Sunday, January 13, 2013

Would you buy this book?

One of my biggest goals as a photographer and especially with the fly fishing photographs I have been doing for the past five years, is to have the work exhibited and to ultimately have a book.  While I am not in a place to be able to do an exhibit and with all of the many site that are available to self publish a book of your own, I thought I'd give t a try.
While I do that I thought I'd conduct a little market research and testing of various things that are involved with doing a book.
I have decided to use Blurb's "BookSmart" software for my book,  and I have been experimenting with layout and design and have come up with the following, so far anyway, for the cover.

I generally like white for matting, but in this case I think it is just too stark, which is why I came up with a second cover.

I think I like the grey better, but I think the photograph needs to be positioned a little better now that I look at it.
The hardest part I find when doing a book, is putting the photographs in order, I have been playing around with placing a photograph with a more broader view on the  right side of the page with a detail photograph on the right like this.


The placement of the square photographs is pretty easy, and initially I thought I'd stick with just the square photographs, but the diptychs and and "Holgarama's I have are a big part of what I feel makes these photographs unique in the context of fly fishing, so I am going to include them.  The trouble I am having is sizing them, they are just so wide that they don't fit on the page, even with the 13"xx11" format. I know I'll figure it out though!


So far this is what I have come up with as far as putting the diptychs and Holgaramas in the book.  I'd like to have them span both pages, but as I mentioned I am having trouble doing it, but I think this works.
Don't you?

There are other challenges too of course, like writing some of my own text, such as an artist statement and what text if any to put with the photographs, all of which will come in time as I do the layout of the book..

What I'd really like is to have someone well known in the fly fishing industry, blogosphere or even a photographer write a forward for it, that would be the ultimate. 

My biggest fear of course is that no one will buy the book, a common fear for all artists I know, but the old adage, "If you build it, they will come" keeps running through my mind while I stress over font types, layout and what not.
I know that self publishing is where the publishing industry is going, but I'd sure love to have a book done the traditional way.  If anyone out there who works in the publishing industry and likes what they see in my photography feel free to contact me.

All that being said, would you buy a book of my photography? I know that the few people who I know actually check out my blogsite and comment would, but if you like my photography and have never commented or are just checking out my site for the first time let me know what you think. I'd love to hear from you on any aspect of this. 

Thanks,

Brian

6 comments:

Michael Agneta said...

I'd buy one. Just saying.

cofisher said...

In a heartbeat and I'd even do a review! (It wouldn't cost you much...moneywise.)

Brian L. Schiele said...

Once again, thanks for both of your comments. For that, I'd make sure you get a signed copy!

Anonymous said...

Brian, I am impressed with your efforts and motivation to get a book published. I agree with the theory that if you build it, or in this case write it and publish, good folk will buy it.

With that said, I'm thinking a signed copy for review would do.

Brent Wilson said...

I would buy it. I think Holga cameras are way cool.

Dwayne said...

Very cool...