Joost's favorites
Dior Couture
Patrick Demarchelier
What this guy Patrick Demarchelier does is just amazing. There’s such a beautiful balance in his pictures. Not only does he get the utmost out of the models, he also does full justice to the product. That takes a lot of practice and experience. This book basically combines the best in fashion with the best in photography. Like Jeff Koons says: “The perfect marriage”.
Ron Galella
No Pictures
At first I never even liked this book. Not for a particular reason, I just didn’t care. Now I love the book, because it is fun. Apart from Jacky Onassis, who sincerely hated Galella’s guts - everyone seemed to love disliking Galella. Take Johnny Carson. He points towards the camera and pretends to ignore Galella by looking at someone else when he says: “So who’s the clown with the camera.” There’s no disrespect in that, it’s humour. I’m under the impression it had almost become a game to pretend to hate Galella, and by doing so completely tolerate him as one of them.
Artoons
I like books for a couple of reasons: I want to be amazed / surprised / entertained, either by the beauty and quality of it, or by the joy it reflects. This particular book is an example of a beautifully executed idea. Art found in cartoons, presented in a perfectly sized edition - partially limited as well. Therefore it is not only a cool idea but also pretty much perfect execution. Big words for such a tiny book, ey?
The Modernist
At this moment I think The Modernist is the best graphic design book we have. But that basically changes every week. The book is about contemporary graphic design that is influenced by graphic design from the past. Think collage and type from the 1950s and computer animated from the 1990s. Seducive stuff.
Foto Vincent Mentzel
Dutch photographer Vincent Mentzel is not only one of the best photographers in his field, he’s also one of the kindest - as far as I know, that is. But that is obviously not why I like the book. This book is an example of perfect excecution. The design by Irma Boom is just brutal, with that typeface, the use of black and white and the squareness. Also, it's a generous book. The photographs just keep coming. And our queen on the cover - she's not known for being the most approachable woman ever, but on this specific moment she lets down her guard in the most charming way.
Golf Courses
Fairways Of The World
The book next to me on my desk over at MENDO is reminding me all day of where I’m not - Golf Courses Fairways Of The World. The ultimate list of courses you would want to play, but probably never will. Since I’m already confessing and stuff; I’ve got two cats and they are called Chip and Birdie. I am afraid this is not a joke.
Anton Corbijn
Startrak
This is the most obvious book to select. Thing is that I simply have no choice, because this book contains my favorite photography ever. Helena Christensen by Anton Corbijn has it all. I'm not even going to explain it - just have a look.
Fräulein
Ellen von Unwert
When we first got this book I sort of disliked it. That title, the photographer’s name, the first impression of the pictures. But it’s been growing on me – from repulsive to attractive. The book is actually much friendlier and sexier than I thought. Plus it weighs more than any book of that size and the back cover is the best one we have.