What’s On Your Coffee Table?
Photograph Rick Audet
One thing I love about going over to other people’s houses is seeing what they have on their coffee table. I know this isn’t a custom the world over, but here in the USA you’ll often find a number of books on a living room or family room table. Often these books tell a short story about the owner of the table and books. What are their interests? Are they into art or stories? And how often do they dust their house?
Ironically enough, I don’t much notice the books on my own coffee table, mainly because they are on a shelf below the table, slightly out of sight. But they are books I keep there for a reason; when I’m in need of a journey from everyday life, these are the books that I want readily at hand to remind me the things I find important in life.
And being a photographer I found that all but one of my coffee table books were either about photography directly, or contained some amazing photographs that I can look at over and over and not get bored. And I assume other photographers would have some great books I may want to add to my pile one day. With that in mind, and because it’ll be a bit hard to visit all 250,000+ of your living rooms personally before I die, I’d like to ask:
What’s on your coffee table?
Sharing up what I have, in no particular order:
- Magnificent Moments – Edited by George H Harrison – This book features some awesome photography and introductions to the many photographers behind the shot.
- National Geographic On Assignment, USA – by Priit Vesilind – It’s like something of a “Best of” compendium of USA based assignments from the wonderful pages of National Geographic
- Nightwatch; A Practical Guide To Viewing The Universe – by Terence Dickinson – This is the non-photography book, but a great guide to have around, especially for interested children.
- Orbit – by Jay Apt, Michael Helfret and Justin Wilkinson – Another National Geographic book. Shots of the Earth from space that are simply stunning.
- Antarctica: The Global Warning – by Sebastian Copeland – A gift from a brother, this book attempts to document the changes global warming is creating in Antarctica.
- America’s Spectacular National Parks – Edited by Dana Levy and Letitia Burns O’Connor – This is one huge book!! Comes with many fold out panoramas of the great Parks in the USA. A great virtual tour of the Parks system.
Share what’s on your coffee table, especially if its a photographic gem others would enjoy, in the comments section below.
58 Responses to “What’s On Your Coffee Table?” - Add Yours
June 19th, 2009 at 2:33 am
Nothing spectacular… usually about 5 to 10 matchbox cars, diggers, dump trucks, trash trucks or the occasional bowl of watermelon, our coffee table is our son’s playtable.
June 19th, 2009 at 2:57 am
On mine…aside from coffee, two small bottles of vitamin E & C, a bigger bottle of calcium, dried roses for now (and for two weeks now I think as i like the way it looked) though I usually have fresh flowers there. You’ll find a book there sometimes but they stray more often on my bed rather than on my coffee table. That’s about it!
June 19th, 2009 at 3:03 am
I am not a big fan of books, although my coffee table contains a selection of various photography magazines from the last few months.
June 19th, 2009 at 3:24 am
I have a combined bookshelf/LCD screen stand/coffee table. Items found on my table:
full can of beer
lens hood
coffee mug (empty)
post-its
pile of A4s
a festival ticket
DIY flash diffuser
LCD screen
Canon AE-1
June 19th, 2009 at 3:31 am
Like you I have a shelf underneath the table with some of my favourite books and I have one you would love.
Panorama Norway by Pal Hermansen -a love letter to the beauty and drama of the Norwegian landscape.
Not only is the photography breathtaking but the descriptions are poetic and passionate. Pal is a dentist, photographer, homeopath and aurhor. I had the great good fortune to travel the coast of Norway and it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and Pal has captured that beauty perfectly. I don’t think he does much dentistry anymore! I just read on the book cover that he won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 1993. I love this book!
