DV&S really is different! Unlike other books, its contents aren't based on a pre-determined plan, other than it will be 160 pages long and 230 x 260mm in size. Instead, I am letting your images, thoughts and questions, together with the authors' responses, determine the content and help dictate the design. My thinking is that this will ensure the book is fresh in both its approach and content. Afterall, one of DV&S's aims is to be a conversation about photography, around the theme of Vision and Style.
Compare this approach to the usual way of commissioning books, in which ideas are turned into clearly defined book concepts. From these concepts, outlines are developed to which the photographers/authors have to stick. In this way the publisher knows that the books which are being written are the same as the ones that are being pre-publicised. No nasty surprises! In the case of the hardback edition of DV&S, as I am the publisher and since I trust you all to deliver great images and thought provoking comments, I'm not all all worried that it won't be anything other than a great book!
Friday 2 March 2007
YOUR FEEDBACK AT FOCUS ON IMAGING
It was great to meet so many of you at Focus on Imaging. Some of you had traveled quite a distance, with a number making our stand your first port of call. Thank you.
As the editor and deviser of WTL and DV&S, your feedback was invaluable (keep it coming, please). At Focus we got plenty of really positive comments on Working the Light and a huge interest in Developing Vision & Style. In fact so many of you took a DV&S entry form that by the second night I had to go back to London to get more entry leaflets, and to pick up extra copies of WTL as we were on the point of selling out.
Anyone who has visited such shows could be forgiven for thinking of them as soulless places, where a huge mass of people gather simply to get the best deal on the latest gear and where no serious, intelligent conversation about photography can be heard (ok I did buy a 2GB card for my D100 at a very good price!). Well, things were quite different. The conversations that David and I had with the visitors to our stand were about photography and the creative process, with little talk of cameras or techniques. It was inspiring to have such great conversations and this bodes well for the content of DV&S.
As the editor and deviser of WTL and DV&S, your feedback was invaluable (keep it coming, please). At Focus we got plenty of really positive comments on Working the Light and a huge interest in Developing Vision & Style. In fact so many of you took a DV&S entry form that by the second night I had to go back to London to get more entry leaflets, and to pick up extra copies of WTL as we were on the point of selling out.
Anyone who has visited such shows could be forgiven for thinking of them as soulless places, where a huge mass of people gather simply to get the best deal on the latest gear and where no serious, intelligent conversation about photography can be heard (ok I did buy a 2GB card for my D100 at a very good price!). Well, things were quite different. The conversations that David and I had with the visitors to our stand were about photography and the creative process, with little talk of cameras or techniques. It was inspiring to have such great conversations and this bodes well for the content of DV&S.
FAQ's
WHO CAN ENTER DV&S?
Anyone can - amateur or professional, and you don't need to have been on a Light & Land workshop. DV&S is open to all.
WHAT IMAGES SHOULD I SUBMIT?
I'm reluctant to suggest what kind of pictures we're looking for. We want the picture content of the book to be determined by you – by what is going in landscape photography, rather than by my editor's view of how that should look. You can be as inventive as you like with your picture submission, for example you might consider putting together a set of images which show the development of your vision and style during your time as a photographer. Or, if you work in a number of different styles, perhaps using different camera formats, then you could include a selection of each. Alternatively, you might wish to submit your very latest best images. But, don't forget, we want to read your comments about your vision and style(s) and if you've themed your pictures in some way, then do write something about it.
DO I HAVE TO WRITE SOMETHING ALONG WITH MY PICTURE SUBMISSION?
I would strongly suggest that you do - writing something (no matter how short) is a brilliant way of developing one's photography and the ideas behind it. And if you don't feel confident writing something, don't worry - you're not alone. We all find writing challenging! So just have fun with it. Remember, my job as editor is to pull together everything and to contextualise it. What you write will make the book unique among landscape photography publications. Also, it is my intention to use your comments and questions as discussion points for Joe, Charlie, David and myself so that we address the real issues of the day. And, if you have any questions for us, then do please include them.
WHAT IS MEANT BY VISION AND STYLE?
A very, very good question! Look at it this way: the title of the book is a talking point – a way to start a conversation about photography in which you can participate. The idea is to produce a book that 'speaks' about photography, rather than one which authors turn it into a possible lecture!
WHAT SHOULD I WRITE ABOUT?
Start by answering the simple questions in the entry form. From then on you are completely free to write about any aspect of vision and style that interests you. You might wish to write about the challenge of developing vision, or the way you have developed your style. You could write about your influences (photographic and otherwise). There are no boundaries and no right or wrong ways to write. Simply share what's important to you – problems and successes alike. As the editor and book designer, it's my job to knit together all your comments and to create the narrative content alongside you images together with the authors words. I can't wait!
CAN I SUBMIT B&W IMAGES?
Yes, please do. One of the aims of the book is to represent what is going on in landscape photography – b&w is still a big part of it. There are no boundaries. We want to see what photographic medium you work in.
DOES IT MATTER WHAT CAMERA I'VE USED?
No! Any camera will do - digital or film-bsed. However, do please check the entry form for information about picture formats and file sizes.
SEND ME YOUR QUESTIONS AND I'LL POST THE ANSWERS
Anyone can - amateur or professional, and you don't need to have been on a Light & Land workshop. DV&S is open to all.
WHAT IMAGES SHOULD I SUBMIT?
I'm reluctant to suggest what kind of pictures we're looking for. We want the picture content of the book to be determined by you – by what is going in landscape photography, rather than by my editor's view of how that should look. You can be as inventive as you like with your picture submission, for example you might consider putting together a set of images which show the development of your vision and style during your time as a photographer. Or, if you work in a number of different styles, perhaps using different camera formats, then you could include a selection of each. Alternatively, you might wish to submit your very latest best images. But, don't forget, we want to read your comments about your vision and style(s) and if you've themed your pictures in some way, then do write something about it.
DO I HAVE TO WRITE SOMETHING ALONG WITH MY PICTURE SUBMISSION?
I would strongly suggest that you do - writing something (no matter how short) is a brilliant way of developing one's photography and the ideas behind it. And if you don't feel confident writing something, don't worry - you're not alone. We all find writing challenging! So just have fun with it. Remember, my job as editor is to pull together everything and to contextualise it. What you write will make the book unique among landscape photography publications. Also, it is my intention to use your comments and questions as discussion points for Joe, Charlie, David and myself so that we address the real issues of the day. And, if you have any questions for us, then do please include them.
WHAT IS MEANT BY VISION AND STYLE?
A very, very good question! Look at it this way: the title of the book is a talking point – a way to start a conversation about photography in which you can participate. The idea is to produce a book that 'speaks' about photography, rather than one which authors turn it into a possible lecture!
WHAT SHOULD I WRITE ABOUT?
Start by answering the simple questions in the entry form. From then on you are completely free to write about any aspect of vision and style that interests you. You might wish to write about the challenge of developing vision, or the way you have developed your style. You could write about your influences (photographic and otherwise). There are no boundaries and no right or wrong ways to write. Simply share what's important to you – problems and successes alike. As the editor and book designer, it's my job to knit together all your comments and to create the narrative content alongside you images together with the authors words. I can't wait!
CAN I SUBMIT B&W IMAGES?
Yes, please do. One of the aims of the book is to represent what is going on in landscape photography – b&w is still a big part of it. There are no boundaries. We want to see what photographic medium you work in.
DOES IT MATTER WHAT CAMERA I'VE USED?
No! Any camera will do - digital or film-bsed. However, do please check the entry form for information about picture formats and file sizes.
SEND ME YOUR QUESTIONS AND I'LL POST THE ANSWERS
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