Blog

We first took stock of Jan Tove's nature photography book, Beyond Order, in 2002.  Since then, we've sold hundreds of copies of the English edition and, once that sold out, many more copies of the Swedish edition.  So, now that we've just sold out of our last one, it feels a bit like the end of a long relationship.  I know it has been an inspiring book for many nature photographers so it's good to see that many of the images are still on Jan Tove's site to inspire others.  Sadly Jan hasn't had the best of luck with the printing of his most recent title, Silent Landscape, but we're hoping to be able to bring good news about that soon.  As well as being a fine photographer, Jan is also a thoroughly decent, kind human being so he deserves better fortune.

Our latest newsletter has just been issued with news of new and forthcoming titles by Michael Kenna and Rinko Kawauchi and remainders by Manuel Alvarez Bravo and David Plowden among others.  Other titles will be particularly relevant to anyone with an interest in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Can I draw your attention to a forthcoming book by Dav Thomas, With Trees, which showcases Dav’s catalogue of work celebrating his love of, and connection with, trees? To see more of his images, visit  Dav Thomas’s website   Though it’s not due out till July, it’s worth ordering now as all advance orders will receive a free signed print.

Michael Kenna’s follow-up to his hugely successful Huangshan is due out this summer.  Its title, Shinan, is taken from the region of Korea that all the photographs are from.  As well as the standard edition, there will be a limited edition of 250 copies.  Only the limited edition copies can be signed.  As all of the limited edition of Huangshan were sold out in advance of publication, you are advised to get an order in early if you want a signed copy of Shinan.

Our latest newsletter has just been issued with news of new and forthcoming titles by Art Wolfe, Brooks Jensen, Sam Abell, Lee Friedlander, Daido Moriyama, Harry Gruyaert and Johsel Namkung among others.

We've been very neglectful of our old Twitter account but we're intending to change that now - thanks to the help and advice of David Breen.  If you're a Twitter follower, please follow us on our new account @BeyondWordsCoUk

We've heard from our former staff member Alicia Bruce that she is to feature in two exhibitions at Diffusion, the Cardiff International Festival of Photography.  Congratulations, Alicia.  More details here.

I was very sad to hear the news that the writer Iain Banks had cancer and was not expected to live very long.  He was an occasional customer in our Cockburn Street shop and came across as a charming and unassuming man.

There’s been recent news too of the deaths of two significant photographers: Keld Helmer-Petersen, who was hugely influential in the development of colour photography, and Gabriele Basilico, one of the foremost modern photographers of architecture and urbanism.

If you’re interested in street photography or New York or the development of colour photography or just in the work of the great Saul Leiter, don’t miss the chance to see a brand new documentary on his life and work, showing tomorrow (Tuesday) on BBC 4 at 10.50 pm.  See here for more info.

Then (of course), after you’ve seen it, go to our website and choose one or two of his books.

Our latest newsletter was circulated today.  See here if you have not received a copy.  It includes information on new books by Sebastiao Salgado, Robert Adams, Brian Griffin, Martin Parr, Antoine d’Agata and Hiroshi Sugimoto.

Thursday 21 March is UN World Down Syndrome Day.  On that day, photographer Graham Miller is launching a book Six Percent: My Photographs, Their Stories. From 22 March till 22 May, there will also be an exhibition at Summerhall Gallery (former Royal Dick Veterinary building), 1 Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1PL.

“Graham photographs families as he asks them to reflect on their life experiences. The result is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. These exhibition photographs are complemented with quotes and audio recordings from the interviews with families. This frank exhibition pierces through the stigma of Down’s syndrome and shows that family life goes on despite a person’s different ability.”  You can buy the book through Beyond Words.  All our income from the sale of the book will go to Down’s Syndrome Scotland.