June 19th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Two Pokemon cards, my personal wedding album and my sample wedding album. Mens health, Shape, Cosmo, and a Bridal fantasy Magazine. 1 princess shoe, its a lefty from snow white and my point and shoot Olympus digi. Other than that just my two feet…
June 19th, 2009 at 3:49 am
On my table is my medical supplys for my trake (I have esophigal ?Cancer & had trachia removed) & diabetic supplys,Various photo mags & pictures of Grandchildren & at times either my D40 or D40x
June 19th, 2009 at 3:55 am
The Sound I Saw by Roy Carava
Nightmares in the Sky essay by Stephen King , pictures by F-stop Fitzgerald
Achieving Photographic Style by Michael Freeman
June 19th, 2009 at 4:20 am
I’ve got a lease contract, two phone books, the game kingdom hearts 2, and a peg game. I don’t even think I own any photography books..but that’s probably a symptom of being a poor college student.
June 19th, 2009 at 5:05 am
I’ve got a coffee mug, a plate because I just finished lunch :) juice, sculpy (clay) in the shape of a slab of rotting cypress tree trunk, a deck of cards, pens, pencils, coupons, needle nose pliers, remotes, and a letter to my brother. :-) I love seeing what people have on their coffee tables too..
June 19th, 2009 at 5:08 am
The Moment It Clicks, by Joe McNally, a book of Ansel Adams prints, and a big fat candle.
June 19th, 2009 at 5:13 am
Coffee table?
Spend so much time traveling my house is rented and all my stuff that may have ended up on the coffee table is in storage…
June 19th, 2009 at 5:25 am
The Photographer’s Eye – Michael Freeman
100 Photoshop tips & tricks – (can’t remember the author)
6 or 7 remote controls
1 gin martini
June 19th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Dust.
Way too many remote control units.
Memos, reports, and other detritus my boss hands out.
June 19th, 2009 at 5:57 am
Three Books
http://www.s-a-d-publishers.ca/a_road_for_canada/
http://www.moodsofnature.com/books/mysteriousrockies.jpg
http://bit.ly/Y9sSd
Remote controls, other sundry items and dust.
I’m still looking for a coffee table book about coffee tables.
June 19th, 2009 at 5:58 am
On my trunk which my coffee table are a small lamp, a small carriage clock which is on a doily, 2 coasters, and 4 books of poetry – two by Mary Oliver. The other two are assorted writers. Now if had asked me about what’s next to my sofa in my retreat. I would have said, “Why all my photography books, of course!” :-D
June 19th, 2009 at 6:06 am
Lots of stuff. But on stop is Within the Frame. I am enjoying reading it chapter by chapter. And counting down the days the boys go back to school so I can play on my own. :)
June 19th, 2009 at 6:23 am
Currently, New York Noir. Old crime scene photos. Not as gory as you would think. More focused on faces of victims, etc.
http://www.amazon.com/New-York-Noir-Photos-Archive/dp/0847821722/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211482844&sr=8-1
Oh, and many unidentifiable sticky substances that are most likely candy related, a PS3 controller, pop tart wrapper, scattering of crumbs, and my youngest child.
June 19th, 2009 at 6:29 am
What passes for a coffee table is actually not-too-sturdy unfinished deck furniture. The contents of which is about 30 photography picture books. Way too many and way too heavy.
June 19th, 2009 at 7:08 am
thats a very good article. too bad i just finish the coffee soon and goes away. perhaps more shooting?
the last time i had such fun was not by having some books, but a flash and some coffee dripping.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shoken/2600559012/in/set-72157603868009696/
June 19th, 2009 at 7:10 am
I am a book-a-holic. LOL! Everything from photography books to PHP and JAVA.
However, currently on my coffee table is:
Nude Photography – The Art and the Craft – this is my niche. glamour and nude photography. I have at least 10 books on glamour and nude photography and lighting solutions with diagrams. This is my favorite of them all as if goes from history to present. An excellent read!
Beyond Portraiture – by Bryan Peterson is all about creative people photography and deals with overcoming hurdles to getting people to allow you to take their picture.
Professional Wedding Photography – What self-respecting wedding photographer doesn’t own or hasn’t at least read a Lovegrove book? UK’s best wedding photographers, they are masters of their craft and shoot in a style very similar to mine. It is a great resource for wedding photographers and leads you through the complete process, giving suggestions on how to improve and get the best from your photography business. A++
Photoshop User magazine – As a member of NAPP, I get it delivered by post. It is my favorite magazine.
