How to Make a Book with Steidl (2010)

The finest photography books in the world are being produced in an old publishing house in Göttingen: on top comes in the idea, at the bottom comes out the book. Almost 40 years ago, this ideal makes the 19-year-old Gerhard Steidl establish a publishing house. Today, internationally most renowned photographers queue to work with him. In spite of the humble staff of only 45 employees, the house's output amounts to 300 books of art and literature per year. And it produces for Karl Lagerfeld all the catalogues, flyers and invitations to Chanel's Haute-Couture-Shows. The film shows Gerhard Steidl working with Joel Sternfeld, Robert Frank, Ed Ruscha, Robert Adams, John Cohen and many others; inbetween he visits his old companion Günter Grass. Prominent encounters, an incredible number of edited books and the work in the house impressively present the dimensions of Steidl's work and, last but not least, show the importance of photography books for the art.