{"id":8903,"date":"2012-09-27T07:57:29","date_gmt":"2012-09-27T14:57:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=8903"},"modified":"2012-10-06T05:11:28","modified_gmt":"2012-10-06T12:11:28","slug":"streettogs-gallery-work-in-progress-le-mingh-ngias-photobook-in-transit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2012\/09\/27\/streettogs-gallery-work-in-progress-le-mingh-ngias-photobook-in-transit\/","title":{"rendered":"Streettogs gallery Work in Progress: Minh Nghia’s Photobook “In Transit”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Eric\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Note:<\/strong><\/em> Streettogs Gallery is an on-going feature and intiative by Manila-based street photographer A.G. De Mesa<\/a>. Click here<\/a> for more info.<\/p>\n

A.G.:\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong>Today’s feature is a bit different than the usual. As I said in the intro post for streettogs gallery, I would also love to see if you have a work in progress. Today is extra special because we have a photo book to analyze, dissect, and share opinions. But first, I want to share what I look for in a photo book.<\/p>\n

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My Personal Criteria in a good photo book<\/h2>\n

A Self Published photo book is without a doubt a great medium to show photography. The photographer can form a very intimate connection with every page the viewer lifts that is very different from a gallery setting. So when Minh Nghia asked for help on how he could improve the photobook he is working on, I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hesitate to help. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve listed down a few things I like seeing in photobooks in the hopes that this will help Minh Nghia and others out there looking to self publish their own books.<\/p>\n

1) A tight edit<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The edit is the core of your photo book. This is the main component of the photobook. If this part is weak, then your entire book will not have a strong foundation to work around on. There are a thousand ways of editing and I am of the opinion that there is no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153one true edit\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. The images that appear has to be a conscious choice made by the photographer. You may ask for feedback from people and trusted photographers but at the end of the day, it has to be up to you.<\/p>\n

You know you have a tightly edited work when even without title or words, the viewer can understand what your images are trying to show or what story you are trying to tell. Eric wrote his method on editing here<\/a> and there are a thousand tips on google as well.<\/p>\n

2) A good book design<\/strong><\/h3>\n

<\/strong>If I may loosely quote the video game critic Ben \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yahtzee\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Croshaw<\/a>, to him a video game’s gameplay is the vehicle to show the storyline of the game. That is what design does in photo books. The design should be able to aid the images in showing your message or story without being a hindrance or a chore. It will answer how you want to present the book, Is it better as a photocopied zine (8.5in by 5.5in)? Should the book be square format like Robert Frank\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s The Americans(8.5in x 8.5 in)? or it could be something unconventional altogether? (David Alan Harvey Based on a True Story)?<\/p>\n