Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2014/01/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I think the conversation has veered from what my idea really was about to begin with which was what should be on the cover. And that is a result of thinking about and looking for ways that we can improve the LUG book... My train of thought is that the cover is the most important image of a book because the cover image both sells a book and it is what entices someone to pick it up and look through it. I also believe that the cover should really reflect the content of the book... I personally would rather see one or several of the best images in the book on the cover instead of a photo of camera gear.... And with that in mind, the question would be how to decide on what should be on the cover.... There are any number of choices, 1) The editor or editorial team could choose an image. 2) A small pool of images (like 4 or 5) selected by the editor or editorial team could be floated to the entire LUG to vote on. (The cover images could be selected from images received by Dec 7th for example, to encourage people to submit things earlier) 3) We could draw a number out of hat and one of that person's photos gets on the cover... 4) Use a mosaic of different images from the book on the cover... with enough diversity of images to accurately depict what is inside.... Hopefully a least one of those images would invite any person with any interest in photography to pick it up. 5) We could not have any photo on the cover at all, just text. 6) Or we could have some piece of Leica gear... Either way, I don't think anyone should really feel slighted that their photo did not make the cover and that they are a loser because of that. I understand people feeling that way. I am always disappointed when certain of my images don't get used or when they overlook what I think are my best images and use something that is not what I would chosen. The reality in the publishing world is that you are not going to get the cover very often. Editors are going to pick the image that best accomplishes what they think is best, what they want, or what sells, and sometimes editors are blind. I personally would much rather that a single cover image for the LUG be chosen by the large group of peers.... than by one or two people. And if you don't get the cover, use it as motivation to try a bit harder next year. But the more I think about it, I actually would prefer some sort of mosaic of images on the front than a single image, as a mosaic communicates better what is inside. Either way, everyone who gets two images published in the book wins.... Since we are floating ideas.... what about adding a photo/self portrait to each photographers page... where they are from and maybe a favorite quote or something.... ( I know it is more work.... ) And what about making a downloadable pdf version of the book available to LUGgers (not going through Blurb). If the book is created using InDesign, It is really easy to create a PDF version... And we could offer that PDF book for the same amount as what the current profit is on a printed book. (around $7.50?) Just ideas to consider... FWIW Duane