Year Book Idea

helios

In an effort to avoid more 'Basic Manners' threads and bring us all back to what we love, who has any interest in a year book? A collection of our own submitted shots, no need for a specific theme, printed and delivered to those who want?

I know this was discussed a few months ago (never getting beyond discussion), but maybe we could enlist the support of dear DeVore for support, and advertsing to the general Boards populus.

No specifics yet, just wondering if anyone is willing to get onboard...

Hugh_C

helios wrote: »

No specifics yet, just wondering if anyone is willing to get onboard...

yeah, I guess I am. There's a facility in the software which comes with blurb.com books that allows you to invite collaborative effort. you can invite folks to submit, maybe that's a way forward.

oeb

helios wrote: »

In an effort to avoid more 'Basic Manners' threads and bring us all back to what we love, who has any interest in a year book? A collection of our own submitted shots, no need for a specific theme, printed and delivered to those who want?

I know this was discussed a few months ago (never getting beyond discussion), but maybe we could enlist the support of dear DeVore for support, and advertsing to the general Boards populus.

No specifics yet, just wondering if anyone is willing to get onboard...

What actually is this? Just like a boards.ie photobook?

I think this is a great idea, while I don't feel anything of my own would be good enough for this there is some fantastic tallent here and I would be thrilled to own a collection of some of the work here in hard copy.

CabanSail

Just an idea. We could pick a charity to support & sell copies of the book with money raised to that charity.

gandalf

Yep I'm up for it. Not sure if anything I have captured this year is good enough for it though.

AnCatDubh

Perhaps it would be an idea that it could be one output from the exhibition idea? Some great stuff in that group.

T&C's of submission to that group would need to be revisited for peoples though as nobody signed up to having their image published.

sineadw

I'm in. Had a look at a blurb.com book and the quality is fantastic.

Could we maybe do it for Santa Strike Force? We'd have to move fast I'd imagine..

Calina

I'm okay with it in principle - it was something that was on the backburner relating to the exhibition (and contrary to appearances, things are moving in the background there).

However, the flickr pool as it exists at the moment was always with the view that it wasn't a final selection on the part of the photographer, so if we're looking for a final choice for a publication, it might be worth setting up a new group and getting people to resubmit specifically giving clearance for publication and also, some coverwork will have to be designed.

Covey

I'd certainly be interested also.

T.

sineadw

Calina wrote: »

I'm okay with it in principle - it was something that was on the backburner relating to the exhibition (and contrary to appearances, things are moving in the background there).

However, the flickr pool as it exists at the moment was always with the view that it wasn't a final selection on the part of the photographer, so if we're looking for a final choice for a publication, it might be worth setting up a new group and getting people to resubmit specifically giving clearance for publication and also, some coverwork will have to be designed.

Great to hear its still moving Calina I didn't want to nudge again but I was wondering what was happening on that front. I want to change my image too I think..

Cover art... hmmm.. the book I saw had a plain glassy black cover I think? Although I could be wrong there - it was breakfast and I was nowhere near awake. Would it be a really bad idea to have a photo challenge when all images are submitted to pick a favourite?

kjt

I'd be interested in this if a shot of mine was up to par . How would the pictures be chosen?

ThOnda

Count me in. I thought that it could be excellent promotion for the Exhibition, however independent book would be also great.
Keeping it simple, set dimensions, resolution and ONE picture per person with mandatory purchase of ONE book and here we go :-)

PaulieC

sineadw wrote: »

Cover art... hmmm.. the book I saw had a plain glassy black cover I think? Although I could be wrong there - it was breakfast and I was nowhere near awake. Would it be a really bad idea to have a photo challenge when all images are submitted to pick a favourite?

I think it's a great idea, and may want to change the image I had previously submitted for the exhibition.

As for cover art, I think it should be left blank - I like the idea of glossy black. There would be too many egos (meant in a good way) involved for any one person's image to be selected. I don't remember where it was specifically (maybe it was here, anyone else remember??), but there was a project like this done before and it caused HUGE arguments and disagreements and left a lot of people with their noses out of joint..

helios

Maybe for the cover, we could simply use the Boards logo, or one that includes the Boards logo and some generic photography related images. There was talk about a Boards Photo patch for bags, and the image that was suggested was daycent...

