The large format of the physical book allows the eye to wander. It allows you to stand back and let the image resolve itself. You can see the anxiety in the eyes of a subject in the foreground while simultaneously reading the graffiti on a wall 20 feet behind them. The PDF flattens the image; the book expands the world.
While digital copies of Alex Webb: The Suffering of Light are available, reviewers and photography enthusiasts overwhelmingly agree that the physical Aperture monograph is the superior way to experience his work. Peter Poete Photography Why the Physical Book is Better than a PDF Scale and Detail alex webb the suffering of light pdf better