Photographer of nudes and Parisian passers-by David Luraschi's Bookshelf

Paris-based photographer David Luraschi is as adept at photographing undulating hills as he is sprawling nudes, and he brings his unique perspective to both. You might know him best for his series of photographs of people spotted on the streets of Paris photographed from behind – a project that started on his Instagram and has since been splashed about all over the internet.

This week we asked David to show us his five favourite books and his selection was as diverse as his subject matter. Here he is!

Robert Bresson: Notes sur le Cinematographe

Robert Bresson is known for his mechanical and methodological approach to filmmaking. He made two of my favourite films, Pickpocket (1959) and L’Argent (1983). My father gave me this book maybe ten years ago and it is always at reach. This book is an essay, a collection of reflections and meditations on the process of making films but I believe you can apply this to many other things.

Ralph Gibson: Déjà Vu

Déjà Vu is just like Bresson’s book to me, I open it up every now and then. We had this in the house growing up so I have been looking at since I was small. Déjà Vu is one of three of a trilogy in which Gibson builds strong, graceful sequences.

Charles Bukowski: Ham on Rye

This book had a strong effect on me. It made me want to write, I’ve attempted to plagiarise this many times. The writing in this one punches you in the face and you keep asking for more. Semi-autobiographical, Bukowski talks about his youth growing up in Los Angeles during the Great Depression.

Harry Callahan: Eleanor

Pete Halupka turned me on to this book – at the time I believe we both had girlfriends we were photographing a lot. I often believe that when you photograph someone it’s the work of two people, even if there is just one camera. This book is a collection of photographs of Eleanor by her husband Harry Callahan over three decades (the 1930s, 40s and 50s), and it’s an intimate window into Callahan’s photographic exploration and devotion to his wife. I show it to every person that steps through my door.

Various: C’est Pour les Roux

I own the only copy. It’s a fanzine my friends put together for my 30th birthday, it’s the best gift I ever received. The book is a collection of archives, jokes, road trips photos, pornography… sprawling over the last 15 years. This was a huge trigger for me. Since then I have produced books for my parents and best friends.