PJW

Noob comment here sorry, just to add.....

Would a Board.ie photography calender (09) have a broader appeal to the Boards community, more practical / hang it on the office wall or wherever, from a selling/sales perspective?

The photos would be chosen from a large array photos on here, say a month competition i.e. 21 photos entered for Jan, a poll to select the winner and on to the the next month etc. etc. allowing photographers enter multi photos over the calender year (and not just landscapes obv)

This could be a future seperate project if the yearbook is a more favourable idea, hope I have'nt stood on any toes

ThOnda

What an idea - competition for the Graphic Art using Boards.ie logo to be used on the cover of the photobook.
Could that be more simple?

CabanSail

To have a Calender for 2009 you would really need to be getting it back from the Printers about now. It also has a very finite "Use By" date. A book has a much longer shelf life & would probably sell quite well alongside an Exhibition.

kjt

helios wrote: »

Maybe for the cover, we could simply use the Boards logo, or one that includes the Boards logo and some generic photography related images. There was talk about a Boards Photo patch for bags, and the image that was suggested was daycent...

How about everybody who's displaying a photo pop 10 other photos in, so there would be hundreds of photos that we could throw together to make the boards logo. So a black glossy cover with a boards Photo-mosaic like this:

mehfesto2

I think the book is a great idea. I'd definately be on board and willing to help out any way I can.

The calendar might be too brief, I think. I'd imagine that the 12 peope who get their shots chosen would have already been printed elsehere. I think a wee book would benefit the less exprienced and amateur photographers among us who would like to show off their pictures to friends and family. This would be a better example of the boards photography range.

AnCatDubh

there needs to be a benevolent dictator at the helm - then people either get into the spirit of it or get out of its way - alternatively we end up with a camel (ie. a horse designed by a committee). Preferably the dictator should be one that has the 'know how' to actually bring the product to fruition

sineadw

cambo_gueno wrote: »

As for cover art, I think it should be left blank - I like the idea of glossy black. There would be too many egos (meant in a good way) involved for any one person's image to be selected. I don't remember where it was specifically (maybe it was here, anyone else remember??), but there was a project like this done before and it caused HUGE arguments and disagreements and left a lot of people with their noses out of joint..

That's why I started that sentence with "would it be a really bad idea..."

I love plain glossy black How about plain glossy black with the boards logo embossed or in matt black in a corner? (spot the minimalist) If we had a comp it'd have to be quick if we're doing this in any reasonable time frame. What time frame are we talking here anyway? If it was going to be for SSF it'd have to be soon? Or is it for the exhibition?

I personally would prefer to invest in a book rather than a calendar. Could be a future SSF idea though?

mehfesto2

AnCatDubh wrote: »

...alternatively we end up with a camel (ie. a horse designed by a committee)...

You don't listen to Ricky Gervais podcasts by any chance do you?

I think the Yoda-idea thig isn't a bad idea. Have all the pictures work into the boards logo would e pretty impressive. Pretty difficult to pull off, I'd imagine though!

kjt

mehfesto2 wrote: »

Pretty difficult to pull off, I'd imagine though!

I don't think it would be too hard, as long as theirs enough photo's.

Also I'd be more inclined to do a book rather than a calendar

oeb

Thinking about how something like this would be handled logisticly. Would everyone just simply submit any photos they wanted for it? (Or one photo per member?) How would it be judged?

I suggest a thumbs up/thumbs down method. All the photos are stuck in a gallery, you can thumbs up the ones you want (+1 point), thumbs down the ones you don't (-1 point). If there is we will say space for 30 images in the book, you take the top ranking 30 at the end. System would be limited to one vote per image per person.

Shiny

helios wrote: »

Maybe for the cover, we could simply use the Boards logo, or one that includes the Boards logo and some generic photography related images. There was talk about a Boards Photo patch for bags, and the image that was suggested was daycent...

Was it the one I made helios?

I lost all the .psd files for this when my computer died but it wouldn't take long to
make it up again. It still needed the layout tightened up a bit and maybe the words
"photography forum" mentioned somewhere as someone suggested.