June 19th, 2009 at 7:44 am
“Reflection of Man” by Stanley Marcus.
Not only is he of famous department store fame(Neiman Marcus), but he was also a fantastic photographer. I was fortunate to view many of his images while on exhibition here in the Dallas area this year, WOW! Incredible images of high society, style and fashion of the 40’s-50’s…incredible stuff.
June 19th, 2009 at 7:59 am
“Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Man, The Image & The World: A Retrospective” by Peter Galassi, Jean Clair, Claude Cookman, and Robert Delpire.
The book’s actually balancing on the armrest of the sofa nearest the coffee table, but that’s only because the coffee table is covered with various remotes, papers and the like.
June 19th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Teats, bottles, nilstat, pouches, old local newspapers, coloured pencils and occassionally a naughty swamp wallaby orphan joey will jump up there just because they can. Underneath there is often an orphned young wombat scratching its rear end.
A great topic for the weekly competition.
Sandra
June 19th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Let’s see. I have a couple photography books one Peter Lik called Spirit of America and another called Bridges by Agia Sassi Perino and Giorgio Farggiana; a library discard called Kennedy by Theodore G. Sorensen; The Ultimate Bar book for summer drinks and last but not least Nikon D60 Field Guide!
June 19th, 2009 at 8:08 am
I dont have a coffee table… But if I did… I would probably be filled with books and magazines… so much so that you couldnt put your coffee down on it…
June 19th, 2009 at 8:25 am
My coffee table holds lots of stuff, books, dishes, remote controls, and whatever my interest of the day/week/month/year is. Presently it holds my stitching project, some books on blogging, Adobe InDesign and gardening and a takeout menu.
June 19th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Currently on my coffee table: One Dean Koontz novel (already read, being used as a coaster), a 1/2 empty cup of coffee, an assortment of my daughter’s toys (by assortment I mean almost all of them), the owner’s manual to my new camera (Canon T1i), TV and DVD remotes, and the Wii remote. When my daughter wakes up from her nap, I anticipate the toys being relocated to the floor.
Another interesting place to look at reading material is the bed-side table. I’ve found that people often choose coffee table books and other items very carefully as these items are an advertisement for the owner. Best foot forward and all that. Checking out the items found on a bed-side table can give more insight into the owner.
Here is my catalog of bed-side items: iPod and headphones, commemorative parade mug shaped like an old fire nozzle from when I was a volunteer fire fighter (being used to hold change), the box for my new camera, various “chic-lit” novels belonging to my wife and various parenting guides.
June 19th, 2009 at 9:17 am
“Let Truth be the Prejudice” and “Master of the Photographic Essay” by Eugene Smith ( a famous photographer born in 1918).
A book on Creative Advertising
and a book on Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait by Michael Grecco
Underneath are museum guides from 8 trips to Europe and some dvds.
June 19th, 2009 at 9:41 am
I dont use my coffee tables but rather i throw everything i would like at hand on the side table of my L-shaped desk arrangement. I usually keep my 13″ macbook & iphone along with my photography books as well as the books I am in the process of reading, books I have just finish and books i want to read next.
right now I have
Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolfe (excellent book about neuroscience, reading and dyslexia)
The Art of War
QED by Richard Feynman
Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder
Solitude by Anthony Storr (great book written by a psychotherapist about the psychology of solitude)
35mm Handbook by Michael Langford (from my dad, who used to photograph a lot in the 80s and early 90s. He gave me the gift of photography when he handed me a Kodak Easyshare z1012IS about 7 months ago.)
50 Photographers you should know
The New Photography Manual (decent book for beginners)
Composition Photo Workshop (haven’t started it yet)
June 19th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Until recently our coffee table was in the garage for space reasons, but it has now returned to prime position in the middle of the room and currently has a toddler sitting on it with a magna-doodle, a toy garage, a spare nappy and half a banana. Can’t leave expensive books lying around here!
