[Leica] WAS: mother... NOW: DOING A BOOK!

[kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)]

On Aug 14, 2005, at 4:00 PM, Ted Grant wrote:
> Gene said:
>>>> Any publisher who would not jump at publishing your phots is crazy.

I wish that publishers and others agreed with you... but at the  
moment just not so...

we gave it a shot with one good one.... very optimistic but a no go,   
right now... Ted Grant has been a great help and mentor, his ideas  
about this are below...

>>>> 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

and so....that sums it up for the moment....
thanks Ted,
I'm not ready to give up my day job yet....

Steve