Previously I have presented work online by uploading PDF spreads, or using sites such as Issuu to show the work as a digital zine that you can flip through.
When looking at other ways of presenting books, I found that one of the most effective ways is to photograph the book uniformly on a surface, from cover to cover. A suggestion for looking at how books are presented came from a meeting with my tutor who showed me the site http://selfpublishbehappy.com/.
Self Publish Be happy has a library that showcases photo books in a uniform fashion, with every book being set agains a wooden table and hands being present throughout to hold the book in place.
I decided to try this approach with one of my test presses on a white surface, without using my hands to pin the sides down. My usual approach to lighting was somewhat ineffective because of the level of glare present on the darker images.
On reflection I think photographing the spreads of a book is useful for reviews where a physical copy is submitted, and useful to post as examples for webstores but unless there is something unique or intricate about the book it might not do the most justice to the work.
When I think about the benefits of photographing a book, I think about an artist like Alec Soth and his catalogue work on Gathered Leaves.
In Gathered Leaves there is an intricate assembly of four books and 28 postcards set inside a box. Seeing the catalogue really works here because it is appealing to see the multiple components in their physical form and how to fit together.
Once my final print is ready, I might photograph the front cover and then have a selection of digital spreads to work through on my site.
CRJ 