Best photography books.

America on the Ropes: A Pictorial History of the Johnson-Jeffries Fight by Wayne A. Rozen Casey Press, LLC, 2004 $70, ISBN 0-976-29640-3

Here, the story of the famous fight between two prizefighters: lack Johnson, "the man with the golden arm," and James Jefferies, "the Great White Hope" is told in its entirety. Using eyewitness accounts and blow-by-blow images of the fight, this book is a pleasure for any fan of the sport.

Carrie Mae Weems: The Hampton Project by Deborah Willis, Jeanne Zeidler Carrie Mae Weems, Frances B. Johnston Aperture, February 2001 $35, ISBN 0-893-81913-1

This book combines the modern photographs of Weems and the 1,900 works found in Frances B. Johnston's Hampton Album, shot at Hampton Institute (present-day Hampton University).

In Origins: African Wisdom for Every Day by Danielle and Olivier Follmi Harry N. Abrams, November, 2005 $29.95, ISBN 0-810-95945-3

Equal parts pictorial tour and African proverb, readers are given a verse and picture for each day of the year and a description of the subject and location of each picture.

Jazz Zoom: Carryin' It On by Desdemone Bardin DVC Press, 2004 $49.95, ISBN 0-975-48120-7

Using black-and-white photography and in-depth interviews with jazz musicians, the late Bardin's book is a treat for any music lover. Her love of the artists and the music is proof that good rhythms transcend all boundaries.

Life and Afterlife in Benin by Alex Van Gelder, Okwui Enwezor Phaidon Press, July 2005 $59.95, ISBN 0-714-84513-2

West African art specialist Alex van Gelder presents a rare collection of historical African photography, set in the country of Benin.

One Shot Harris: The Photographs of Charles Harris Photographs by Charles "Teenie" Harris Stanley Crouch Harry N. Abrams, October 2002 $35, ISBN 0-810-93272-5

Known for rarely reshooting his subjects, Charles "One Shot" Harris used the backdrop of Pittsburgh to capture everyday life. Whether it's people cooling off by a fire hydrant or a superstar's close-up, One Shot is sure to deliver.

Romare Bearden Photographs by Frank Stewart David C. Driskell, Ruth Fine Pomegranate, October 2004 $39.95, ISBN 0-764-92979-8

Photographs of the artist are highlighted in this intimate pictorial biography.

Separate, But Equal: The Mississippi Photographs of Henry Clay Anderson by Henry Clay Anderson PublicAffairs, October 2002 $35, ISBN 1-586-48092-8

The daffy lives of middle-class blacks residing in Greenville, Mississippi, during the Jim Crow Era are captured in this collection.

Tha Bloc: Words, Photographs and Baltimore City in Black White and Gray by t.p. Luce Obie Joe Media, LLC, July 2004 $24.95, ISBN 0-974-45600-4

A collection of works that easily display both the artistic and sociological sides of one of America's often forgotten cities.

The Sound I Saw: Improvisation on a Jazz Theme by Roy DeCarava Phaidon Press, September 2001 $75, ISBN 0-714-84123-4

DeCarava offers readers a look at the New York jazz scene during the 1960s, blending both his own poetry and classic style of black-and-white photography.

To Life in the Small Corners by Carol A. Scribner Butterfly Productions, May 2005 $48, ISBN 0-975-29360-5

From the desert to the jungle, this book takes us on a visual journey around the globe, touching upon the peoples that inhabit these remote places. Scribner's photos and writings vividly capture their lives.