Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/08/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Aug 15, 2005, at 2:30 AM, Daniel Ridings wrote: > Something tells me that one should start on a small scale. For > instance, a weekly special in an in house journal or a local > newspaper. It gives a feel for what the public is interested in and > you'd have to face an editor every week helping get that feel. One > thing could lead to another ... the public would get used to seeing > the weekly special and start looking forward to it. It could grow, it > could flop, but it would at least be a first step. it's worth a try...and it has been successfully evolving on a limited scale... so thanks, Daniel... > > I'd love to see GeeBee's shots on a page in our paper once a week too. me too....Steve > > Daniel > > On 8/15/05, Nathan Wajsman <nathan.wajsman@planet.nl> wrote: > >> Everything Ted says here is true. But I would also suggest that one >> source of support, both in terms of buying the book and getting it >> published in the first place, should be the medical profession. I can >> think of no better advertisement for 21st century American >> medicine than >> what Steve is showing us every week. >> >> So I would approach the AMA, the state medical association, the >> specialty association that Steve is a member of, for financial >> support >> in getting the book published. Once published, I think that besides >> other photographers, doctors, nurses and other medical professionals >> would be a good target market. I have given four copies of Ted's >> books >> as gifts to doctors, both within my family and to our family >> physicians >> as parting gifts when we were leaving Belgium in 2000 and >> Switzerland in >> 2003. >> >> A final idea: does the state of Arizona have a department of cultural >> affairs, and might such a body also be interested in supporting >> what is >> a major home-grown piece of work? >> >> Nathan >> >> Ted Grant wrote: >> >>> Gene said: >>> >>> >>>>>> Any publisher who would not jump at publishing your phots is >>>>>> crazy. >>>>>> Hey Ted, >>>>>> >>>> >>>> how about your publisher?<<<< >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Hi Guys & Gals, >>> This response is for all the folks who are onto Steve about doing a >>> book! At the moment he's amassing as much material as he can and >>> one of >>> these days we'll be making a several hundred 11X14 prints to >>> present to >>> a publisher. >>> >>> It isn't as easy as many of you think! Period!!!! >>> >>> The book publishing industry is some what in the dump due to the >>> internet, video games and all those other electronic thingies people >>> play with. ERGO! People don't buy the number of books they once >>> did. Yes >>> it may look like new books are being published daily, they >>> are.... but >>> would you buy most or any of them? >>> >>> Besides "photo books" are almost a non-seller to the everyday >>> public, >>> but are predominantly purchased by other photographers. >>> Unfortunately >>> most photographer's buy the books of long dead big name >>> photographers >>> whose work has been brought to everyone's attention for the past 80 >>> years or so. New guys and gals? Don't hold yer breath unless it's >>> about >>> sex, politics and Hollywood whores! >>> >>> If one has tonnes of money and can afford to do their own book, >>> as some >>> wealthy photographers have done, it's merely a glorified >>> portfolio and >>> not what Steve and his work is about. But how many of you on the >>> list >>> have the kind of money and distribution connections to do so? Not >>> likely >>> too many. >>> >>> No denying Steve's pictures of kids in hospital aren't heart >>> warming and >>> certainly emotional as they're the best I've ever seen. He is >>> amazing >>> shooting in the hospital environment day in and day out. And what he >>> produces is quite phenomenal under the circumstances with >>> children. When >>> he has some connection in their care. >>> >>> But before a publisher gets wet knickers with excitement to >>> publish they >>> want to see, in this case, probably hundreds of photographs and >>> everyone >>> a heart moving image! >>> >>> But not every child picture works as much as many of you viewers get >>> excited about and say so. The most important thing for the book >>> is... >>> "they cannot illustrate a child in pain or showing any kind of >>> visual >>> hurting because that's a turn off for most readers or viewers >>> when it >>> comes to kids." >>> >>> One "negative emotion picture" when someone is looking through >>> the book >>> before purchase and it can almost assure a non sale! :-( >>> >>> Now without knowing Steve and his work and you're looking at a >>> book in >>> the store would you purchase a book about sick kids in a hospital? >>> Careful now as it's not an easy question to answer when you know >>> him and >>> his work on the screen nearly every week. >>> >>> Not only that, look at the picture books for sale and ask >>> yourself why >>> you don't walk out with an arm full because some are sensational. >>> How >>> about the competition book to book? And think about the "would >>> you buy a >>> book about sick kids in hospital" no matter how good it was? And of >>> course you don't know the name Steve Barbour from a hole in the >>> ground >>> as the book in your hands and it's Kids in Hospital subject. It's a >>> tough call both for the publisher and book sellers when it's kids in >>> hospital. >>> >>> We know they're smashing good photographs, but is it a topic the >>> public >>> would rush to buy? Given the lousy book buying at the moment. >>> >>> However, one of these days when he has enough "Oh my gosh what a >>> great >>> picture of that kid!" printed and your heart goes pitty pat with >>> emotion >>> I'm sure there'll be a book. Of course everyone of you will be >>> sent a >>> copy as soon as your cheque arrives for a signed copy! And he >>> expects a >>> sale to one and all. ;-) >>> >>> Hopefully this explains a little about "the life of a photographer >>> getting a book published!" Another aspect is... they don't happen >>> over >>> night because just in the shooting alone it can take 10 years >>> amassing >>> the very best material for success. And yes my publisher has seen a >>> presentation but for the moment has said... unfortunately... >>> "No." :-( >>> >>> I'm still hoping we'll turn him around with more material. Or >>> we'll find >>> another. >>> >>> ted >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >>> >>> >> >> -- >> Nathan Wajsman >> Almere, The Netherlands >> >> General photography: http://www.nathanfoto.com >> Seville photography: http://www.fotosevilla.com >> Stock photography: http://www.alamy.com/search-results.asp?qt=wajsman >> http://myloupe.com/home/found_photographer.php?photographer=507 >> Prints for sale: http://www.photodeluge.com >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >