The Bookshelf - #7 - Todd Hido - On Landscape, Interiors and the Nude
On Landscape, Interiors and the Nude
Todd Hido
Aperture
Available on Amazon from £18.65
I really like Todd Hido’s work. There’s a really distinctive style to it and his low light stuff has a clear moody, ethereal quality to it - it really stands out and gives you a lot to think about.
This book, as the title says shows and talks about his landscapes, interior shots and nudes. For me, it’s the landscapes that are stand out, but maybe that’s because it’s what I do and it’s what I know. They are very different the shots that I take, but I think that’s what I like about them. His landscapes in particular create a feeling of isoaltion, mystery and intrigue and I especially like the ones which are shot at night in winter because they feel so isolated and desolate.
This book however, isn’t just an exploration or collection of his landscapes, it as the title says, looks at Landscapes, Interiors and the Nude.
That said, let’s start with the landscapes which are typically shot at night or in dim, overcast light—depict anonymous American suburbs. Houses glow from within, seen through mist, rain, or darkness, suggesting unseen narratives behind closed doors. These scenes feel cinematic, inviting the viewer to imagine stories rather than observe facts.
The interiors extend this sense of absence. Rooms appear recently occupied yet empty, with soft, diffused light and careful compositions that hint at human presence without showing it directly. They function as psychological spaces, reinforcing themes of memory, longing, and transience.
Finally, the nude studies shift the focus to the human figure, but maintain the same emotional restraint. The subjects are often partially obscured or turned away, presented with a quiet vulnerability rather than overt sensuality. These images feel introspective and intimate, aligning with the broader themes of isolation and interiority found throughout the book.
Across all three strands, Hido’s use of colour, light, and soft focus creates a painterly quality. The work blurs the line between reality and recollection, encouraging viewers to engage emotionally and imaginatively rather than analytically.
The pictures are accompanied by an excellent, insightful commentary into not just some of the images, but also of the process that Hido goes through with some of his shots - not just the photographic process but the thought process as well and I really like the passage where he talks about how shooting landscapes is from an voyueristic point of view from the outside looking in and that to shoot the interiors was the natural progression.
This book is part of a series of monographs that have been produced by Aperture, and I can’t wait to check out some more of them!
