PhMuseum presents the first edition of Photobook Mania, a biennial dedicated to photobooks.

On 18 and 19 October in Bologna, over twenty publishers from across Europe, meetings, workshops and exhibitions

PhMuseum presents the first edition of Photobook Mania, a biennial dedicated to the photographic book that will be held on 18-19 October 2025 at serra madre, inside Serre dei Giardini in Bologna. The event, with free admission, aims to become an international reference point for independent international photographic publishing, bringing together over twenty publishers from across Europe who will offer a wide selection of publications that reflect the most current trends and experimentations in the photobook field.

Photobook Mania is part of a renewed calendar of activities, alternating with the PhMuseum Days festival, which has also become biennial and is scheduled for fall 2026, thus strengthening PhMuseum's commitment to promoting all aspects of contemporary photographic culture.

Giuseppe Oliverio, founder and artistic director of PhMuseum: «With publishing consolidating its role as a key pillar of photography dissemination, we are happy to welcome to Bologna a selected group of publishers and artists contributing to widen and enriching the scene one independent publication at a time. We hope the city will join us and support this movement, bringing home artists' books and the relevant visual stories they share.»

Zoetrope Athens, Alexis Vasilikos, Oceanic

In addition to the rich editorial presence, the Photobook Mania program includes more than twenty meetings with artists, curators, and industry professionals, thematic workshops, and two main exhibitions.

The first, Dummies and Books from FOLIO 2024/25 Photobook Making Masterclass, brings together the prototypes created during the latest edition of the masterclass led by Lewis Chaplin, co-founder of Loose Joints. Fourteen participants worked for eight months on developing their projects, offering a unique insight into the process that transforms a sequence of images into a complete editorial narrative.

Cult of Photobooks presents a selection of titles from the PhMuseum Lab library (PhMuseum's space in Bologna), curated by Small Photobook Cult. The latter is a project by Gabriele Chiapparini, author of the podcast of the same name dedicated to photobooks, in which he talks to photographers as they leaf through their books together, page by page.

Finally, the exhibition dedicated to the first edition of the PhMuseum 2025 Photobook Award, organised with the support of MPB, Europe's top camera reseller. Thirty photobook projects selected through an open call will be on display, and an nternational jury composed of Max Pinckers, Yumi Goto, Karla Hiraldo-Voleau, Giuseppe Oliverio and Camilla Marrese will announce the winning project on Saturday 18 October at 6.30 pm. Thanks to the contribution of MPB, the winning work will become a photobook published by PhMuseum and will be officially launched at PhMuseum Days 2026. There will also be a special mention, which will receive an €800 voucher on mpb.com for the purchase of photographic equipment.

Zoetrope Athens, Claire Amaouche, De tous les Chemins sauvages

On the same occasion, the Banca di Bologna Prize worth €1,000 will also be awarded to authors residing in Bologna who work primarily with the photographic language.

Among the events, Saturday at 6 pm will also see the debut of the first issue of PhMuseum's printed magazine.

There will also be informal events such as Photobook for Breakfast, on Sunday 19 October at 10 am: a breakfast meeting with the Modena-based association Sugar Paper, dedicated to photobooks on the theme of Acts of Resistance linked to the struggle for the liberation of Palestine.

Belgian photographer Max Pinckers, already a member of the jury, will also be the protagonist of a talk presented by Fondazione MAST, in collaboration with PhMuseum, which will preview the festival on Thursday 16 October at 6.30 pm at the MAST.Auditorium, entitled Speculative Documentary Photography. Pinckers will explore his practice, which challenges the conventions of documentary photography. Giuseppe Oliverio (PhMuseum) will introduce the event.

The programme also includes the intensive Dummy Deep Dive workshop led by American photographer Aaron Schuman, aimed at those who wish to turn their work into a book.

Cesura Publish, Luca Santese, Marco P Valli, Texas Trigger

The event is made possible also thanks to the contribution of the Municipality of Bologna | Settore Cultura e Creatività, the sponsorship of MPB, the collaboration with Banca di Bologna and the cultural partnership with Patto per la lettura del Comune di Bologna (Bologna Municipality Reading Pact) and Card Cultura. Media partners: About Bologna and ZERO.

List of attending publishers and bookshops: Artphilein Editions (Switzerland), Atelier Tatanka (Italy), Cesura Publish (Italy), Depart Pour l'Image (Italy), FotoEvidence (United States/France), Giostre Edizioni (Italy), GOST Books (United Kingdom), Havaiana Papers + Tiratura (Brazil/Italy), ISIA Urbino (Italy), KABK (The Netherlands), L’Artiere (Italy), Leporello (Italy), Libreria Ulisse (Italy), Macaronibook (Belgium), Muddyisland (Italy), PhMuseum (Italy), RUST Publishing (Poland), RVM Hub (Italy), Studiofaganel (Italy), The Velvet Cell (Germany), Witty Books (Italy), Yogurt Editions (Italy), Zoetrope Athens (Greece).

