Best thread ever! It got me thinking (indulge me!)..
In our local library there are shelves of (mostly, but not exclusively older) photo books. Typically of the local area, or topics of interest (industry, scenery etc) to the author. They form a fascinating social, historic and artistic record – of the local landscape and times.
Before photography was so widely distributed, it seems people published small collections/books in this way – often in limited numbers. Perhaps linked by their connections to photo societies, local history, scenery, industry – or possibly professional work as a phtographer.
These are often in a classic documentary or landscape style and format – I notice their was often a connection to local papers, possibly ppl also working or freelancing for them.
I look at many in this thread and see a connection in style, scenes or the circumstances they record (Polarisandy for instance).
So in a digital age, I wonder what will remain of work like this – to pique the interest of others in 50, 100yrs. Flickr et al may come and go. Vint Cerf also spoke about this recently.
So: Does anyone think of what they produce as a ‘permanent record’ or consider the choice of subject in this context? Are any of the clearly skilled contributors here working on, or considering a ‘book’ – (or even still printing)?