Take a Picture, It Will Last Longer by Brooke DiDonato is more than just a photo book. It’s an experience equivalent to receiving a Leica camera and realizing that the product was packaged to provide a similar experience to receiving a gift. Trust me, I’d know. I’ve unwrapped plenty of Leica cameras — and Brooke’s book is the closest experience I’ve ever had to owning a Leica camera in my life, and for a far more affordable price point. During the unwrapping process, I tell myself that it’s the only photo book that I’ll ever keep the box for. And after that, I need to take a break. At nearly 39 years old, I’ve realized through therapy that it’s because I’ve got kid-like excitement popping up, and that society has told me for years to just suppress it. My office has a signed Mark Seliger book, rare Todd Hido prints, and a Banksy, amongst many others. But nothing has given me this much excitement. In a world where I review many cameras, this book feels even more special than that.
