Vitus von Atzinger wrote:Ursus, have you approached anybody about putting out a book of your best pics?
Actually, such a book would be easy (except for choosing the photos).
I showed my photos to the Head of our Photography Department a couple of years ago, and he suggested the same thing, referring me to a site called mypublisher.com. They were apparently one of pioneers in self-publishing photo books, and there are now quite a few others out there offering the same type of service.
I did put together a book for my Anglesey mates showing them over the last ten years (amazing what changes occurred), and they really liked it (after they finished kicking my a** for embarrassing them). It was actually a pretty darned easy process, and I recommend to any and all who are interested.
My main problem is that I have so many freaking photos, probably well over a hundred thousand on various hard drives. I'm scared to add them all up.
Could I do it? Yes. A hundred books, if I really felt like it, all on different subjects, groups or individuals.
So it's the magnitude of the task, more than anything else, that holds me back. Someday I plan to tackle it, to start sorting my archives and maybe publish highlights of say, Calontir over the last ten years, or individuals or groups within Atlantia and the Bog, since that is my general focus. Or best fighting pictures, melee and tourney volumes 1-10.
It would be huge investment in time, and quite frankly, I am somewhat overwhelmed now after Pennsic (there are still a few thousand pictures even I haven't seen yet because I'm busy working on the early days). Plus I have events coming up about every other weekend into October, so more pictures will pile up. Looks like about November before I'll post everything.
After that, I don't even want to look at a camera or a photo for a month. This is a hobby, not an obsession.
I'm not complaining. This is a self-imposed task, and I don't regret doing it. In fact, I even enjoy it most of the time, but after the first thousand, somehow that enthusiasm gets a little muted...
Then events start again in March with Gulf Wars, and if next year is anything like this one, I'll go to events about every two weeks, and I have to work hard to stay current and not build up a backlog. Pretty much straight through to next Pennsic. And beyond.
Yes, I have considered it. Many times. And I want to do it. And I know how to do it. But the task is so enormous I'm not even sure where to start. But do I really want to publish a hundred books? So where do I draw the line? If I do it for Calontir, why not other kingdoms, etc.? Who will I insult by leaving off the list? But I'll be damned if I'm paging through 100,000 pics several times looking for different things.
(Think about it: to view one
every second would take a little less than thirty hours. Just to glance... not even LOOK at them, much less choose the best ones, then sort and edit them.)
Sorry to ramble on, and I appreciate the sentiment behind the question.
I will do it someday. Maybe I'll even start it this winter, but it may take years, given my current schedule. Who knows?
When I do, rest assured I will keep you all informed. You all have been (and continue to be) a terrific audience, not to mention a constant source of inspiration to me.
Thank you again.
Ursus