Covid lockdown, my book, my zine

robert blu

robert blu

quiet photographer
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Joined
Nov 17, 2005
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In Italy we are now facing a semi-lockdown. The country is divided in various risky zones and people are should stay home so much as possible.

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I decided to make public a series of pictures and a few thoughts from the first lockdown.

They will be available as a small book or as a zine. The book is smaller and nicer, printed on high qualkity paper, the zine is less expensive and with larger pictures! You can choose the one you prefer :)

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All the pictures, B&W and colours were taken just before, during and immediately after the first lockdown with a Leica M10.

You can preview (and order if you like it) the book here: https://it.blurb.com/b/10282961-those-days

And the zine at this Blurb address: https://it.blurb.com/b/10303406-those-days

Photography during the lockdown was a way to stay calm and balanced in a difficult and scaring moment.

Fell free to comment :)
 
This is my working desk with in foreground my book and my zine from the first covid lockdown.

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You can preview the photos on the Blurb site following the link in the forst post.
 
Very good Robert, we are still in semi-lock down but many are not following the rules. So, I feel like I have to be even more vigilant.
 
Congratulations, Robert. Wonderful to put something like this together, isn't it? I wish I had started one at the beginning, especially of the eerily empty streets.

John
 
Got mine earlier this week but finally got the time to check it out! Super work and good text. Congrats on another good zine!
 
How did you prepare the B&W images for Blurb's color printing process?

Which of Blurb's printing options and paper did you select?
 
I just received my copy. The images are beautiful, quiet but pointed, and suit the format and printing very well.

willie_901 said:
How did you prepare the B&W images for Blurb's color printing process?
Which of Blurb's printing options and paper did you select?
Click to expand...

Agree it would be interesting to know for reference.

Marty
 
@ willie and Marty: thanks for your interest. I kept is simple. For the small book version I used the LR plug.in with a Blurb template, photos were all postprocessed in LRCC with an adobe RGB profile, small format 7x7 in = 18x18 cm, and highest quality paper (Mohawk Superfine Eggshell) available for that format.

I decided to make also a zine version mainly to offer something less expensive but also I was curious to see myself how it comes out. In this case I used a different procedure: from LR I exported the same photos in a folder in the size I wanted to have in the zine (I wanted all the same size) at 300 dpi and sRGB color profile. Than I used the Blurb plug in for Adobe InDesign to prepare the pdf. In Design offers much more flexibility but I need to learn more how to use it which anyway it will be my tool for the next project. For the zine Blurb offers to chices of paper and I selected the higher quality.

I hope this answers you questions.

So far I'm satisfied enough from the quality of both the book and the zine.
 
Out to Lunch thanks for your words, it was a difficult and scaring moment (unfortunately here it still is) and photography helped to keep my brain a little bit relaxed.
 
 
Thanks Mark and Cal (Augie?) for your words. You know, I like to post pictures in the net mainly here in the gallery or on my blog but I think it is in the same time important to have a physical result from our passion, something that can be held in our hands and can last for a long time. This is why I decided to make it in form of book or zine.

And the covid lockdown was quite dramatic...I wanted to make something about it.
 
Robert,

Since you also print digitally have you considered making a book of your prints?

I have done this, and pretty much the books I have printed are one-offs. An art dealer once said that because these books are one-offs that they are kind of estate pieces that one day will be very valuable.

In my case my books are called "Monsters" because I print big and several on my books require a hand truck to bring to the NYC Meet-Ups.

My first book uses 17x22 sheets and 13x19.5 image size, and I devised a hinge of linen tape that allows me to use binding posts to form a spine. This first book I consider a "Workbook" and on the rear of these prints are my Lightroom and printer settings, and the paper I used.

A more refined book came later that uses 17x24 inch sheets and the image size is 13.3x20.

I print glossy using Piezography on Baryta papers, so I get a wet print look. The IQ is outstanding, but then again so is the cost.

Anyways the books provide impact and display passion because they are a lot crazy. No one really does this, and that is the point. Its not about money or selling: its about going a bit crazy.

"Crazy is good," I say.

Cal
 
I can confirm what you say : "crazy is good"

I do not plan a "monster book" but I oft make small very limited edition small books! It is the process I like !
 
robert blu said:
I can confirm what you say : "crazy is good"

I do not plan a "monster book" but I oft make small very limited edition small books! It is the process I like !
Click to expand...

Robert,

How small an edition?

Perhaps if I turn down the crazy a bit I could make a few limited editions. LOL.

BTW printing is a big part of photography IMHO.

Cal
 
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