June 19th, 2009 at 10:36 am
I have my laptop computer, the user guide to my new cell phone, some coasters that sometimes get used ,for glasses, some computer speakers, and a lot of misc junk. I used to keep my camera manual also on the table but I recently moved it!
June 19th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Kids books, kids magazines, toy flashlight, a kid-used tissue, a kids’ craft project. Hmm, I see a pattern here!
June 19th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
on our coffee table is my b/f’s laptop, his cordless mouse, probably a coaster with a glass on it,..maybe some earphones, and probably both the remotes. Oh, and recently sometimes my kitten.
June 19th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
AFRICA South Africa – Botswana – Rwanda 2008 by Stephen Powell
I’m a wildlife artist and this is a book of my photographs taken on a reference gathering trip to Africa.
Edition of just 2 copies. Used the free software of the web and produced my own. Blog of the trip http://wildpainter.blogspot.com/ for some sample shots
June 19th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Graduation Thank You Notes that need to be sent off. Change that always seems to land on the coffee table. Two remotes, set of Clemson coasters, cell phone, and Lehninger’s Principles Of Biochemistry.
June 19th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
On my coffee table… usually something pretty like flowers or a statue, the latest issue of National Geographic, and a pile of books, photos, notes, and other keepers from my latest trip, which I promise I’ll get to one of these days. These probably vary, depending on whether I’ve had to clean it off for company. But I do notice that company loves to read whatever I’ve left there!
June 19th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Not coffe table as such, but coffee and a table!!!
I would be really happy to receive your comments on this pic of mine.
Thanks
aswathy
June 19th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I have my D200, journal, hilighter, pens, PhotoClub Vancouver 2008 exhibit book, The Eden Project (James Hollis), 2 pysankas, tumbler of red wine and a few copies of Photosho magazine. Oh, and my iPhone.
June 19th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Ansel Adams’ 400 Photographs by Ansel Adams (link)
June 19th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I don’t have anything on my coffee table. Im a neat freak. Haha
June 19th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
My coffee table is covered with issues of Gourmet Traveller magazine. Gorgeous food and travel photography plus recipes. That and bills. And empty coffee cups. And a slightly full one that looks hungry.
The photography books don’t live there. They live on the shelf in the study beside The Comfiest Armchair In The World. Sometimes they visit the pile beside the bed. Next to TCAITW is Alfred Gregory: Photographs from Everest to Africa, Henri Cartier-Bresson’s Scrapbook and Taken by Storm by Storm Thorgerson, photos from the whole career of the guy who did Pink Floyd’s album covers.
June 19th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Aside from the remote and a collection of pottery coasters, my living room coffee table contains a brag book with photos of my twin grandchildren; Annie Leibovitz at Work, an autobiography of the woman who photographed John Lennon and Yoko Ono for Rolling Stone; The Life of a Photograph by Sam Abell; and On Ancient Wings: The Sandhills Cranes of North America. Living in Nebraska, the cranes are a big part of my spring photography, as they migrate north. Downstairs coffee table contains books on photographing NE, photography magazines and my camera manual. Great question!
June 20th, 2009 at 1:39 am
For what passes as a coffee table in my house, (not much space), I have:
Terry Hadlen’s ‘Ghost Towns and Mining Districts of Montana’ (Historical photography is my passion and I can’t say enough about how useful this tome is.)
Tom Clancy’s ‘The Bear and the Dragon’
Janice Winsor’s ‘Solaris 8: System Administrator’s Reference
Paul Water’s ‘Solaris Administration: A Beginner’s Guide’ [I have an old SparcStation I play around with.]
Dan Ablum’s ‘Lightwave Power Guide’ [A 3d rendering package I run on an old SGI Indy.]
