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-   FADU YEARBOOK 2015 (http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=92)
-   -   FADU Yearbook 2015 (http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=10391)

Mark Snowdon 12th October 2015 08:36 AM

Hi Les,

I was wondering if you had received enough prints to enable you to produce the 2015 yearbook?

I hope your wife is making a good recovery after her accident.

Regards,

Mark

Les McLean 12th October 2015 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Snowdon (Post 105028)
Hi Les,

I was wondering if you had received enough prints to enable you to produce the 2015 yearbook?

I hope your wife is making a good recovery after her accident.

Regards,

Mark

Hi Mark

I have to say that the response was disappointing, 17 members sent prints, but I have selected what I considered the best and ended with 37 prints, 4 less than last year. This number included 3 of my own prints to make up the numbers after having decided that I would not contribute for I have not developed a film for 8 years nor made a print for 3 years as well as making little written contribution to the Forum for quite a while.

I have completed the process of putting the book together but have not yet ordered a copy to see how the finished book looks in print as I am uncertain as to how it will be received, given that there were some comments last year about the numbers included. Perhaps this can be decided by asking our members to comment?

Thank you for asking about my wife, the burns unit nurse came to our house just last week and was very happy with how it had healed and that the foot looks quite good given the degree of damage the burh has done. The nurses from the unit have been visiting Marj twice a week for 4 months to dress her foot, they have been fantastic. I've now got quite a long job getting her confidence back for she is very unsteady on her feet.

chefsteve 12th October 2015 04:06 PM

Hi Les
Glad to hear that your wife is making a good recovery.
Re: the book I for one would purchase the book, as its always good to see other peoples work, as well as hopefully seeing something of mine in bound print.
Perhaps you could put low quality scans onto the gallery to give others a chance to see what they are buying?

many thanks for your time once again.
Steve

David Brown 12th October 2015 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les McLean (Post 105033)
I have completed the process of putting the book together but have not yet ordered a copy to see how the finished book looks in print as I am uncertain as to how it will be received, given that there were some comments last year about the numbers included. Perhaps this can be decided by asking our members to comment?

Sorry to read this. I know how much work it is to put a book together since I just finished the process myself. (Digital work - can't discuss it here ... ;) )

I have no advice on whether or not to proceed. I feel very much as an adjunct member here. I do hope the rest of the membership will give their opinions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les McLean (Post 105033)
Thank you for asking about my wife, the burns unit nurse came to our house just last week and was very happy with how it had healed and that the foot looks quite good given the degree of damage the burh has done. The nurses from the unit have been visiting Marj twice a week for 4 months to dress her foot, they have been fantastic. I've now got quite a long job getting her confidence back for she is very unsteady on her feet.

Glad to read this! Give Queen Marj our best! :)

BobRob 12th October 2015 04:26 PM

Hi Les,

Following the hard work and time you have put into this
It would be a great shame for the book not to be published
I would certainly buy a copy.

Bob Robertson.

GoodOldNorm 12th October 2015 08:42 PM

17 contributors out of 687 friends is a very poor turnout indeed, maybe just enough to produce a calendar/pamphlet. Are 37 prints enough to make a book? Due to the lack of enthusiasm I would consider future FADU Year Books non-starters. I cannot fully understand why the contributions were so low, it is always a pleasure for me to look at other members work in print. Personally, I would make this years book so as not to disappoint those who have submitted prints. Les, it is entirely up to you to decide if you choose to produce the book or not. I for one appreciate you giving up your time to put the book together especially under the added stress of having to deal with your wife's accident and injuries. Hope the missus make a swift and full recovery both physically and mentally, life is too short to be ill.

