FYI / pictures on walls

Prints on walls • click to embiggen
Prints on walls • click to embiggen
Prints on walls • click to embiggen
Prints on walls • click to embiggenAs previously mentioned, I have been selling quite a few prints for office walls, Here's how a recently completed installation of 13 prints (only 10 are pictured here) looks.

Update on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 03:01PM by gravitas et nugalis

Featured Comment: Steve Andre (no link provided) asked: "I'm guessing by the images you've posted: 22"×22" printed images framed to 28" × 28" right?"

my response: Andre, there were 2 sizes - the 3 prints in the receptionist area (+ 3 in a conference room, not shown) are 19 inch images on 24×24 inch paper, mounted on foamcore with no mat, and framed to 24×24 inches; the prints in the common area are 22×22 inch images on 24×24 inch paper, mounted on 32×32 inch off-white mat board, and framed to 32×32 inches. In both sizes there are no over matting or glazing.

FYI ~ off topic

Blood pressure monitor ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack Park • click to embiggenSince obtaining my iPad, it has become a very handy and useful device. Some of those uses are picture based - downloading RAW files from a card to see picturing results on the fly and picture albums for portfolio style use, to name a just 2.

The iPad has also become quite handy since the loss of our only sort of nearby bookstore (a Borders) last year. I now get most of my books online and am reading them on the device. Not something I intended to do but I've acclimated myself to using it for that purpose.

That said, the newest iPad capability I am now using is its function as a blood pressure monitor.

After my recent AFib events, my cardiologist said I should take my blood pressure everyday, adjust 1 of my meds according the results, and keep a diary of the BP readings. That didn't seem like a big deal until I discovered that most BPMs available in drugstores are a pieces of crap - after taking one to my doctor to compare readings (his vs. mine), the results were so far off as to be totally useless.

Long story short, after doing some online research, I came across a BPM designed to work with the iPad, iPod, and iPhone. I ordered one and so far, so good. It has made the whole procedure easy - download their app, hookup the device to the iPad, and hit the Start button. The device not only takes a reading - it can also be set to take 3 successive readings and give an average result (with Morning, Day, and Evening settings as well) - but it also automatically creates a diary of the reading which is ready for emailing to my doctor right from the iPad.

IMO, that's technology I can live with. Highly recommended if you need to monitor your blood pressure.

FYI ~ race results

Winter Carnival NBT Bank Ice Skating Race / 2nd Grade Division ~ Saranac Lake, NY - in the Adirondack Park • no embiggenHugo, aka: the grandson, wins his division in the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Skating Races.

Pictures, top to bottom:

1) Even though Hugo drew the outside lane, he's hanging in there at the first turn.

2) Half way through the first lap, Hugo's pulled into 2nd place and is drafting, Apollo Anton Ohno style, the leader (a ringer from Long Island).

3) By the first turn of lap 2, Hugo has grabbed the lead - by means of a sweet dive to the inside after the 3rd corner - and is starting to stretch it out.

4) Half way through the final lap, Hugo's cruising right along and stretching it out even more.

5) At the finish, the rest of the field is nowhere in sight and, in a show of sportsmanship, Hugo begins to stop before the finish line so as to add a second or 2 to his average lap time in order to not embarrass the 3rd Grade competitors.

6) The Medalists (l-r) - 1st place / Hugo, 2nd place / the Long Island ringer, 3rd place / one of Hugo's hockey teammates.

FYI ~ (decay &) disgust is the Cinderella of emotions

Bones and mold ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack Park • click to embiggenNone other than the New York Times and a variety of scientists / psychologists / researchers have followed my lead into the study of decay and disgust. From the the Times article (complete article here):

Disgust is the Cinderella of emotions. While fear, sadness and anger, its nasty, flashy sisters, have drawn the rapt attention of psychologists, poor disgust has been hidden away in a corner, left to muck around in the ashes.

No longer. Disgust is having its moment in the light as researchers find that it does more than cause that sick feeling in the stomach. It protects human beings from disease and parasites, and affects almost every aspect of human relations, from romance to politics.

