Follow me into the dark: Ten essential photobooks for autumn/winter

‘Dark is misunderstood. To me, darkness is a place where we can find solace and retreat, or recharge. Dark is a feeling we can meditate on. It nourishes us and inspires our imaginations, especially at this time of year ? It comforts us and enshrouds us. But dark can also thrill. Send shivers down our spines. Make us feel alive. Bring us closer together. There is no light without dark.’

So says Darklight Art co-founder Mimi, aka our very own nouvelle goth – if you too find comfort in the spooky stuff then these are the books your coffee table needs.

MISOPHONIA
[2018] Jesse Draxler

Where better to start than Darklight Art’s own prince of darkness himself. Misophonia features Jesse’s signature desaturated imagery in a number of mediums, across 200 gorgeous pages.

IN THE BEGINNING
[2016] Diane Arbus

Photographs of the disenfranchised, the self-styled freaks, those on the fringes of society. Look out for ‘Corpse with receding hairline and a toe tag, NYC’ on page 115.

SAVAGE BEAUTY
[2011] Alexander McQueen

The grand master of making beauty out of darkness, pain, sometimes ugliness. Discover the dark signatures of the late genius and see just what fashion can really do. 

JOEL-PETER WITKIN
[1983] Joel-Peter Witkin

We promised you dark, didn’t we? This is the hardcore stuff, snogging cadavers and all. Viewers of a sensitive disposition, look away.

THE STORY OF BLACK
[2013] John Harvey

It’s not a photo book!!! Sue us!!! But it’s an essential read for art emos everywhere so deal with it!!!

APIARY
[2021] Robin Friend

In essence a photo essay on Lewes; a town of contrasts. Its upmarket, middle-class-bohemian idyll turns to bacchanalian, raucous festivities in November, in celebration of Guy Fawkes Day. It’s this crowded chaos Friend explores in Apiary. 

PENUMBRAE
[2014] Juul Kraijer

Fans of stunning, high contrast monochrome, this one’s for you –– but if you’re afraid of snakes and/or insects, maybe skip it.

FAILED IMAGES
[2018] Ernst van Alphen

Examining types of photography which break with convention, this study on photographic and cultural theory is presented with a tastefully dark lean.

JULIA MARGARET CAMERON: THE COMPLETE PHOTOGRAPHS
[2003] Julia Margaret Cameron

Think: gothic-lite. There is something about Victorian portrait photography which is hella haunting and creepy, no offence to the innocent people who just wanted a cute pic of themselves to treasure. Nobody was doing it like JMC.

PORTRAITS OF LIFE AND DEATH
[1976] Peter Hujar

Famous faces like Susan Sontag, John Waters and Fran Lebowitz juxtaposed with Sicilian skulls found in the catacombs of Palermo. This book had an incredibly limited print run and is a highly valuable collector’s item –– so if anyone has a copy pretty please may we see it?