I had also priced the patches and it worked out at something like 3.50 each with a
minimum order of 50. If I was working I would have got the 50 and charged maybe a
fiver for them and donated the rest to the Santa Strike Force as requested for use
of the boards.ie logos.

This one?


P.S. I wouldn't mind submitting a few photos either.

PJW

CabanSail wrote: »

To have a Calender for 2009 you would really need to be getting it back from the Printers about now. It also has a very finite "Use By" date. A book has a much longer shelf life & would probably sell quite well alongside an Exhibition.

I agree, this is very true of the time scale for printing an 09 calender....the OP suggested a yearbook so I was just expanding on the idea, its a fantastic idea btw as the talent here is excellent.

bernard0368

I think this would be agreat idea (not sure I would have anything up to scratch). To make it charitable would seem to be the best way to go.

kjt

There's a really quick one with just a few images, bigger here.


I'm sure with a bigger variety of photo's the logo could look better.

Pigwidgeon

i doubt any of my photos would be up to scratch for this but i'd definatly be interested in buying one and helping out anyway i can!

I suggest a thumbs up/thumbs down method. All the photos are stuck in a gallery, you can thumbs up the ones you want (+1 point), thumbs down the ones you don't (-1 point). If there is we will say space for 30 images in the book, you take the top ranking 30 at the end. System would be limited to one vote per image per person.

that sounds like the fairest way to select the images to me anyway, some sort of vote of course!

oeb

kateos2 wrote: »

i doubt any of my photos would be up to scratch for this but i'd definatly be interested in buying one and helping out anyway i can!


that sounds like the fairest way to select the images to me anyway, some sort of vote of course!

Just to add, if needs be I can put something like this together. If it is going out to vote for all of boards (Which I think it should) then I doubt I would have the bandwidth to host it unfortunately. (I will require PHP and MySql)

MartMax

this is cool idea. i'd go for book than calendar.

oeb wrote: »

Just to add, if needs be I can put something like this together. If it is going out to vote for all of boards (Which I think it should) then I doubt I would have the bandwidth to host it unfortunately. (I will require PHP and MySql)

i have some spare resources.

sunny2004

A book would be better in my opinion, the calendar idea is good but to limiting !

In addition it might be an idea to have one page per member. They can either go for one image or multiple images..

l pearse

:

Great idea :D
Count me in..

Covey

The Eagle is Landing

I'm for the book as well.

T.

fluffyVW

Love this idea!!! Love the book idea more than the calender!!! I agree with sunny2004 the calendar idea is good but to limiting!!!

Count me in anyhow!!! :D:D

ThOnda

Of course, all people from Boards who visit Photography forum :-)
I would prefer official page, like Flickr or Pix to host it.

Covey

Thats if your allowed to post to the group V :eek::(

Hugh_C

I've done a load of blurb books - the pricing works out reasonably well if they're bought in bulk, shipping costs come down and the unit price gets down to about 22 euro for a 40 page hardback book, 10 x 8 inches. 41-80 pages the unit price goes up etc etc, I'm guessing this is the territory we'd be in.

I'm not keen on the mosaic idea tbh. But there ya go, maybe we should compete for front and back covers only.

Why do we need to vote? If I pay my €25 (say) I want to choose which image to put in. I don't want anyone else deciding. Also, I question the charity angle - if the unit cost is 25 euro, you'd want to be selling it for €40 to make anything worthwhile. How many books would any individual sell? Not many.

My view is that anyone who wants to participate (i) pays up front for their book and (ii) submits one high quality image plus any text other than a credit, which would be there anyway. Guidelines would need to be established for tech specs and a content guide - for instance if I wanted to have an image of dog poo, I'd imagine whoever is on the page opposite wouldn't be too happy. Otherwise the book should self-edit and entries can be positioned by lottery.

Hugh

helios

Yeah, that's the one. I think it would look good on the cover on its own.

Shiny wrote: »

Was it the one I made helios?

I lost all the .psd files for this when my computer died but it wouldn't take long to
make it up again. It still needed the layout tightened up a bit and maybe the words
"photography forum" mentioned somewhere as someone suggested.

