The coffee table photography book shouldn't exist anymore

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NIKON D70 - 1/500 sec, f8 at 46mm

Gabba got me 3 coffee table photography books today from the Library. One was a book on Ansel Adams color photography. There was one with photography from Wairarapa, kind of a souvenir style thing. And the last is a New Zealand Contemporary Photographers book. Art in other words.

I thought the photos were, well, very ordinary. In all 3 books, including the Ansell Adams book. I see significantly better photos everyday. Bloody hell, Crewcut, Karebou and dontcom take photos that would be much more interesting to look at in a book.

Shouldn't the fact that they are in a book, that someone had to pay for, and put a whole pile of effort into mean that the photo's therein are something really special? Photos that the average bloke on the street just couldn't execute? Especially some person with a cheap POS camera!

Given I can see much better photography everyday for free, even if I have to put up with flickr, why the hell would anyone buy one of those books? Perhaps publishers are clinging on to the fact most people don't know the riches that are in the WWW completely for free.

On the other hand most people are stupid. Why the hell do people pay for porn when you can get the same stuff completely for free with much less effort than just what it takes to find your credit card, let alone entering it into a web form?

Tonight, a capture from North Head looking towards Auckland city (of course).

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Posted: Friday, 3 March, 2006 18:51

Captured: 2005:06:26 12:15:39

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  • awesome. great shot. great writing!
    Darren Wood - Friday, 3 March, 2006 21:40
  • I hate fickr. And I hate amatuerish photographs by 'professionals'. Spend some time behind the lens and you soon wonder how those books sell...
    seriocomic - Friday, 3 March, 2006 22:52
  • very generous comment. But in a way I agree about the emerging talent through the web and the digital tools now available. It makes me wonder how one can stand out in a crowd in the photography sector any longer when a 14 year kid with a 3 meg camera can do a shot that blows everything out of the water? I wonder how can people make money with art and photography cause there going to have too do something damn impressive to get my attention. Where is it all leading? Art is being streamed onto my laptop screen for free as I drink my late at my fav cafe. The modern system is very very cool.
    Crewcut Guy - Monday, 6 March, 2006 11:17

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