I just knew I was on to something big, even though it took some time for others to catch up. Remember, you saw it here first.

more book FYI

Santa left me this fun and quirky book, ROADSIDE AMERICA*, under the Xmas tree. As I understand it, Santa found the book in a discounted book display, just as I found the New York Times Magazine Photographs book in the same manner.

Re: the discounted price of the New York Times Magazine Photographs book, Markus Spring wrote/asked:

... I do not understand why in the world this book has to be sold that dirt-cheap only 2 weeks past christmas - does it mean that business was overestimated so much or that readers for that kind of book are scarce or is it just the normal death for a book in a tired economy where nobody dares to stock anything any more for fear it could be worthless tomorrow?

Apparently high-end photo book publishing is a small margin, limited market proposition. Add to that situation the fact that both publishers and bookstores are quick to pull the plug on anything that isn't jumping off the shelves, essentially a quick hair-trigger cut-your-losses trip to the discount bin for any book that is not cutting its $$$ per sq. ft. return rate.

While that may be bad news for the picture maker and the publisher, it's good news for me (as long as the publishers keep on publishing). I can't remember when was the last time I paid full sticker for a photo book. This deep discount situation has allowed me to grow my photo book collection to over 100 titles (and counting) - an educational / learning resource more valuable than any picture making gear I have ever owned.

That said, there is an interesting aside relative to photo book sales. Taschen, the publisher of ROADSIDE AMERICA, has a fair number of limited edition photo books listed on its website. Some, like the LaChapelle, Artists and Prostitutes, are limited to 2,500 copies at $4,500.00US per copy. That limited edition book is SOLD OUT, as are many of other the limited edition books.

Just in case you're interested, one limited edition book which is not sold out is Helmet Newton's SUMO. You can pick up 1 of the 10,000 copies for a mere $15,000.00US. The book is billed as The biggest and most expensive book production in the 20th century.

I believe it, but you can also believe that I will not be purchasing one, even it does end up in a 50% OFF discount bin.

*You can view the entire contents of the book by clicking on the Leaf through! link in the upper right area (under the book cover picture) of the publisher's web page.

FYI, this entertaining book is not so much a book about photography as it is a book about an aspect of disappearing segment of American culture. The pictures are as close to point-and-shoot, here-it-is, what-you-see-is-what-you-get picture making as it gets in a photo book. Somewhere in the book's text, one of the writers makes a connection between Margolies' pictures and similar pictures made by Walker Evans and there is some truth in that. However, I think I am quite rooted on terra firma when I state that Margolies is no Walker Evans.

It is a good book, nevertheless. The pictures really do drive home the notion of how Corporate-America-homogenized American culture has become - Big Mac, anyone?

FYI ~ highly recommended

During my holiday travels I encountered a Barnes&Noble bookstore so I stopped in for a looksee at the photography periodical offerings. In a word, they were "vapid" at best, "horrible" at worst. I also ventured a gander at the photography book section. Again, the books on offer were not very interesting.

As I was leaving the store, I passed a discounted books display where the book New York Times Magazine Photographs caught my eye. The book had a bright red 50% OFF sticker - net price, $37.50US - on the cover and, after a brief scan of the book's contents, it was of to the checkout counter where I also purchased a Ghirardelli chocolate bar.

After spending but a little time with each acquisition, I can positively state that I enjoyed them both. Whereas the Ghirardelli chocolate bar was a pleasant but passing fancy, the Photographs book is most definitely a gift (to self) that keeps on giving. IMO, it's another "must have" for anyone seriously interested in the medium of photography.

The book features more than 400 pictures which are organized into 5 categories: Portraits, Documentary, Photo-Illustration, Style, and Projects. The picture makers represented are a veritable who's who of those various genres. And what makes that doubly interesting is that many of the picture makers were given assignments outside of their normal/regular genre - a war photo-journalist assigned to make fashion pictures as an example.

Most of the pictures have back-story commentary from the picture maker who made them. Some have additional commentary from Kathy Ryan, the Director of Photography at The New York Times Magazine (FYI, Ryan edited the book). The commentaries most often add context and illumination, re: the picture makers mindset.

