Jump to content

The Leica User Forum Book


bill

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

In the past there have been some great examples of what the members of this Forum can achieve when we pull together in a common cause. The M8 book masterminded by Bill Parsons and One Leica Day spring to mind. Worldwide, interest in Leica is high at the moment, following the recent introduction of the M9 and the announcements of the S2 and X1. I propose that we lend our own voices to this momentum by producing a Leica User Forum Book. I have gained Andreas' approval and active support for this project, and thanks to Brett have made contact with Blurb books to facilitate the production of the book.

 

In outline, my proposal is as follows:

 

Overview:

A book, that showcases the very best work of contributors to the Leica User Forum, both amateur and professional, taken with Leica cameras and lenses. The book will be produced with the aim of showcasing the Leica User Forum and Leica in general. Entry fees and proceeds from the sale of the book will go to charity.

 

Structure:

Chapter headings will take as an inspiration the Photo Forum headings here, and the photos in each chapter should be aligned with the heading. That would give us chapter headings as follows:

People

Nature and Wildlife

Landscape and Travel

Architecture

Sports and Leisure Time

Technology and Industry

Other

Submission terms:

Anyone wishing to contribute must have been a member of the Leica User Forum for at least 90 days. A Forum member may submit a total of three images overall. Submissions may be in a single chapter or multiple chapters. Any image entered will have to have been taken with Leica equipment - both camera and lens. Copyright will remain with the photographer at all times - all that is required is a single-use agreement for the purposes of publication in the book.

 

Editing:

A panel of editors will be required to administer the content and layout of the book. The editorial panel's decision will be final. Editors will be volunteers, but each volunteer will have to be seconded by a minimum of two other Forum members. Editors may enter their own photos but cannot decide on their inclusion or positioning. Submission and donation does not guarantee inclusion in the final book.

Donations to charity/fundraising:

Each submission will require a donation to charity - suggest 10 Euros/Dollars/Pounds - up to a maximum of 30 Euros/Dollars/Pounds. A selling price will be fixed for the book, of which any profit goes directly to charity. A mechanism will be set up to administer and account for donations and ensure that they go directly to charity. UK participants will be encouraged to use Gift Aid to maximise the benefit of their donation.

 

The charity or charities to benefit from this project will be nominated and agreed in advance. My own suggestion is the Association for International Cancer Research (AICR) which is international in scope and hence appropriate to the international reach of this Forum. Details can be found here: http://www.aicr.org.uk/index.stm

What happens now:

At this stage I would like to invite expressions of interest, in order to gauge how big this is going to be. Please put your name below. This is a major project, and will take time and effort to bring to fruition, but I believe that it is truly worthwhile - there is a tremendous amount of talent here that we can tap into and showcase, and doing so for a good cause is the icing on the cake.

 

Let's show the world what we - and Leica - are capable of. Are you in?

 

Best regards,

 

Bill

Edited by bill
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Replies 280
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

Bill, I'm in. This is a great idea, including the charitable contribution.

 

I just remembered that for "Many Eyes" I required a model release for shots of recognizable people in private places (this would include our own kids).

 

I'll be glad to forward model release templates if you wish and will attach releases to my shots if necessary. Whether or not this would be required is up to you, of course.

 

Is there a tentative deadline for entries?

Link to post
Share on other sites

This is an idea I support.

 

I'd like to nominate "Kids With Cameras" as the charity that will be the recipient of charitable funds raised. This is an extraordinary photography project focused on children born into poverty. Zana Briski who shoots with a Leica M was one of the pioneers of this project (Kids with Cameras History ) The movie, "Born Into Brothels" documents the story.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for the responses so far.

 

Bill - yes, great idea on the model releases for recognisable people in private places. We should use them, and thank you for the offer of forms. No time limits yet, but a timetable will be forthcoming shortly.

 

Wilfredo - thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think that a local charity is a good idea. As we found with the One Leica Day project that brings administrative headaches and can actively put people off from giving. This is an international forum, with an international reach. I would like to keep to a single charity, or at most two or three, but I think that international charities are more appropriate in this instance.

 

Carsten - I think that Leica-only is the way to go for this. I too use CV, Canon and other lenses on my Leicas, but this is a Leica User Forum project.

 

Keep 'em coming ;)

 

Regards,

 

Bill

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...