Last Post

I'm happy to say I've had multiple reports that Pentti Sammallahti's Here Far Away is finally shipping from Amazon.com. I hope this is the last update post I'll have to do on this subject; the saga has tired me.

I know how I can make myself feel better—I'll go look through the book again.

Mike
(Thanks to everyone who informed me that their order has been shipped)

P.S. When I was checking the orders I noticed that this book is our big seller for this month, despite the fact that I know nothing about it and have not even mentioned it. Interesting.

Original contents copyright 2013 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

TOP's links!

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

ACG: "The portrait book was featured a few days ago on Luminous Landscape."

Mike replies: Ah, that explains it. Thanks.

Dave Stewart: "I see there's a certain D. Hobby who's written a glowing review at the Amazon link. Suspect some TOP readers have heard about it via his Strobist website (i.e., here)."

MarkR: "R.C. Concepcion mentioned that book recently on Scott Kelby's blog. Must be some sort of halo effect."

Mike replies: I guess everybody's talking about it, then.

RobinP: "It would be interesting to know how many (if any) TOP readers bought the Kindle edition of the Heisler book and what their opinion is re looking at a photo book in the new format."

Chris Gibbs: "Here's an interview with Heisler talking about that book. And he even segues into 'the look' he wanted for a certain shot. It ties in nicely with Mike's post 'Do You Really Need FF?'"

Comments

[Andre Y]

I visited the Peter Fetterman Gallery in Los Angeles recently to view their exhibition of Salgado's Genesis project, and to my total surprise they are a Sammallahti dealer! They have the books as well as the prints, printed by Sammallahti himself!

Anyway, I thought I'd offer that as an alternative source. They do ship, so Google them and give them a call if Amazon is being difficult. I'm now plotting and saving for my own print.

It was a bit of an overload as well since they had a Steve McCurry exhibit going on at the same time.

[Dennis]

I got my copy from the Book Depository ... and then just got an email from Amazon saying my order has shipped (I guess I forgot to cancel it ... whoops).

As for the Heisler book, that just made it onto my Amazon wishlist recently after reading this post:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/the_master_never_stops_being_a_student.shtml

So that may be at least part of the reason.

[Markus Johnson]

You can thank Michael Reichmann for that...I almost bought it as well but decided to hold off.

[john crowley]

Mike,
'Here Far Away' was also may book of the year for 2012... and for this year? (meaning a book that I bought but not necessarily published in 2013) is looking like 'Gunnar Smoliansky One Picture at a Time' photographs 1952-2008 published by Steidl. Excellent printing binding and layout. If only more books were like this. You may know of this book and his work already but if not I think you are in for a treat. Just checked Amazon US and it seems to be available, and a great price considering the quality.
http://www.amazon.com/One-Picture-Time-Gunnar-Smoliansky/dp/3865216153/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383849859&sr=8-1&keywords=Gunnar+Smoliansky
Maybe readers would like to share their best buys of 2013 so we all have a chance to check them out in time for Christmas.
Now to check out your big seller.

[Peter]

The Heisler book was written about on The Luminous Landscape, in October. There must be some readership crossover at work here.

[Geoff Morgan]

The book you link to (50 Portraits) was referred to recently in an article on Luminous Landscape. Maybe this explains the interest?

[Philip]

I think you stole all the link juice on that Heisler book from Strobist.

[Ned]

Heisler's book was mentioned on the Luminous Landscape. Wonder if that had anything to do with it?

[Rusty]

That book is lovely, highly recommended

[Albert W Erickson]

Mike for some reason they sent me two, if any of your readers want one and can't get it from amazon, let me know. Otherwise I will send it back.

[Michael Bearman]

It got a big write up in the NY Times.

[Dennis Dunkerson]

The Heisler book was promoted on Luminous Landscape this week

[James Symington]

Check out Luminous Landscape and you'll see why!

[John]

Got mine today - looking forward to sitting down with it this evening :)

[John Doty]

I am going broke ordering books recommended by you. Keep it up. I am enjoying them all a great deal. I received Here Far Away from The Book Depository in September. I ordered Heisler's book back in February when I heard it was coming out and got a copy last month. It has some of his great portraits along with his thought process about getting the portrait. All in all a very enjoyable read.
Now, I better get back to work so I can afford the next book you recommend.

[Hernan Zenteno]

Don't be tired. I was waiting and now just can't purchase the book. I am waiting my Fuji 23 1.4 lens that will be billed tomorrow or soon I hope. The top quality of the photos deserves this saga. I like the work of Pentti and I hope to have this book in my library one day.

[Dave Kee]

I have just started reading it, and it is wonderful. David Hobby had a good write up on it.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2013/10/an-all-nighter-at-vista-greg-heislers.html

[John Shriver]

My order shipped today. Curious to see the book.

[Dave Sculthorpe]

If you'd like to see some Pentti Sammallahti prints, there's an exhibition at the Photographers Gallery in London at the moment.
I've not seen it yet, but see here for details:
http://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/penttisammallahti-exhibition

[Dennis]

Even though I received my copy of "Here Far Away" from The Book Depository a month ago, I just started looking seriously at it last night. It has me thinking about trying my hand at black & white, despite having told myself numerous times that I'm a color photographer; that I like color photographs better and see color better.
There's plenty of good b/w out there, of course (I picked up a box full of 30 or 40 issues of Leica Fotografie International at our transfer stations "swap shop" recently !) But this is the first time I've looked at b&w and really appreciated it for being b&w. His photos look like they have to be b&w; they're about tones & contrast - in many cases, I suspect they would not have worked in color, but b&w isn't used as a crutch. There are plenty of good photo books out there; my favorites are ones that leaved me in wonder at how the photographer sees the world. This is one; ironically, the next most recent one I can think of is Ernst Haas' "Color Correction". Go figure :)

[ginsbu]

I replaced my order after seeing this post (previous order had been cancelled by Amazon) and received my copy today. After just a quick look, I'm very impressed with both the book and Sammallahti's photographs and look forward to giving them the time they deserve. Thank you for recommending the book!

[Vijay]

Thank you for your one "Last Post." I had given up after Amazon told me my initial order from a few months ago would not be fulfilled. I ordered last week and started enjoying the book this past weekend. It's the first photo book I purchased and look forward to hearing your future recommendations.

[Rodney Topor]

I'm please to inform you that my copy of Here Far Away has just arrived from Amazon here far away in Brisbane Australia.