BUILDINGS
BUILDINGS
I continue to peck away at my new project. Shooting buildings for now.
Nice change from the total craziness of drug addicts and heroin addicted
heroines.
Problem is, though, and I’m just beginning to realize this, buildings offer
no risk, there is really no experience to be had shooting them.
I’m (obviously) shooting locations that are sort of loaded. Loaded with
subtext. But that approach is really just an intellectual exercise, not at
all like going out and shooting people. I’m sure I’ll get bored after a while.

The Israeli Embassy, 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 1005, Ottawa, November 2, 2011
But that’s okay. Okay for now. Next year I’m going to flesh this project
out and begin shooting people. People to combine with the buildings.
Interiors, details and some other stuff, too.
But for now, easy is what I’m after.

Prime Minister’s Office, 80 Wellington Street, Ottawa, October 14, 2011
SPAO OPEN HOUSE
Back in the day fotografers would bump into each other at the lab. Always
running to the lab to drop off, pick up film. Sometimes 2 or 3 times a day.
The lab was a place to get film processed but it was also a social place. Now
we all are chained to our computers and hardly get the chance to just bump
into each other, socialize.

So it’s pretty swell that a place like SPAO holds so many foto-gatherings.
The most recent being their annual Open House, where all kinds of foto-
folks drop by to look, talk and hang.

QUESTION
I’m looking for opinions.
One of the things I did last week while I was in Toronto was, I showed
my finished USER and LIVE THROUGH THIS portfolios to some industry
folks. Looking for reaction and feedback. Looking for a publisher.
LIVE THROUGH THIS received some publisher interest.
Now the quandary: So far the only place LTT exists (besides the dummy
of the book) is on my blog, incomplete and scattered over six or more
months. The web template for publishing it to the web is almost done,
the URL is bought and I’m itching to show the edited, complete work to
the world. One of the interested publishers thinks I shouldn’t do that.
They think I should hold it back until about the time the book comes out.
The thinking is that if you have already consumed the work on the web,
well, why would you buy the book?
I think that looking on the web and having and holding the book are
different things. Plus, it may take a year, probably 2, for the book to
come out. In the meantime the work will not be seen.
I want to know what you droolers think. First of all, would you buy
a book of LIVE THROUGH THIS? And would would you be less inclined
to buy a book version if you have already seen the work on your monitor?
Please respond here (or you can PM me) with your thoughts on this, no
matter what you think. There is no one correct answer to these questions.
I’m just gathering data.
And, to sweeten the pot I will be giving a print of one of these images
to a randomly selected drooler who responds with an opinion.
The lucky winner gets to choose.

Steph holding a bindle of heroin, Ottawa, March 9, 2011 (foto by T. Fouhse)

Stellarton Mine, Nova Scotia, June 20, 2011 (foto by Stephanie MacDonald)


























