WSJ/Magnum

[Murchu]

^--- Yes. That. Exactly.

If one reads about Daido Moriyama's early years, much of the most important work was distributed through a small magazine that he and a few friends put together. As has been said of the first Velvet Underground album, almost no one bought it but everyone who did started a band/became a photographer/changed how they were doing their art. It spawned a movement and changed photography throughout Japan and ultimately the world.

The best and most important art is seldom driven by sales numbers or careerism. It's driven by an absolute need to do the work and to share it with people who you hope might understand or come to understand it. No matter what.

Nicely said. The world would be a far poorer place, if everything of import in it needed to be commercially viable to exist. Unfortunately the refrain 'it'll never make money/ it's not feasible' is toted far too often as the reason not to do something we want/ something that is important..

 

[Pablito]

The best and most important art is seldom driven by sales numbers or careerism. It's driven by an absolute need to do the work and to share it with people who you hope might understand or come to understand it. No matter what.

Yes, that is certainly true. But then even those who choose a more traditional form of publishing can't expect to make any money these days! You're lucky to get a beautifully produced book.

btw, the bill is MUCH lower in Shenzhen than in Verona!

 

[Pablito]

This is not about photo books specifically but interesting nonetheless.
The much-talked-about death of the paper book deemed premature.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323874204578219563353697002.html