Finally...Book Sent for a Proof

Well it took a while, but my next photo book is off to Blurb for a proof. I should see the book in about a week. The book is set up as a hard cover, which allows more options when ordering. For this initial proof, I ordered a soft cover—mainly to check the quality of the printing. However, I'm still wrangling with the concept of cover flaps, and right now the flaps are blank. So while I wait for the proof to arrive, I'm playing around with some ideas, including adding a very serious-looking selfy. I don't mind the blank flaps. Looking at the online preview of the book, the blank flaps kind of lend a cleaner/indie look.

Salmon Blogged

Tichy

I picked up a book of the work of the controversial outsider artist photographer, Miroslav Tichy. He is the voyeuristic, peeping-tom, recluse photographer; a Czech who dressed in rags, lived a life of solitude, and secretly took thousands of pics of women in his village using cameras he made from toys and other junk (such as tin cans and toilet paper rolls). His work is fairly recently discovered and obviously very "low-fi".

Book: Miroslav Tichy (Fototorst) (Russian Edition)


Photo: Miroslav Tichy

The work is interesting, especially if viewed within the scope of 'outsider artists'. Most artists fitting the description have no formal training (Tichy did) and usually have a sort of mental illness or obsessive compulsive nature that results in a certain type of prolific repetitive creative outpouring. Some are considered savants, some are or have been institutionalized.

Run some searches on 'outsider artists', 'miroslav tichy, or check out wikipee for a list of notable outsider artists.

I assume the book is pretty much indicative of Tichy's work. The photos are not everyone's cup. They are at times beautiful, ugly, quaint, original, inspirational, creepy, cutting edge, and just plain weird.

If you're interested, the Fototorst book can be had fairly cheaply. It contains both english and russian text. But if you are interested, definitely read what you can about the man. There's plenty online and in the book.

Chips, Salsa, and Beer

Deadline Come and Gone!

Bummer. I'm still working on my photo books, and here's the thing, I haven't even started one of them, yet. I thought I could get two done by the end of January, but I've been bogging down on the first one of the two. This is a lot tougher than I thought it would be. My first book just fell together for me. I hadn't planned that one to be thematically based. I really just wanted a sample book to carry with me when I shot. It ended up becoming something else, something finite and manageable like a narrative. I can't seem to articulate this next book. I have the images, the theme, and a working title but man it all seems to unravel as I put it together. I'll get there.