RichardWarom 13th October 2015 05:17 AM

Hi Les
I'm glad things are improving for your wife, it sounds like there's still a good way to go yet I wish you both the best.
It is a shame that response was so low, but if it should be decided to go ahead and print it I would certainly buy one to complete the process and it does sound like it could be the last one given the lack of contributors.
Richard

mono 13th October 2015 09:21 AM

I am sorry for not having contributed to the book.
I would certainly order a copy!
As others have already stated I am interested in others work, too!
And I`ll have to complete the row of yearbooks ;-)

Keith Tapscott. 13th October 2015 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les McLean (Post 105033)
Hi Mark

I have to say that the response was disappointing, 17 members sent prints, but I have selected what I considered the best and ended with 37 prints, 4 less than last year. This number included 3 of my own prints to make up the numbers after having decided that I would not contribute for I have not developed a film for 8 years nor made a print for 3 years as well as making little written contribution to the Forum for quite a while.

Thank you for asking about my wife, the burns unit nurse came to our house just last week and was very happy with how it had healed and that the foot looks quite good given the degree of damage the burh has done. The nurses from the unit have been visiting Marj twice a week for 4 months to dress her foot, they have been fantastic. I've now got quite a long job getting her confidence back for she is very unsteady on her feet.

Eight years is a long time not to have used or processed any films. Have you given up altogether using film cameras and darkroom printing Les?

Sorry to read about your wife's accident here on FADU and glad that she is recovering well.

Best wishes, Keith.

Dave Hall 13th October 2015 02:18 PM

It was good to talk on the phone Les.

I am sure that you have compiled the book to a high standard, given your comprehensive experience in mono.

For yourself AND the seventeen members who could be bothered.. the book has to be published.

From the northlands

photomi7ch 13th October 2015 03:40 PM

It is a shame that more of us did not take part and that this maybe the last time it is done.

From what I understand members are in and out of the darkroom all year there is now't in the submission process that states you have to print specially for the book.
Past submissions I have printed for the book, except this year I had to go to plan B at the last minute which I am disappointed about.

Circumstances have been out of my control, comprising to keep me away from the darkroom and hence away from the print exchange which I enjoyed a lot.
I did say I would support the book and was determined to do so even though the pictures submitted were not my first choice.

David Brown 14th October 2015 01:17 AM

How many copies of the 2014 book were bought?

TonyMiller 14th October 2015 11:26 AM

Rather than keep harping on with self-congratulatory bull about members being "bothered" or not, how about looking a bit deeper at what's going on here. How many friends can be "bothered" to contribute to the monthly print exchange? How many friends still actually print in the darkroom or even have a darkroom? How many use film and scan and print digitally? How many use film, scan and don't print at all? The premise of FADU is 'film and darkroom' - anything outside those parameters is excluded from the Yearbook. So be it!
Thanks to Les for agreeing to do what he's done under the circumstances and to those who have contributed but there's a lot more going on here than just being "bothered".

Derek Lincoln 14th October 2015 03:24 PM

Being one of the 17 contributors you must certainly publish Les. It is just a shame that all your effort is for so few people who have contributed.

Derek

Alan Clark 14th October 2015 03:27 PM

Tony has raised some valid points here.
There is more to entering, or not entering, than being "bothered". I for one have never submitted prints for the year book. But its not because I can't be bothered. Rather it is because I see my own photographs as being linked together as a body of work, and have no desire to show individual photographs as "one-off" items , out of context, alongside a random collection of pictures by a random collection of photographers.
If others do want to show their work in this way, then that's fine by me. People should be free to do what they feel works for them.
But people who haven't contributed shouldn't be made to feel that they have let the side down.

Alan

paulc 14th October 2015 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyMiller (Post 105061)
[...] but there's a lot more going on here than just being "bothered".

I'm afraid I'm one of the many that have fallen in to the "not bothered" category for both contributions to the book and the monthly print exchange. Currently experiencing some personal issues that I gave no intention of discussing except to say my enthusiasm for most things is currently at a low.