I had also priced the patches and it worked out at something like 3.50 each with a
minimum order of 50. If I was working I would have got the 50 and charged maybe a
fiver for them and donated the rest to the Santa Strike Force as requested for use
of the boards.ie logos.

This one?


P.S. I wouldn't mind submitting a few photos either.

mehfesto2

Just out of curiosity, how are we going to deal with the landscape and portrait picture? Is it going to be a square book, or are some pics going to be sideways?

ThOnda

Diagonal. All pictures! :-)

mehfesto2

I was thinking the very same!

5uspect

You could specify an aspect ratio and then people can submit their shots with black/white boarders to fill up the remainder of the space perhaps?

Morrisseeee

Great idea.
I'm interested.

ThOnda

I would like to be a little more active, so I would like to motivate us to create the Boards.ie Photography Book. I would like to get any your opinions and ideas.
To create the book, I would like to make few steps and also new threads.

1. I want to be in the book - thread to get estimated figure of pictures and therefore pages of the book. By signing in you would get obliged to provide one picture within the agreed criteria and to buy one book + €5.00 for charity. Increasing price will be mandatory to all Boards.ie books sold from this project.
2. Charity Poll - Any suggestions welcomed to fill-in this poll.
3. What company and size - using recommended companies, I will provide list of size/price possibilities and I would appreciate your comments and experience with the companies and quality of their services.
4. Picture properties - after selecting size of the book, we will set the maximum (and minimum) size and resolution of pictures.
5. Picture Hosting - What picture hosting page to use - pix, flickr or some else?
6. Book layout designer - Who is going to do the layout (create) the book - no voting, only voluntary offers. I presume that the creator could provide few samples with different styles -> another poll.
7. Set dates for... - sending money to the creator of the book, selecting front page design, submitting photos, final layout creation, sending book for print, collection of the book.
8. Cover design - Create competition for cover design followed by poll to choose which one will be used on the cover.
9. Objections - "I don't want to have my picture next to ..." - guidelines for book designer with any (if) objections. I suppose that this would be open minded and friendly accepted last discussion before sending book for print. I do agree that some people wouldn't like to have their picture to one with similar tonality or theme, for instance.
10. Placing final orders - if you want to order more than one book.
11. Sending book for print
12. Collection of the book - the most important part. Please, have respect to the book designer's time/space/money/patience. I would suggest deadline before Christmas.

That is my plan so far. I would appreciate any suggestion, even if you want to take care of the project :-)

Personally, I would like to have the longest period only for the first poll. Two weeks should be enough. After that that could be much faster. However two weeks looks like nice and steady pace for creating book.

Pigwidgeon

that sounds like a good plan thonda!
i agree that anyone who wants a photo in the book should be able to have one in it, after all it's not every day that an amateur (like myself) gets the chance to have their photo in a book along with other amazing photos!

with the charity thing i think that's a great idea, i don't mind which charity it goes to as long as it's a good cause, maybe another poll suggesting charities would be a good idea?

rahtkennades

Good idea. I wonder if it would be worth approaching anybody for any kind of professional assistance with this? (as a marketing effort on their behalf).

I don't know if it would be any assistance to them commercially, or if it would be agreeable to anybody here, but perhaps an offer of:
- hosting of the pictures on a website in addition to the printed book
- assistance with a professional graphic designer for layout purposes
- assistance with paying for an 'upgrade' of a better quality binding
- reduced price of printing the book (if done by a commercial printer, not a website)
- making a (decent-sized) charitable donation
- etc.

might be useful in exchange for some small advertisement.

Dunno, maybe not a good idea, but I hear this capitalism thing is all the rage these days, maybe it's time to 'get with the program':p

helios

Well if we can get in with a charity, or if Boards is willing to share some connections...

ThOnda

I would be happy if that was Boards book with Boards experience, connections and following projects from the past. Unfortunately I am not aware about such connections, so I am asking all you for your help.

sineadw

I would again humbly suggest santa strike force as the charity... Boards good work thingey FTW. Or if the PTB at boards have a better idea? T'would be nice to give something back

ThOnda

Oh yes, I remember something about Santa. Could somebody , e.g. OP, contact responsible people, please?