Pictures of tragedy

Douglas Keister has made a career of creating photo-heavy coffee table books—dozens of them on architecture, cemeteries, travel trailers, etc. People, Places and Pieces of Paradise is closer to home for the Chico photographer as he documented the “inferno, aftermath and recovery of the most destructive wildfire in California history” with a collection of images of the town and portraits of the people impacted. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to arts organizations and the library in Paradise.

Another photo book—The California Camp Fire: Reflections and Remnants—takes a more abstract approach, with Chico studio photographer Ron Schwager joining forces with writer Phil Midling and graphic designer Connie Ballou to make “An Artful and Meaningful Documentation of the California Camp Fire,” according the to the book’s subtitle. The book is divided into two sections, with one part featuring monochromatic portraits of fire survivors alongside text of their stories, and the other a collection of full-color images featuring details from the fire’s aftermath. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Butte Strong Fund.