Roadracer portraits : experiences and problems in publishing a photographic book

• Main Author: Boyd, Dan R.
• Other Authors: Foster, John F.
• Format: Others
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Automobile racing > Pictorial works.; Automobile racing drivers > Pictorial works.; Photographs > Publishing.; Sports publishing.
• Online Access: http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/182899; http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/413137

This creative project started out as initially proposed. During the many long hours of work, the project changed. Many unexpected events made the project more difficult. The original idea was to organize, select, print, market and copywrite eleven years of auto racing negatives.The selection of a print shop was the first problem. The cost of the book was considerable. The result was an inferior printer. A problem in communication was next. Deadlines were given and agreed upon but never were met during the whole project. The failure to meet the deadlines over a extended period of time left no alternative. An agreement was reached with the print shop manager and I began to do the work with the notable exception of the running of the press. This was the major change in the original project.This change led to a more technical approach. The actual involvement with the book was now centered around learning about layouts, signatures, flats, halftones, line than raw talent to be successful. Things like training, copy, cutting and pasting photographs, dot patterns, and making plates for the press. This proved to be a positive learning experience.In closing, there are three main points. The first point is how much the project changed over the course of time. The result of little money, poor communication and the use of a poor quality printer led to the failure of the final product as a marketable book. Point two is that even though the final product is not as planned, the project will continue even beyond the creative project. A final marketable product is the goal and the creative project is just a step in reaching that goal. Lastly, I have developed a new appreciation for what a true artist is. It takes more education, experiences, environment, dedication, money are just a few of the qualities needed. All of these factors and more have been discovered in the making of this book. It has helped me establish new guidelines for what makes a true artist.