Steve Gross Books

The book features over one hundred black-and-white photographs capturing the haunting beauty of abandoned landscapes in Schoharie County, New York. Photographers Steve Gross and Susan Daley explore the aesthetics of decay, showcasing crumbling structures and overgrown fields that tell the story of a once-thriving farming community. Accompanied by a reflective essay from novelist Jeffrey Lent, the collection evokes a sense of quiet optimism, suggesting that through perseverance, one can rediscover hope and elevated expectations amidst uncertainty.

Creole houses, found from New Orleans to northern Louisiana, are one of the nation’s unique architectural treasures. A blend of French and Spanish colonial styles, with West Indian, Canadian, and other influences, these lovely houses were astutely designed to withstand their sultry, subtropical environment. Significantly, most major examples withstood the devastating hurricanes of 2005. No other book of photography evocatively examines the development of this singular American style, embracing architecture and interior decoration, which thrived from the early eighteenth through the mid-nineteenth century. Creole Houses offers an appreciation of Creole culture as seen through its historic homes and celebrates not only a memorable way of life, but the history, and the unique sensibility, that produced it.

"The American farmhouse represents integrity, ingenuity, self-reliance, and agricultural heritage. Today, the farmhouse is a rare survivor from another era that can be found sensitively reinterpreted by artists, carefully preserved by original owners, or functionally maintained by farm-to-table artisanal food producers. In more than 200 stunning images, Steve Gross and Sue Daley have painstakingly photographed 20 of the most beautifully preserved farmhouses in the northeast. Some are working farmhouses that have been passed down in families for generations; some have been made productive again by a whole new generation of organic farmers. Still others have been rescued from neglect and restored to their former splendor. Each house is accompanied by an overview of the farmhouse owner and how he or she maintains the property. Fans of the farm-to-table movement as well as historic architecture and preservation will find this an intriguing and beautiful read"-- Provided by publisher

Exploring the remnants of working-class commercial architecture from 1870 to 1940, this work offers a poignant examination of the historical significance and cultural impact of these structures. It highlights the stories they tell about the communities they served and the socioeconomic conditions of their time. Through detailed analysis and evocative imagery, the book captures the essence of an era marked by transformation and resilience in the face of changing urban landscapes.