Dashwood Books
A Photography Lover's Essential NYC Stop.
I stumbled across Dashwood Books at 33 Bond Street in Manhattan's NoLita neighborhood1 while researching material for a subway photography project. What I found was a bookstore entirely devoted to photography, which is something pretty unique that I hadn't encountered before in my life.
With a specialized collection right in the heart of Manhattan, every single book on their shelves focuses on photography, which creates an unusual browsing experience, especially when compared to large book store chains. The location also helps, because puts you in one of Manhattan's most creative neighborhoods, surrounded by galleries and the energy that draws artists to New York.
Dashwood Books’ curation goes beyond typical photography sections found elsewhere. I discovered limited edition publications where photographers have produced only a few copies, books I'd never seen in larger stores. These publications represent photography in its most intentional form, from established masters to emerging contemporary voices. They also have fun Polaroids around the store, I don’t know if you can buy them or they’re there just for fun.
Yeah, Dashwood Books is about that: fun.
While I was there, two staff members from Magnum Photos were browsing and talking with Dave (at the counter), about Magnum's new slide digitization and scanning project. Overhearing their conversation gave me a sense of how seriously the photography community takes this place. Representatives from one of the world's most prestigious photography agencies don't just drop by random bookstores. I must confess: the conversation was way too much interesting to ignore, and I candidly got involved, thanked the staff for the work they do, and how relevant and cool Magnum is!
When I asked Dave about books covering subway photography, he sat down at the cashier’s computer and searched through references, showing me multiple options that matched what I was looking for. His knowledge of their inventory impressed me, as he knew both the obvious choices and books I wouldn't have found browsing on my own. This wasn't rushed customer service, and he seemed genuinely interested in helping me find the right material.
Thanks Dave, you rock!
Dashwood Books operates Tuesday through Sunday, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with Mondays closed. They also run Dashwood Projects, their gallery space at 63 East 4th Street, which presents contemporary photography exhibitions Wednesday through Saturday, 1 to 6 PM, it worths visiting, and if you are around the NYC area, let me know if you are interested and we can go for a photo walk ending there! (
, here’s a nice suggestion!)
The store and Gallery forms a combination that creates something I hadn't seen elsewhere, because you can encounter new work in the gallery, then explore related books or similar artists in the store. It builds connections that help you understand the medium better.
My new favorite book store!
In our digital age, Dashwood Books preserves something I didn't realize I missed: the physical experience of photography books. The weight of quality paper, the intentional sequencing of images, the way light hits a printed photograph. Together, these elements change how you experience photography in a more mature and intentional way, rather than just scrolling zombie instagram feeds about photographers taking photos of puddles, birds, and silhouettes.
I spent more time there than I planned (couldn’t help but tune into someone else’s conversation, my favorite guilty pleasure, haha), but I discovered perspectives I hadn't considered before. Whether you're researching something specific or just exploring, the place rewards curiosity.
Dashbook Books heavily inspired me to resume my book project about Subway shots.
For anyone interested in photography, either if you are a resident or just visiting NYC, I'd recommend adding Dashwood Books to your list. The combination of rare finds, knowledgeable staff, and its role as a meeting place for photography professionals makes it worth the trip. Here’s the info:
Dashwood Books
33 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012
Tuesday-Sunday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Phone: 212-387-8520 (212, what a luxury!)
Email: info@dashwoodbooks.com
Website: dashwoodbooks.com
I'm always looking for new recommendations. Please leave a comment in the below note with a book recommendation! Right now, my head is into subway photography and a project I’m doing with CineStill 800T, and my favorite inspirations so far are SUBWAY, by Bruce Davidson.
And as usual, thanks for reading so far! It means the world to me when someone read my stuff deliberately and interact either via DM or comments. It’s not a dopamine ride, it’s a true connection, I think Substack has the power of offering that, everyone seems interesting here!
Cheers, and see you in the next one, don’t forget to pay Dashwood a visit and say hi to Dave! ☮️
Manhattan’s NoLita neighborhood (short for North of Little Italy) is a small, upscale area known for its boutique shops, trendy cafés, and quiet charm, as it’s bordered by SoHo, Little Italy, and the Lower East Side. It blends old New York character with a modern, minimalist vibe.
Wow, I grew up in NYC and never knew about this place. When I go back I will definitely add this to my list of must see places. 25 years in one place and I still don’t know everything about it 😆 Thank you! 🙏
How did you know? He has my book! David is the best.