J. Sybylla Smith, In Conversation With Mary Virginia Swanson and Darius D. Himes
“It is a photographer’s attitude toward a subject - not the subject itself - that makes a book sing”
Episode #68, Summary
This seminal book by two groundbreaking visual narrative pioneers, Mary Virginia Swanson and Darius D. Himes, in an updated third edition provides a compreshensive investigation of the what/who/why and how of the creating and disseminating photobooks.
Episode Notes
This recent Radius release offers an expansive framework of the principles of publishing including the layered roles and responsibilities inherent within the creation of a photobook. NOT a how-to guidebook, this beautiful object elegantly packages decades of research and provides contemporary resources to illustrate the endless possibilities of the photobbook. Swanson and Himes share the mission to create impactful photography books by encouraging all artists to: slow down idea formation, linger in the making mode, and do thy research.
In this conversation, Mary and Darius discuss, among other things:
The biggest challenge - conceiving the idea
Fostering a dynamic engagement with one's ideas
Seeing the end in the beginning
Play, patience & persistence
Concept guiding context
Stepping outside the medium of photoogrpahy to clarify and deepen your idea
Critical thinking
Not rushing the monograph
The book as art form
Photogrpahs as raw material
Impact of digital publishing
Pivotal role of self publishing
University Presses
Balancing creative & business perspectives
The evolving life of marketing a book
Referenced in the episode:
Society for Photographic Edcuation
National Endowment for the Arts - State and Regional Arts Organizations
Paris Photo Aperture Book Awards
Printed Matter’s Art Book Fair
The Athenaeum catalog and exhibit
PhotoBook Makers Weekend at Singapore International Photography Festival
Reminders Photography Stronghold in Tokyo
The Directory of Artist book Collectors
Murmurations of Starling Guardian
Love On The Left Bank - Ed van der Elsken