Photobooks, zines, reviewed, etc...

Kitintale - Yann Gross

It’s so hard to choose a favourite book, but if someone asked me to demonstrate why I like independently published photography books so much and why I’m so obsessed with buying and writing about them, I’d be very tempted to reach for Kitintale to prove my point.

Everything about this book - the quality of the photography, the subject matter, the story behind the pictures and the physical artefact itself - exemplifies what it is possible to do without needing to be viewed as providing a good return on investment by a major publishing house.

I ordered this book primarily because of my interest in skateboarding. There are so many books being published each week that I can’t buy everything I see, even though I would like to. So I have to pick quite carefully, and this one grabbed my attention because I used to be into skateboarding when I was younger.

I remember that we used to moan about security guards evicting us from private property. We also used to moan when it rained (as it does frequently in the UK) and we had to decamp to underground spots (as in literally underground) to continue. But we didn’t suffer as these guys do, not even from a lack of facilities, but from a lack of tarmac to simply roll along on.

The story which is told in text and photos is fascinating and moving. The dedication of these youths to their sport is inspiring. The presentation (newsprint, roughly tabloid size, plastic folder/case with silkscreened text) is absolutely first rate.

I’m really pleased with this one and I can’t wait to spend more time with it.