverse collection of original contact sheets from over forty international photographers, The Contact Sheet allows in-depth insight into the subject matter and the photographic process — often revealing a deeper story that has not been told.  From William Claxton to William Wegman the photographers in this collection are both well-known names as well as up-and-coming artists, making this an indespensable addition to the library of any serious lover of photography.

Featuring over forty international photographers, including:  William Claxton, Chuck Close, Michel Comte, Anton Corbijn, Imogen Cunningham, David Doubilet, Elliot Erwitt, Nan Goldin, Nadav Kander, Art Kane, David Hume Kennerly, Dorothea Lange, Saul Leiter, Peter Lindbergh, Jerry McMillan, Joel Meyerowitz, Richard Misrach, Arnold Newman, Paul Outerbridge, Martin Parr, Ed Ruscha, Julius Shulman, Jeanloup Sieff, Jerry Uelsmann and William Wegman

Amazon Best Books of the Month, November 2009: What makes a great photograph? Aside from being in the right place at the right time–and, of course, mastering your camera–it’s equally important to be able to pluck “the moment” out 10, 50, or 100 snaps. Most photography books show us the final result, obscuring the context of the shoot and larger insight into the photographer’s design. Steve Crist’sThe Contact Sheet restores that context, taking over 40 iconic images and restoring them to their original sequences, next to the near-misses and the never-minds (an excellent motivational tool for frustrated photographers, by the way). From Anton Corbijn’s Allen Ginsberg, to William Wegman’s weimaraners (with Elliott Erwitt’s Marilyn and a revealing look at Doisneau’s “Le baiser de l’hotel de ville” in between), The Contact Sheet is an unprecedented glimpse into the photographer’s craft, and a perfect gift for the photography lover. –Jon Foro

Product Features

• Used Book in Good Condition