Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/08/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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