October 31, 2004
America 24/7
I don't know that you could say it's the dream of my lifetime come true, but it's pretty close. I would be hard-pressed to get any better exposure for my photography (no pun intended). This past Wednesday a package came in the mail for me. It was a copy of the hot-off-the-presses New York 24/7 coffee table book. I got a copy because I have some photos in it.
The package was no surprise; the contents were. I'd had e-mails that I was getting the book because two photos of mine were in it. What I didn't know was that (a) one photo would be a full two-page spread on pages 10-11 (b) the other photo would be a full one-page vertical (full bleed) on page 74 and (c) that I would have three other thumbnail photos in the book as well.
About the 24/7 project
Last year, the America 24/7 book was released featuring photos taken during one week in May 2003. More than 25,000 photographers shot over one million digital photos for the project from May 12-18. Anyone with a digital camera could submit photos--professionals and amateurs. The 24/7 people actually hired pros to shoot for them. A limited number of "stringers and students" were allowed to sign up and any amateurs could submit seven photos. I signed up as a stringer/student and was allowed to submit about 40 images.
This fall, the America 24/7 people released the individual books for each of the 50 states using the same images submitted originally for the main America 24/7 book. The state books are expected to be more popular than the America 24/7 book--which went as high as #5 on the New York Times bestseller list. Oprah also featured America 24/7 as did thousands of other articles. For the state books, I'm told that the initial print run of 800,000 copies by the publisher, DK, is the largest simultaneous release ever by a trade book publisher. It's unclear whether that's 800,000 of each state book or 800,000 for all 50 books.
The New York 24/7 book features 164 large images shot by 74 photographers, so I feel like my work is standing on its own. There are hundreds of thumbnail photos throughout the book--858 images total. The 74 main photographers are credited as "Participating Photographers" in the back of the book. Also, the photographers with thumbnails even get mentioned on the credits page. The thumbnail credits include the page number, so it's easy to find a specific photographer's work.
Lest you think I brag too much, let me say that my big photos aren't as impressive as others in the book. I think I've made stronger photos before and since these were made. I definitely have other photos that are more aesthetically pleasing to me. (But these are growing on me...) :-)
See the main photos
The main photos in each book are viewable online at 247states.com. Below are links to my two photos within the New York 24/7 section.
Unfortunately, the thumbnails aren't online. But if they were, you would see Pastor Christopher preaching at Memorial Baptist (2nd from right at top of page 135), a pink dogwood bloom (2nd from left at top of page 140), and a row of soldiers in Continental uniform (6th from left at top of page 148). Pastor doesn't know he's in the book yet. Can't wait to tell him!
I think the NY book did a good job of showing NYC and the rest of the state (although Upstaters might disagree). It's neat to see photos from our parts of Brooklyn as shot by other photographers.
Posted by JRC at October 31, 2004 09:10 PM | TrackBack