Two old ‘Mountain Dew’ cups
Three pairs of scissors
One hemostat
A tablespoon
Exacto knife
Box from my 1G iPod Touch
eye drops
two pair reading glasses
three remote controls
pad of scratch paper
“Magic Maps” [really just a print out of Google maps to historic sites I visit or am planning to visit.]
June 20th, 2009 at 2:25 am
Coffee table? You mean I’m supposed to have one? I keep the phone, phone books, and book of the week on the end table. The coffee table is in storage with a bunch of boxes sitting on it.
Trevor, see
http://digital-photography-school.com/whats-on-your-coffee-table/comment-page-1#comment-53973#ixzz0ItULnRUq&D
http://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Table-Book/dp/190103304X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245428236&sr=1-1
June 20th, 2009 at 6:40 am
2 remotes, xbox headphones, xbox controller, another remote thingy, computer mouse, and a few other electronic gizmos I can’t identify….can you tell I live with a teen-age boy and techno-whiz of a husband?
June 20th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I have two photography monographs on my coffee table. One is William Albert Allard’s “Portraits of America.” The other is Sam Abell’s rare “Stay This Moment”, which I purchased on eBay after selling my shotgun to my barber in order to raise the funds. For many reasons, I treasure this book.
June 20th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Coffee cup rings
June 20th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I have a candle centerpiece, a doily with my bible 2 remotes and some type of advertisement. I used to have all kinds of magazines, books, toys and what not but when we bought our new house I tried to turn over a new leaf.
We’ll see how long that lasts.
June 20th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
We have:
GIMP manual (mine)
The Collected Stories of Richard Yates (wife’s)
Three catalogs of horse-related items (daughter’s)
One clothes catalog (daughter’s)
Four coasters
Chewed-up cardboard tube (the dog’s).
June 21st, 2009 at 1:32 am
I have 2 candles (slightly burnt) on a plate my mom made when I graduated, one scrapbook of when my husband and I lived in Hawaii for 2 years, El arco y la lira by Octavio Paz, scriptures, a blue whiteboard marker, and a receipt from my husband’s surgery from Thursday. Ok, so I haven’t cleaned in a while…
June 21st, 2009 at 4:53 am
nikon d40x, candle, the new iPhone’s box, remote, this lap top, a book I made for my fiance, my wedding planning book and a photo album of my trip across the US!
June 21st, 2009 at 8:30 am
They’re packed up right now, but I usually have “5000+ Days,” which is a journalism photography book, “1000 pictures from around the world” that’s an old book of pictures and “A Concise History of Photography” which is an older book of the classic photos and styles. Also, “My Hometown Chico” with pictures of the area I live in right now.
June 22nd, 2009 at 5:55 am
I don’t have a coffee table. :\
June 22nd, 2009 at 5:57 am
On my coffee table: candles and flowers
Under my coffee table (glass top): travel scrapbook of photos, a photo album of my nephew that I made, an a book of Rome, Italy Then and Now
June 22nd, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Coffee table??? That should be renamed “a place for the kid’s toys and other things that don’t belong there”.
I have Lego’s galore on mine and a huge Star Wars Imperial destroyer (I think that;s what it is). A flashlight, a water bottle, a coke can, a travel fan, a dead plant, papers, a digital picture frame, lotion bottle, Lego Creator PC game, psp games and some dust maybe
June 24th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I have a stack of photography books, a few remote controls, a glass shaped swan, and a bit of space for my coffee cup on my coffee table. I do tidy it now and again, and by the end of the evening I dont know why I bothered. Thanks for this great site.
July 10th, 2009 at 1:58 am
On my coffee table are: Top level-a marble chess board. The pieces are put away in the attic for now; some mail and papers that really shouldn’t be there; hand lotion; DVD remote; our cloth napkins; various tiles that we use as coasters
Bottom level: several coffee table books (I love coffee table books!); several health-related and self-help books; current issues of a pet care and a shoe catalog; my company directory; various mail and paper that shouldn’t be there; my coupon wallet; my journal.
I keep my camera put away up in my studio, for fear the cats will run off with it!
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