Jakecb 14th October 2015 10:21 PM

I still feel like I'm in the learning-curve area so would not presume that my shots are worthy of inclusion in a book. Also I run a business and have a busy family life so my love for all things film & dark-room cannot always take centre-stage. However, I am here and will be for years to come :)

Richard Gould 15th October 2015 08:57 AM

I did not send any prints this year as I have simply been very busy with work and other things such as getting my new classic Mercedes ready for showing, and decided to concentrate what spare time I had to staying with the Print exchange, If it had not been that the prints would have needed to be specialy printed to meet the size and border requirements I would have sent some from my library of back images, but the car us done, and next year work will not be a problem
Richard

Dave Hall 15th October 2015 10:37 AM

Let me use more suitable words then " For the seventeen members that entered".

Alan Clark 15th October 2015 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Hall (Post 105080)
Let me use more suitable words then " For the seventeen members that entered".

Fair comment Dave...

Alan

GoodOldNorm 16th October 2015 08:21 AM

[QUOTE=TonyMiller;105061]Rather than keep harping on with self-congratulatory bull about members being "bothered" or not, how about looking a bit deeper at what's going on here.

Looking a bit deeper into why members have not contributed to the yearbook is a valid point. I think most people on this site have busy lives and personal ideas on how they pursue their interest. No person should feel bad if they chose not to participate in the yearbook. It is supposed to be a bit of fun, a chance to see a collection of friends work in print in a book. I don't understand your comment "self congratulatory bull" anyone who sent in prints was guaranteed to have one print in the book good, bad or ugly. I for one don't feel superior to anyone who has not sent in prints. The word "bothered" may have been a poor choice of word, it implies a total lack of interest, I don't think people on this site are not interested in photography.

chisel 21st October 2015 10:19 PM

There are sites out there where you can build the book, publish and then people can buy as they want. Zero outlay for Les or anyone else and no skin off anyones nose if no-one buys it. I for one would like to get a copy - and maybe the way for the future is to do something different. We all get stale doing the same things year to year. What about a 24 hour project instead, or a book from the print exchange << just examples....

Keith Tapscott. 22nd October 2015 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chisel (Post 105203)
What about a 24 hour project instead, or a book from the print exchange << just examples....

I have never taken part in the print exchange, but I like the idea of a book from it.

David Brown 22nd October 2015 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chisel (Post 105203)
There are sites out there where you can build the book, publish and then people can buy as they want. Zero outlay for Les or anyone else and no skin off anyones nose if no-one buys it. ...

This is exactly how last year's book was published - and this year's if it happens.

As for "Zero outlay", that may be true financially, but the work putting a book like this together is substantial (I've done it), so let's give Les his due.

DaveInElland 24th October 2015 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Lincoln (Post 105062)
Being one of the 17 contributors you must certainly publish Les. It is just a shame that all your effort is for so few people who have contributed.

Derek

As a total newcomer I hope my comments are not considered out of turn.

Personally I think you've done well to get seventeen members sufficiently motivated to get involved. My experience of forums and groups in general is that there is always a small core of people who do most if not all of the work, a slightly larger group who regularly get involved and a majority who at best dip in and out as and when time and interest permit.

Good luck with the venture and I hope you are successful. Don't forget Blurb do a PDF option now so you could also offer an electronic version for members to purchase at very little cost - this might even get a few more interested!

Michael 24th October 2015 11:56 AM

You know, last year's book had only 19 contributors; so this year's 17 is not in itself a shocking drop. It is certainly a disappointment, given that we hoped that things would have grown a bit by now.

The best thing will be to leave it to Les McLean to judge whether he considers publication worthwhile or not. I contributed this year (and also last year) and shall be content with whatever he decides. The arguments on this thread haven't been very convincing either way.

Les McLean 24th October 2015 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael (Post 105261)
You know, last year's book had only 19 contributors; so this year's 17 is not in itself a shocking drop. It is certainly a disappointment, given that we hoped that things would have grown a bit by now.

The best thing will be to leave it to Les McLean to judge whether he considers publication worthwhile or not. I contributed this year (and also last year) and shall be content with whatever he decides. The arguments on this thread haven't been very convincing either way.

