“What the hell is is Photo Book Club? Is that just…a book club where you discuss photo books? Where do I sign up?”
Those were my exact questions when I saw the post online for the event hosted by Cherry & Thyme at All Good Books in Columbia.
Apparently, it was their third one. How I missed the other two, we’ll never know, but spoiler alert: I’ve already purchased a photo book for the next one.
This event came at such a pivotal time for me because I’ve been in the process of merging my identities as a writer and photographer for months so naturally when I saw this event at one of my favorite local independent bookstores, I said, “hell yeah.”
My copy of “The Art of Photography” by Bruce Barnbaum stared at me and I wondered if it was too technical (it was) so I purchased my first photo book from a local bookstore.
It feels weird that I’ve been taking photos most of my life and have never bought a photo book. I’m going to use the excuse that I’ve spent these last few years poureds myself into my writing. In turn, I have purchased dozens of novels. I’ve surrounded myself with writers. I’m in a writing group. I’ve been to countless author talks and literary events. I built my online community around writing and I’ve always loved photography, but I just never thought I’d have a photography community so I didn’t try to immerse myself in it. I just kept dabbling and putting my photos out there, convinced I’d never have that community. That didn’t stop me from secretly wishing for it.
I was so excited for this event and the possibility of finding a photography community that I almost stayed home because I didn’t want to run the risk of being disappointed. I was afraid it’d be snooty and filled with people that didn’t look like me and didn’t care what I had to say or what book I brought. On the other hand, I didn’t want to regret not going so I just thought I’d linger in the area and assess the situation.
I got there forty-five minutes early because I needed to write and there was one other person there, my phone was dying, and my favorite booksellers weren’t working. Still, I stayed and wrote, and before I knew it, someone was setting up and the event was starting.
I couldn’t even tell you the sequence of events because the night sped by in a blur of passing books around, conversation about photography, Savannah, photo walks, and the future, including possible events. I felt like I belonged even if I was the only photographer that didn’t bring their own photo book. That didn’t stop me from taking photos of the event—something I never do because I rarely capture people. We ate candy, talked about our favorite photos, and enjoyed the things we all loved: photos.
My favorite photo, and you’ll find it on Cherry & Thyme’s Instagram, was a photo of a hardwood floor in a church in Savannah with several small holes. It was meant to provide air for the enslaved seeking freedom. I’ve seen similar images, but I guess it hit harder than usual because of current events and how so many people in power seem content to repeat the same atrocities in a different font.
We dabbled a bit into politics, but didn’t let ourselves get too worked up right before the event ended. I think it was more than a successful night because I’d do that every night if I could. Do I think it’s a more accessible and laid-back book club? Of course. No prior reading required? Sign me up. If you’re aching for a photography community and you’re local to the South Carolina Midlands, there’s supposed to be another Photo Book Club coming up soon. Also, just be sure to keep an eye out for future Cherry & Thyme events because they were incredibly kind and seem devoted to gathering people of all kinds in Soda City.
If you’re a writer, photographer, or overall creative, let this be your sign to branch out and see if there are any events in your town. Especially if you’re looking for community and need a reminder that your world isn’t limited to just you.
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