Looking In: Robert Frank's The Americans, Expanded Edition

If you're not the type of person who would normally spend $47 on a photography book, consider making an exception for the Expanded Edition of Looking In. Robert Frank traveled 10,000 miles through 30 states, shot 767 rolls of film, made 1000 work prints, and edited down to the 83 photos in what is one of the most important photography books ever made. The essays, histories, and correspondence in the book are all superb. If you don't own Frank's original book, it's worthwhile to note that Looking In contains all 83 images from The Americans. But here's the real kicker:

• All 83 proof sheets for the selected images are reproduced in the Expanded Edition.

Whether you've meditated on the power of The Americans for decades, or have never even seen it, you couldn't buy more learning about photography for $47 anywhere.

Photography book aficionados take note: the Expanded Edition also includes Frank's preliminary sequencing, a look at variant crops in different editions, and additional letters by Frank, Walker Evans, and Jack Kerouac.

The Expanded Edition of Looking in has been in and out of stock at Amazon, which lists a 1-3 week turnaround time. My copy arrived in about 2 weeks with free shipping.

The Looking In exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Americans opens next month at SF MOMA, and runs from May 16  - August 23rd.