The design and production values (paper, print quality, etc.) are beyond-category excellent. And, FYI, the book can be had from many online sources for that same 50% discounted price.

My advice - Buy it. You'll like it.

tangles, thickets, and twigs ~ fields of visual energy

Twigs - the book ~ sample spreads • click to embiggenMy POD picture book, Tangles, Thickets, and Twigs ~ Fields of Visual Energy, arrived yesterday and, self serving as it may sound, it is an incredible piece of work.

The book - 12×12inch hard cover, 36 pages, with 30 9×9inch color plates (to include 1 visual joke - FYI, even the wife burst out laughing when she saw it) - is my first it's-about-time attempt at organizing / editing my so-called "twig" pictures. Pictures made over the past 7-8 years which have been sitting (languishing?) in my 3,400+ pictures finished picture folder just waiting to be brought to the fore. After viewing the book, I can state unequivocally that it was well worth the time and effort.

As is so often the case, the pictures, when viewed as a body of work, make quite an impression and a very strong visual statement. While each individual picture in the book is, IMO, worthy of consideration as stand alone "greatest hits", when viewed together, they positively sing - musically speaking, all the individual notes come together to create quite a pleasing symphony.

All of that sales spiel said, the book is available for purchase. The price is a moving target - Shutterfly is currently offering a 30% discount which brings the price down from $90.00US to $70.00US. If you're not in a hurry and can wait until Shutterfly offers a 40% discount - mostly likely right after the holidays - the price will be $60.00US (all prices are + shipping).

If you are interested (and who wouldn't be?), email me with your mailing address (so the book can be shipped directly from Shutterfly). I will advise you of current discounts and the book's "market price" before placing the order.

Current Book Price

North America (includes shipping) $62.00 USD international (includes extra shipping cost) $70.00 USD

Price includes shipping cost. The International book price reflects the extra cost (via USPS First Class Mail) for overseas shipping.

Update on Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 10:21AM by gravitas et nugalis

ADDENDUM - 12/15: As of today, Shutterfly is offering a "Limited Time" 50% discount. So, today's "market price" for the book is $50.00US + shipping. As they say on late night TV, "Act now! Operators are standing by."

PS - Since this book is already selling well, I will order a few more to keep on hand (at the $50.00US price) for those who need a little more time to think it over.

FYI ~ a note

a note from Renee

Every time the wife and I visit Montreal, we stay at the Auberge du Vieux-Port, a quaint 4-star hotel in Old Montreal. In addition to the fact that the hotel is rated # 7 in Canada and # 2 in Montreal, the staff is utterly magnificent. As has been stated by many, it's like staying with friends.

In particular, 2 of the staff - Matthew and Frederic - are indeed our friends (Matthew is mostly likely coming to visit us with his wife and child later this winter). Depending upon when you arrive, Patrick and Feredic are the first to greet you at the curb. They handle your luggage, park your car, and during your stay they there for your every need.

Federic has an interest in picture making so I usually bring some of my work along for him to see and we spend some time talking picture making. On our most recent trip, I brought my life without the APA book. I left it with him and during our stay he circulated it amongst other staff members. As a result, Federic purchased a copy of the book and I also received the note (pictured above) from Renee (another staff member).

While that was a very pleasant surprise, it is turning out to be a regular occurrence. In addition to some gallery / exhibition sales, during my last visit to my cardiologist, he purchased one. Recently, while dining out in Westport (here in the Adirondacks), the chef purchased 5 books. It seems the book really strikes a chord with those who see it, even in Canada where the issues, re: the APA, are not exactly front and center.

I find these ongoing sales to be rather extraordinary inasmuch as the book is a POD book and consequently, a bit pricey ($40.00US) for a 20 page book.

Seems like it's time to approach a book publisher with the book. There is one in particular which specializes in Adirondack books with regional appeal.

Wish me luck.

And PS - Renee, thanks for the note (and, in the best sense of the phrase, the kick in the butt).