The Progress of a Photograph

You might remember that this week's Book of the Week (have you noticed that's a new feature? It's because I'm about hip deep in books I keep meaning to mention, but never seem to get around to) is Why Photographs Work by George Barr. Just thought I'd mention that photograph #26 in the book is from our very own little corner of the web, i.e., TOP, the site you are reading at this very moment.

As George recounts in his analysis, Gordon Lewis took the picture as one of several  "example" pictures while reviewing the Pentax K-7 for TOP. So many readers responded positively to that picture in particular that we had a more or less spontaneous print sale of it, which did quite well—and that's how a print of it came to be framed on my office wall.

So now it's made its way into a published book as well. What's next—a national advertising campaign? Will Gordon make an edition the size of a poster, limit it to 7 copies, and price each one at $250,000? Am I going to encounter this picture in the latest "History of Photography" tome that I'll be wrestling with in the nursing home when I'm 90?

Maybe we should send a copy to Oprah, or Ellen.

More seriously, congratulations to Gordon on being included. I'm tickled about it, too.

Mike

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Original contents copyright 2011 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[James]

Mike,

a couple of years ago, you could have parlayed such renown into achieving top price - certainly the $100s of millions - for TOP in a leveraged buyout by some mega-corporation desperate to buy into Web 2.0 and the nexus of smart blogging, art and image rights.

I'm rather glad you didn't, and that my subscription to TOP remains affordable.

Which reminds me: next time you have a print sale, is it possible to include "something" at the $100 or slightly less mark? I'm juggling "desire to actively contribute" against "sticker shock". I cannot contribute directly as the small British bank which holds my meagre funds doesn't deal with Paypal.

Best wishes with your taxes. I am currently redoing mine for the last year, as the heartless brute that is the taxman has disagreed with my earlier assessment of how I split my heat/fuel/light between domestic use and home-office deductibles. We're about £370 different in our views, which seems to me to be the sort of nugatory level at which the taxman should be going out and chasing real evaders.

[Christopher Lane]

A friend alerted me to this. When I first saw the image I had to have it even though it violates my "principals of collection". Now I'll have to buy the book. Thanks for the heads up.

[MJFerron]

Before I hit 90 and become an active player on nursing home scene I'd like to have one photo published. Just one would make it all worthwhile. Congrats Gordon.

[Dennis Huteson]

What does it say about why that particular photograph 'works'?

[Gordon Lewis]

Thanks for the props, Mike. By coincidence I've recently taken possession of a Pentax K-5, the able successor to the K-7. Will lightning strike twice in the same spot? Will I produce another photograph as striking as "Precipitation" (a.k.a. "The Umbrella Lady")? I'll keep you posted.

[David Bostedo]

"What does it say about why that particular photograph 'works'?"

I think you should buy the book and find out! It's a very good book - well worth the money.