Two photographers whose work you probably haven't seen before (and one whose work you probably have)

Jerry Berndt's series The Dive explores life in dive bars, including some located in Boston's infamous "combat zone." The photos were shot in the 1960s and 70s, and they're remarkably visceral. You could get a hangover just from looking at them. And there's a complicitness for the viewer--at least there is for me--I'm right there in the bar with these people and I have the vague sense that I'm about to do something that I'll really regret the next day. And that these people already have.

Jesus F. Salvadores' intimate and ethereal reportage on the Rainbow Family may not be as trendy as all those Burning Man projects that are floating around out there, but it's a lot deeper and a lot more interesting. Timeless images, taken quite recently.

Taryn Simon is the aforementioned photographer whose work you're probably already well aware of, and An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar is easily my favorite photo book of the year. Taryn Simon is just plain brilliant.