CCcell by Taiji Matsue

The images above are iPad screen grabs.

 
"CCcell is a new type of photography book that makes use of the high-definition of the new iPad and its touch-sensitive screen to present the work of one of Japan's most important contemporary photographers. CCcell puts together two different though related bodies of work: the series "CC" and the series "cell". CC presents a macro landscape while cell is a sequence of landscapes on a smaller order of magnitude. Each macro image has one point that, when located and clicked, zooms in to reveal its micro counterpart. Click on the city code on the left edge to forward through images."  Goliga Books


Format: App compatible with iPad only.

Price: $4.99 ($3.99 at the time of the review)

Links: iTunes, Goliga Books and 108UNITED

Comment: In the digital photo book discussion we usually talk about enhancement in the form of multimedia, and not how we can use photography in more intelligent ways. That's why it's refreshing to look at CCcell, which only uses photography to interact with the viewer. At first you will try to find the crops in the crisp high res photos. When you have, you can decide to look at the work as two different ones, either as detailed landscapes from above or graphic crops that reveal new details and stories. This app teaches us an important lesson, and that is to look harder to give the photographs the attention they truly deserve. In todays constant stream of photos online and photo books (that are often seen as works consisting of multiple photos) this is a nice way of reminding us of the single photograph and the depth and layers it can contain.


RATING:

Content: 19/20

Design: 12/15

Value: 5/5

TOTAL: 36/40

Sugimoto 1988 by Hiroshi Sugimoto

The images above are iPad screen grabs.

"Hiroshi Sugimoto’s long out of print first catalog published in 1988 to accompany his solo exhibition at Sagacho Exhibit Space, is now available as an iPad application, featuring 43 master works from the DIORAMAS, THEATERS, and SEASCAPES series."  108UNITED


Format: App compatible with iPad only.

Price: $16.99

Links: iTunes and 108UNITED

Comment: This is the app version of Sugimoto's first monograph/exhibition catalogue, published in 1988.
A signed version of the highly collectible, and long out of print catalogue is currently available online for $3000, making it out of reach for most.

The first feeling I had looking at this app, was why there wasn't more enhancements made to the original catalogue, especially as this is a quite pricey app. It could be additional text or audio in the form of stories or interviews. It could of course also be video, additional photographs or something else.

That said, I've looked a lot at 1988 and have returned many times, which is the most important thing with any book. The photographs are stunning and the carefully considered design doesn't get in the way of the delicate work. Looking at Sugimoto's theaters in a dark room, on the backlit display is probably the most powerful experience I've encountered with a digital photo book, so far.

RATING:

Content: 17/20

Design: 13/15

Value: 4/5

TOTAL: 34/40

Tunnel by Hoichi Nishiyama

The images above are iPad screen grabs.

" “Tunnel for iPad”, by engineering photographer Hoichi Nishiyama, is a photo book app based on his book “Tunnel” (published 2005 by Japan Construction Method and Machinery Research Institute for the Japan Construction Mechanization Association). It shows a mystery world that is normally not visible; of giant shield machines on the move, the serene light shining into the tunnel to the thriving drill machine. 

Hoichi Nishiyama / photographer 

Born 1952 in Tokyo. Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University’s design department in photography. After working at Hakuhodo and Tokyu agency, he turned freelance. After working in commercial photography, he moved on to become a civil engineering photographer in 1993. His photographs of past legacies in civil engineering and civil engineering construction are regularly printed in industry magazines. He also photographs calendars and completion photographs for major construction companies. He is the chief of the “photographing civil engineering” office. 

He has published books of photography such as Harbor Legacy (Japan Dredging and Reclamation Engineering Association) and Taushubetsu (Kodansha) in 2002, Civil Engineering by the Water (INAX publishing) in 2003, SADO MINE (Niigata Daily Newspaper Company in 2011. He has held photography exhibitions every year since 1997. Taushubetsu was awarded the Publishing Culture Award 2003 by the Institution of Civil Engineers."  108UNITED

Format: Seperate apps for iPad and iPhone (non-universal). iPad app reviewed.

Price: iPad and iPhone apps are $9.99 each.

Links: iTunes and 108UNITED

Comment: The clear layout, index, order, excellent captioning and essays all makes Tunnel logical, interesting and easy to understand, without knowing much about the subject beforehand. The slideshow with music (that works with the photography) is also a nice feature, if you just want to sit back and enjoy. 

The content is fascinating as it shows you a world you don't normally see or hear about. For many of us that's what photography is all about, showing new worlds or showing subjects from unique personal perspectives. 

RATING:

Content: 18/20

Design: 12/15

Value: 5/5

TOTAL: 35/40

Radiation Tokyo by Suguru Takeuchi

The images above are iPhone screen grabs.

"End of May, 2011, I went around taking photos with the camera on my mobile phone, a Geiger counter and a scintillation survey meter. This was continued everyday."  Suguru Takeuchi

"Born 1963 in Kobe. Japanese Video director & photographer. Around 1990, He began shooting music videos for a record company. From 2000, he branched out to shoot commercials, short films, photography and film, receiving numerous awards both domestic and internationally. His favorite cameras are Deardorff 8×10 and Xperia.

Tokyo and its vicinity, as well as New Zealand, and a stopover in Australia, were backdrops for photographer Suguru Takeuchi’s 119 photographs where he first measured the radiation and then shot the photograph in the same place."  108UNITED

Format: App compatible with iPad and iPhone.

Price: Free

Links: iTunes and 108UNITED 

Comment: Radiation Tokyo only exists as an app, a contrast to many of the apps currently out there that are based on previously published books. The design works really well and doesn't get in the way, allthough it would be great if the date (while nicely designed and of importance) that shows up and fades away on every page could be turned off, especially as there are 119 photos to go through. 

The diaristic photography is ranging from everyday mobile phone snaps to quite strong photos. This work is a proof of how much impact a single fact, not visible in the photo, can have on a photograph. As this app is free, it's a must have if you own one of the devices it's compatible with.

RATING:

Content: 17/20

Design: 12/15

Value: 5/5

TOTAL: 34/40