Lumiere Press is the private press of Michael Torosian. In the fine press tradition, the books are composed in lead, hand printed and hand bound. The press is devoted exclusively to photography, and each book aspires in its concept, graphic design, and bookmaking craftsmanship to be the manifestation of its artistic content. The shop's first printing press was acquired in 1981, and in 1986 the publishing program was launched with the publication of Edward Weston: Dedicated to Simplicity.
As objects of the book arts as well as contributions to the literature of photography, the books have been acquired by over 100 public institutions, among them: The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, Toronto; International Center of Photography, New York; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; Alinari Museum, Florence; New York Public Library; J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; and George Eastman House, Rochester.
The books have also been recognized for design and production excellence – notably, inclusion in the American Institute of Graphic Arts venerable “Fifty Books of the Year”, and a succession of awards from the Alcuin Society. As well, Lumiere Press has been the subject of numerous profiles and reviews.
The following links provide the documentary history of the press. More can be found in the title catalogue and picture galleries in the Archive section of the site.
Lumiere Press Books in Public Collections - a comprehensive list of the museums, universities and public libraries that have collected the press's titles. Collectors can use this resource to find collections in their area
Michael Torosian Curriculum Vitae - a compilation of the accomplishments of the proprietor in the fields of photography, writing, design and publishing
Press Profiles - selected profiles from newspapers and magazines about the history, production methods and ethos of the press
Published Writing by Michael Torosian - a selection from among the book reviews, profiles and occasional pieces that have been written for newspapers and magazines between writing assignments for Lumiere Press
Intern Program - Since 1987 Lumiere Press has conducted a program to enable interns to learn about our unique approach to publishing. For information email or phone. Go to Contact