Bond, Howard. Light Motifs by Howard Bond. Signed first edition with extras.

Goodrich Press, 1984. First edition in stiff wraps (also issued in hardcover), SIGNED.  4 pages of text and 30 black & white illustrations. Very good with some spots of shelf wear on covers, interior pages fine.  Signed by photographer on front endpaper. Extra plates 2 and 5 laid in, suitable for framing, as well as three pieces of promotional literature. The extra plates have crimps at lower left, not affecting images and would be easily covered with a mat. Photographs in black and white of details in English cathedrals by Howard Bond, taken with an 8 x 10 view camera. Printed in laser scanned duotones by Gardner/Fulmer Lithograph with extremely high fidelity to the original prints. 11 inches in height (28cm).  Summary:

Light Motifs by Howard Bond is a photographic monograph first published in 1984 that explores the expressive possibilities of light, form, and structure through black-and-white imagery. Rather than documenting specific architectural sites in a conventional way, Bond uses his 8×10-inch view camera to isolate and abstract details of village and rural churches and cathedrals in England—focusing on elements of light and shadow, surfaces, and design to evoke the spirit and atmosphere of these ancient buildings.

The book comprises approximately 30 meticulously crafted black-and-white photographs, accompanied by a brief text, that distill architectural features into visual motifs—patterns of light and dark, textures of stone and wood, and interplay of geometric forms. Bond’s approach emphasizes how light shapes our perception of space and material, transforming ordinary architectural fragments into compositions that are both meditative and formally resonant.

In this way, Light Motifs serves as both a visual study of light as a creative force and a contemplative appreciation of architectural heritage, inviting viewers to see familiar structures through the lens of abstraction, pattern, and tonal nuance.

Howard Bond (1931–2024) was an American fine-art photographer, educator, and master of large-format black-and-white photography. Born in Napoleon, Ohio, Bond earned degrees in music and mathematics from the University of Michigan and initially worked as a high school band director and computer programmer before fully pursuing photography. His artistic trajectory was shaped by studying under masters like Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, and Brett Weston, which inspired his commitment to precise darkroom technique, high-contrast silver gelatin printing, and formal composition. Known for his dramatic landscapes, detailed architectural studies, and intimate, abstract close-ups of natural and man-made objects, Bond shared his technical expertise widely through instructional articles in Photo Techniques magazine and international photography workshops. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for over six decades, Bond produced numerous acclaimed portfolios and monographs—such as Light Motifs—and established himself as a respected figure in modern American landscape and fine-art photography.