Interview｜Martin Amis
As part of the project for the international collotype photography competition HARIBAN AWARD 2025, we interviewed juror Martin Amis. We ask him how he first came across photography, how he started Photobookstore and Photo Editions, and what the future holds for his work. We also ask him about the appeal and potential of collotypes and how he expects them to integrate with artists’ work.
Please tell us about your first encounter with photography, and what inspired you to establish the Photobookstore.
Martin Amis (MA): I first came to photography over 20 years ago, and soon became interested in the photobook medium as a source of inspiration, photographic history and learning tool for a photographer. This interest led me to start Photobookstore in 2007. At this time sourcing photobooks was more difficult than nowadays with often little information available online, and very few publishers even having a website. This coupled with the popularity of the then recently released Parr/Badger Photobook History volumes made it a perfect time to start an online Photobook outlet. In the early days of Photobookstore, it was really quite exciting to get my hands on so many photobooks that I desperately wanted to own!
Photobookstore.co.uk top page
How did you proceed to establish your publishing department, the Photo Editions?
MA: I started Photo Editions in 2021 to publish my own book This Land. Having seen a wide array of photobooks pass through the shelves of Photobookstore, I had gradually learnt a great deal about how to present work in photobook form, and this felt like the right moment to experiment with publishing in my own right. After having some success with the first book, I decided to publish other artists work, and hope to continue do this a few times each year.
Publications of Photo Editions ©Martin Amis
What particular aspects do you think is essential when planning a photobook?
MA: I think the first question to ask when planning to make a photobook should be, ‘is a photobook the best way to present this body of work?’ I strongly believe any photobook should have a coherent simple idea or premise which will lead to it’s design and ultimate form. It’s important also to consider working with a designer, and seek feedback as the book along with way from trusted members of the photography community. If you are looking to release the book commercially, then consideration should be given whether there is a marketplace for the book beyond your own acquaintances and of course whether not it can produced at a competitive price. Every photobook has to be a compromise of sorts.
In the context of the rapid development of online media, what is your perspective on the potential of the analogue photobook?
MA: I think the rapid development and ubiquitousness of social media has seen an increasing desire to return to the tangible whether it be books, vinyl records, film cameras or traditional crafts. Viewing a printed photograph or holding a book in your hand is surely preferable to viewing a screen. A beautifully printed, expertly sequenced and presented photobook will always find a home on bookshelves.
Publications of Photo Editions ©Martins Amis
This Land ©Martins Amis
Thank you for selling Benrido’s products on Photobookstore. What are your thoughts on the appeal and potential of the collotype?
MA: The Benrido collotype mini portfolios have been very popular at Photobookstore these past few years. They offer an excellent affordable way to collect prints by a range of interesting photographers. I think people value the attention to detail and care that Benrido employ printing every single image, the unique and archival quality of collotype printing along with the preservation of a historical process.
The artist who is awarded the grand prize of the Hariban Award will have the opportunity to visit Kyoto for a two-week residency to learn about collotype and witness the process first-hand. What impact do you foresee this having on the artist and the craftspeople?
MA: What a thrilling honour this award will be for the deserving winner. I think it will be prove to be both an important an inspirational part of the artist’s practice and an unforgettable experience. The possibility to explore the printed medium and collaborating with the master printers is what makes the award special. The illustrious line-up of previous winner’s of the Hariban Award is the perfect example how precious an opportunity this offers. Of course you also get to immerse yourself in the rich history and beauty of Kyoto!
What message or advice do you have for artists who might be considering entering this competition?
MA: Go for it! When judging entries I will be looking for a strong series of images, well suited to the collotype medium with the wide range of tones that the method can emphasise. I can’t wait to see some new exciting and original work.
Martin Amis
Photographer, publisher and Photobookstore.co.uk owner
Martin Amis is a British photographer, publisher and bookstore owner living in Kent, United Kingdom. He is passionate about the significance and ongoing development of the photobook medium and in 2007 founded Photobookstore.co.uk one of the leading photobook outlets. As well as supporting many independent publishers and self-publishing photographers over the years, he also set up his own imprint Photo Editions in 2021 which has published 8 books including his own titles “This Land” and “Closed”. His yet untitled forthcoming photobook, a continuation of his long-term project documenting environmental change is scheduled to be released in 2025.
HARIBAN AWARD 2025のプロジェクトの一環として、審査員 Martin Amisさんにインタビューにお答えいただきました。写真に出会ったきっかけと、Photobookstore、そしてPhoto Editionsを立ち上げるまでのお仕事の紹介、今後の展望をお聞きします。また以前より便利堂の商品をPhotobookstoreで販売いただいているのですが、コロタイプの魅力や可能性、アーティスト作品とどのような融合が期待されるかも合わせてお伺いしました。
写真との出会い、そしてフォトブックストアを設立したきっかけについて教えてください。
私が写真に興味を持ったのは20年以上前のことで、すぐに写真集というメディウムがインスピレーションの源になったり、写真史、そして写真家にとって学ぶためのツールにもなることに気づき、より興味を持つようになりました。このことがきっかけで、2007年にPhotobookstoreを立ち上げました。当時は写真集を購入するのは今よりも難しく、オンラインで入手できる情報も多くなく、ウェブサイトを持っている出版社もほとんどありませんでした。それに加えて、当時発売されたばかりの Martin Parr と Gerry Badgerの共著 Photobook Historyシリーズの人気がとても高かったので、オンラインで写真集の販売を始めるには絶好のタイミングでした。Photobookstoreの創業当初は、どうしても手に入れたい写真集がたくさん手に入って、本当に興奮しました。
Photobookstor.co.ukのトップページ
出版部門であるフォトエディションを設立するまでの経緯を教えてください。
2021年に自身の写真集『This Land』を出版するためにPhoto Editionsを設立しました。Photobookstoreの棚に様々な写真集が並ぶのを見て、写真集という形で作品を発表する方法について多くのことを学んでいたので、今こそ自分自身で出版に挑戦する絶好の機会だと感じました。最初の写真集で成功したと感じたので、他のアーティストの作品も出版することを決めました。今後も年に数回出版を続けたいと考えています。
Photo Editionsから出版された写真集 ©Martin Amis
写真集を企画する時に、特に重要だと思う点は何ですか？
写真集を制作しようとする時にまず問うべきは「この作品群を発表するのに、写真集は最良の方法か？」ということだと考えています。どんな写真集にも、デザインや最終的な形につながる筋の通ったシンプルなアイデアや前提が必要だと私は強く信じています。デザイナーと協働し、写真コミュニティの信頼できるメンバーからフィードバックを得ることも重要です。商業的に出版するのであれば、自分の知人以外にも需要があるかどうか、そしてもちろん、競争力のある価格で制作できるかどうかも考慮する必要があります。どんな写真集も、ある種の妥協の産物なのです。a
オンラインメディアが急速に発展する中、物としての写真集の可能性についてどのようにお考えですか？
ソーシャルメディアの急速な発展と普及によって、書籍、レコード、フィルムカメラ、伝統工芸など、実体のあるものへ回帰しようとする欲求が高まっているように思います。印刷された写真や本を手に持つことは、画面で見るよりも間違いなく好ましいものです。美しく印刷され、巧みに構成され、美しくまとめられた写真集は、いつまでも本棚に飾られるでしょう。
Publications of Photo Editions ©Martins Amis