Make a book : Solo Photography Book Month

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/18/2008 12:54:07 PM · #1

Try something new or get your next opus out there.
Starting in April, shoot & finish your own photo book.

//gordonmcgregor.blogspot.com/2008/01/sofobomo.html

SaraR

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

01/18/2008 01:12:26 PM · #2

That is a cool idea, and I have often thought about putting together a book. My stumbling block everytime is knowing which company to go with - I haven't yet found any reviews of UK based photobook producers, and am worried that I will end up getting poor results.

_eug

Nikon D50

01/18/2008 01:15:34 PM · #3

Great Idea. I might have to get in one. My last one was a Wedding Album proof I did that had some errors. I got a lot out of doing a 50 image book of my Kenya trip, but I never compile anything for my Australia trip.

So many ideas...

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

01/18/2008 01:19:54 PM · #4

thinking about it...

fotomann_forever

01/18/2008 02:15:07 PM · #5

Interesting.

cynthiann

Nikon D810

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

01/18/2008 02:27:13 PM · #6

I've been toying around with a book of Madison Co., Kentucky for the local bookstores. This might be the perfect motivation!

dtremain

Canon EOS 80D

Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II

01/18/2008 02:56:07 PM · #7

I've used lulu.com (see "Gift of Hope" at www.lulu.com/tremain - if you really want one, contact me...)

The one listed is my 2nd book - couldn't do anything with the first one (the photos were considered "derived works" of copyrighted sculptures - check out the copyright laws closely before putting in the effort).

If I'm not mistaken, lulu.com now offers a high quality print book option. I know lulu.com offers lots of advice in their help pages, and a converter to make your Word document into a print-ready PDF.

It is a real rush to see that bundle of paper - that book, with your name after "by"

Maybe this is what I need to get me going on my next book.

(Not to throw cold water, but putting together the book is only part of the job - the hard part is marketing your book! On the other hand, if you don't have a book, you don't have anything to market...)

If there's any question about whether you're good enough to publish, look at my scores...

Neil

Fujifilm X-T20

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/18/2008 03:10:46 PM · #8

I've been thinking about this for almost a year. I added my name to the list to try and commit myself. It may help to have a timeframe. Then all I need is the time!

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

01/18/2008 04:11:29 PM · #9

Originally posted by dtremain:

(Not to throw cold water, but putting together the book is only part of the job - the hard part is marketing your book! On the other hand, if you don't have a book, you don't have anything to market...)

That's certainly true - but the SoFoBoMo aim is to get people over that 'a book is a big deal to put together' hump, even if the first attempt isn't publishable. It's about committing, shooting, trying, finishing, making the edits and saying 'done' in a month. The process and the achievement is probably more important than the final product, really. Least that's generally the case for the other 'InAMonth' efforts like a recorded album or novel in a month. It gets you past the idea that it is an unattainable goal to finish, so you never start.

cynthiann

Nikon D810

01/18/2008 05:23:50 PM · #10

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by dtremain:
(Not to throw cold water, but putting together the book is only part of the job - the hard part is marketing your book! On the other hand, if you don't have a book, you don't have anything to market...)

That's certainly true - but the SoFoBoMo aim is to get people over that 'a book is a big deal to put together' hump, even if the first attempt isn't publishable. It's about committing, shooting, trying, finishing, making the edits and saying 'done' in a month. The process and the achievement is probably more important than the final product, really. Least that's generally the case for the other 'InAMonth' efforts like a recorded album or novel in a month. It gets you past the idea that it is an unattainable goal to finish, so you never start.

Well put, Gordon. Definitely count me in!

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

01/18/2008 06:41:08 PM · #11

Certainly thinking about it. It seems like a good idea.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

01/19/2008 06:46:06 AM · #12

worth noting that you don't have to actually print a book to finish this - a well laid out and formated PDF is just as appropriate if that's what you want to do. There are plenty of free PDF creators out there too.

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

01/19/2008 07:05:13 AM · #13

interesting idea. i may just do it.

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/19/2008 07:41:08 AM · #14

Originally posted by karmat:

interesting idea. i may just do it.

Just say, "Yes," to side challenges! ;)

dtremain

Canon EOS 80D

Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II

01/19/2008 07:45:00 AM · #15

"Gift of Hope" took me about 3 weeks to do - in my "spare" time between my regular job & family stuff. Most of the pictures were shot in one weekend (with some filler shots the following weekend). Editing, text, layout took about a week to figure out and get nailed down.

There are so many talented photographers on this site - it is a shame for them not to have collections of their work published. It would be so cool for many of the dpchallenge members to produce books.

Come on. Do it. Do it. Do it...

darnok

Nikon D600

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

01/19/2008 07:46:18 AM · #16

This looks like an interesting idea. I doubt I will go all the way to printed book, maybe just a PDF.

Originally posted by Gordon:

If you use OpenOffice or Microsoft Word to create the document you can just print it directly to PDF with CutePDF Writer which is free.

dtremain

Canon EOS 80D

Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II

01/19/2008 07:59:14 AM · #17

If you do the PDF using the right specs, it is a very short step to a printed book - should you want to do that later.

rjkstesch

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/19/2008 08:02:05 AM · #18

I'm going for it, too. Seeing some DPCers on the list made the commitment even easier.

We have the Red Rock GTG during that time which will really help me get lots of wonderful shots worth sharing.

I also have a showing coming up in June - August. It will be wonderful to have a book (or two, if I can do some before) to sell at the showing. What a fantastic idea!

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

01/19/2008 01:14:41 PM · #19

Originally posted by Raziel:

If you use OpenOffice or Microsoft Word to create the document you can just print it directly to PDF with CutePDF Writer which is free.

Yup. You can also use pdf995 which is also free. Lots of good options like that available.

jan_vdw

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

01/19/2008 08:28:24 PM · #20

Sounds good to me, will watch this thread

wickee_one

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

01/19/2008 09:27:15 PM · #21

Last year I worked on a book for

mad_brewer. I felt he had a lot of really nice pictures but they were just sitting on his computer. So, I went to snapfish.com and worked on a book for him. It took time but Ken was really surprised to get a book with his work in it for his birthday. I think the book turned out awesome even from a "discount" place like snapfish. Ken couldn't believe how much better the pictures looked printed than just seeing them on the computer monitor. Creating one for myself would definitely be great and get me to look at my pictures more in depth. Thanks for the link!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/18/2008 10:48:15 AM · #22

Looking for suggestions for questions, if you've got any ideas...

6 weeks to the start of the fuzzy month

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

02/18/2008 11:25:45 AM · #23

Would it count if I used that month to go through and re-edit and choose shots from my adventures to the Middle East? I think my family would actually like a book of those pictures, so it would have a useful purpose as well.

One idea for a question would be "If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?" Or you could try "Boxers or briefs?" for the gentlemen. :-) Though in Austin, I'm sure there's a third alternative.

Message edited by author 2008-02-18 16:27:44.