Muddyisland, Pierfrancesco Celada, Instagrampier, Cover

Yogurt Editions, Waiting for the Snow, Katarzyna and Marianne Wasowska

Phil Penman: Street Scenes

By Phil Penman

Publisher : teNeues

2025 | 224 pages

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of urban photography with the latest photo book by Phil Penman, one of the most sought-after street photographers of our time. The New York-based photographer travels the world and takes photography enthusiasts on his journeys of discovery through the streets of our cities in workshops at the Leica Academy. Following his bestseller New York Street Diaries, his new book Street Scenes is an impressive homage to the world's vibrant metropolises - from the shimmering lights of New York to the romantic alleyways of Paris and the lively streets of Tokyo. Each image is a window into the emotional moments and impressive facets of urban life, masterfully captured through Phil Penman's lens. This timeless coffee table book will not only broaden your horizons, but also inspire reflection. Phil Penman is known for his ability to transform the everyday into the extraordinary - his images are not only visual works of art, but also narratives that bear witness to the diversity, vibrant life and complexity of urban existence. The photographer shows us dynamic scenes that capture vibrant life, as well as quiet moments that invite us to pause and reflect the soul of cities. Whether you are a connoisseur of photography or simply appreciate the beauty of the world: Let yourself be carried away by the extraordinary visual language of photographer Phil Penman and discover the secret stories he shows us in this illustrated book.

All About Phil Penman

Coreen Simpson: A Monograph

By Coreen Simpson

Publisher : Aperture

2025 | 224 pages

Coreen Simpson: A Monograph is the first major book dedicated to the influential photographer and jewelry designer whose career spans more than fifty years. As the second volume in the Vision & Justice Book Series—a groundbreaking initiative created by Dr. Sarah Lewis and coedited with Drs. Leigh Raiford and Deborah Willis—the monograph celebrates Simpson’s enduring impact on visual culture.

Simpson began her career as a journalist before turning to photography, capturing the richness of Black life, fashion, and identity. Her portraits of icons such as Grace Jones, Muhammad Ali, and Toni Morrison, as well as her iconic B-Boys series from the 1980s, showcase her eye for style, pride, and self-expression. The book also features her later work with collage and overpainting, alongside the story of her celebrated jewelry line, including the iconic Black Cameo worn by Rosa Parks and Rihanna.

Featuring original essays by leading voices such as Bridget R. Cooks, Rujeko Hockley, Awol Erizku, and Doreen St. Félix, as well as an in-depth interview by Deborah Willis, Coreen Simpson: A Monograph offers a multifaceted portrait of an artist whose work continues to shape the worlds of photography, fashion, and Black cultural history.

Ed Kashi: A Period in Time: Looking Back while Moving Forward, 1977-2022

By Ed Kashi

Publisher : Briscoe Center for American History

2025 | 344 pages

Photographer Ed Kashi’s passion is long-term documentary projects that immerse him in issues that need attention or people’s lives whose struggles warrant concern. He has had a lengthy and varied career with National Geographic and other major magazines, traveling around the world to tell visual stories.

Kashi’s archive, now housed at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin, houses many of his personal memories and the experiences attached to the creation of those images. More than a simple repository of images, the archive is a growing, thriving, and continually evolving organism, a living library with immense value.

Through his photography, Kashi has had an intimate, front-row seat to witness and record major events in history. His work has been a passport to worlds unseen, unveiling issues that need illumination, documenting history in the making, and capturing the human experience and the many awe-inspiring places in our fragile world. A Period in Time is a testimony to some of Kashi’s most memorable stories—people he has been privileged to observe and learn from and the places and narratives that have shaped his life, all captured one moment at a time.

All About Ed Kashi

Critical Photojournalism: Contemporary Ethics and Practices

By Tara Pixley, Judy Walgren

Publisher : ‎ Routledge

2025 | 226 pages

An essential introduction to the complexities of visual representation, this book offers a critical new framework for understanding and practicing photojournalism in a global digital context.

Critical Photojournalism guides readers through a variety of ethical, technical and business skills, plus the mental health, self-care and safety considerations necessary to thrive in the field. Drawing on their extensive industry and teaching experience, the authors provide real-world advice on how to navigate the demands of the profession while addressing the impact that photojournalism has on society and ways that photojournalists can mitigate harm. Consideration is given to understanding and disrupting implicit bias and power structures in newsrooms, as well as issues around access, working in breaking news environments and balancing informed consent with varying media laws around the world. In accessible language, this book highlights the importance of collaboration and community engagement in contemporary photojournalism and encourages students to adopt a decolonial approach to their work. Readers will learn to balance the needs for accuracy and thoughtfulness with the priorities of a global, social-media-engaged audience.

This is a key textbook for those seeking a nuanced introduction to visual journalism and/or a fresh approach to their craft. This book is supported by a website which can be accessed at www.criticalphotojournalism.com. The website includes a full-length bonus chapter on video and photojournalism, interviews with professional visual journalists, further tips and tools, and a glossary of key terms.

PhMuseum presents the first edition of Photobook Mania, a biennial dedicated to photobooks.

On 18 and 19 October in Bologna, over twenty publishers from across Europe, meetings, workshops and exhibitions

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