Thanks for your comments Michael. However, whilst 17 does not represent a shocking drop in this years entry I do feel that it is a poor response from a quite busy forum of analogue print makers. I wonder if some members realise how much work, organisation and time is required to complile a photo book.

I have bought and paid for a trial copy to see how it looks in print and have recieved an email advising me that the order is in transit. I'll post a link on the forum when I've checked it out.

Les McLean 26th October 2015 07:18 PM

FADU 2015 Yearbook LINK
 
I recieved a copy of the Yearbook this morning it looks OK and can be accessed using the link below.


http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/6536128-fadu-2015

chefsteve 26th October 2015 08:35 PM

Many thanks Les for giving your own time to put the book together, as well as having to purchase a copy to make it available to the rest of us.

steve

David Brown 26th October 2015 08:57 PM

Looks great! Thanks, Les!! :)

Jakecb 26th October 2015 10:22 PM

Looks terrific Les. Well done and thanks on behalf of all of us, contributors and non-contributors alike.

Jake

MartyNL 26th October 2015 11:39 PM

Thanks Les.
The book looks fabulous and great choice of cover photo.

Well done contributors, there are some lovely photos in there.

RichardWarom 27th October 2015 06:39 AM

It looks very good Les thanks for putting it all together especially during your difficult circumstances, I shall be ordering my copy this week.
Richard

Barry 27th October 2015 12:51 PM

Order placed. Thank you very much Les for all the work you have done in creating our year book.

Dave Hall 27th October 2015 03:43 PM

Thanks Les...the job is a good un

Michael 27th October 2015 07:40 PM

I've just ordered it too. Les, I really appreciate your efforts for us.

mono 28th October 2015 08:42 AM

A great thank you, Les!
I just ordered my copy.

chisel 28th October 2015 09:36 PM

Ordered mine too just now!

Thanks Les for all the hard work done on this.....

Mark Snowdon 29th October 2015 07:28 AM

Thanks for all your hard work Les, the book looks great.

Mark

mono 29th October 2015 10:53 AM

Just off topic:
Were there FADU Yearbooks in 2012 and 2013?
I´ve collected all the other ones.
Did I miss something?
Sorry, if this question has already been answered elsewhere...

mono 29th October 2015 06:48 PM

Sorry, I´m getting old!!
I forgot why there were no yearbooks then!
Please forgive me.

Keith Tapscott. 30th October 2015 06:08 AM

I have just looked at the book via the Blurb link. Thank you Les.

DaveInElland 30th October 2015 08:53 AM

Just had a look - inspiring and makes me even more determined to remaster the Dark Art. Thank you.

BobRob 31st October 2015 12:17 PM

Great work Les, thank you for such a splendid result
placed my order this morning

Bob Robertson.

photomi7ch 1st November 2015 12:11 PM

I have just had a look. Thanks Les for your time and to the other contributors. The images are superb.

I was taken aback by the fact that Missed made the book. He was an excellent friend and in the case of this picture a great model, in a studio setting he had not visited before. With many interruption. He is still missed. :)

Derek Lincoln 1st November 2015 02:04 PM

Just ordered mine. May I also thank you Les for all your work and frustration putting it together.

Derek

mono 3rd November 2015 04:18 PM

Got my copy today!
Good work, Les!
Thank you!
And nice images in there, but not enough to my taste.
It looks more like a booklet than a yearbook...
Perhaps I should participate again next year? ;-)

Michael 4th November 2015 10:31 PM

My copy arrived this morning. Thank you again, Les.

GoodOldNorm 5th November 2015 02:22 PM

Thank you for putting the book together Les, my copy arrived today, a very interesting mix of photographs of a wide variety of subjects.

Bill 10th November 2015 10:49 AM

My copy arrived yesterday courtesy of my eldest son as my Christmas present.

Thanks for all your work Les, well worth your effort.

Bill


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