Thought some of you might enjoy this pdf book that has been in production for many years (never printed yet though) - some absolutely stunning images. The hardbound book may never be printed or available to the public, but this free pdf is, so enjoy!
Hey Aaron, I don't know what is up with that copyright - I've only seen it flash across a thumbnail a few times, but never on any of the real images in the pdf document. I'm not really sure what this pdf file is doing online other than for the publisher to use it as a marketing tool. The entire project is kind of weird and has been in the works for a long time. When I was first contacted about it there were only about a dozen photographers involved. If the actual book is ever printed it will be something to behold - using a unique paper and inks and 9-color printing, which is unherd of for a book like this - a standard premium book uses four-color by comparison.
The more I look at the pdf file the more I see that the reproduction on this file is quite TERRIBLE. The colors are just yuk. I know that from comparing my own images in the book to my originals, but also from other images that I know and have seen reproduced before (just look at Guy Tal's photo on page 113 and compare it to the cover of the new digital photography book linked elsewhere that he worked on with other photographers - the image in the book pales in comparison). Also my image on page 116 should be FLAMING red - there is just an overall lack of color saturation in the entire pdf file. A pdf file can be every bit as good as the final book project, or even better (using my own new ARKANSAS WILDLIFE pdf digital edition book as an example). Yet the images in this Vignette pdf are just horrid. You can tell that the lighting and subjects are amazing though - look at the caribou and Wonder Lake in Alaska on page 19. A real pef file or well-printed hardbound book would be absolutely stunning. I still can't believe the publisher got so many big names to contribute (like David Muench, George Lepp, Charles Cramer, Joseph Holmes, John Shaw, Jim Brandenberg, Jack Dykinga, Tom Mangelsen, Pat Ohara, Moose Peterson, Tom Till, Jim Zuckerman) - these are all iconic names in the industry.
Bill - two reasons why most of the images are film - first, when the project began there was no real good high-res digital yet. And secondly, the publisher mandated original trannies of at least medium-format - 4x5 and 8x10 originals were preferred. It would be a different story if this book were put together today, of course. It is surprising how many 35mm digital files they ended up using.
This book may never be printed and this pdf version is terrible, but at least it is quite an amazing collection of nature images from the top names in the industry that we get a peek at, and the price is right...
Actually the book is in print and was published by Photography for the Preservation of Landscape (PPL). It is available only as a corporate specialty item. You'll have to decide for yourselves if distributing the PDF file is appropriate. Here's the PPL link...
Actually Robert you are wrong - the book has never been printed. The publisher got ink and paper donated and a printer all lined up to do the job, but then the printer went out of business before any printing was done. If you think you have proof otherwise I'm sure that 117 photographers would love to see it since none were ever paid a cent - and the deal was that payment would be made for each copy of the book that was printed. Distributing a link to a pdf that is available to the public by one of the photographers is entirely appropriate...
I just spoke with the book publisher this morning just to be sure and current - no book has ever been printed. The pdf may be all that we ever see, although I hope not - I need some more camera gear, ha!
Discussion
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Bertl
The more I look at the pdf file the more I see that the reproduction on this file is quite TERRIBLE. The colors are just yuk. I know that from comparing my own images in the book to my originals, but also from other images that I know and have seen reproduced before (just look at Guy Tal's photo on page 113 and compare it to the cover of the new digital photography book linked elsewhere that he worked on with other photographers - the image in the book pales in comparison). Also my image on page 116 should be FLAMING red - there is just an overall lack of color saturation in the entire pdf file. A pdf file can be every bit as good as the final book project, or even better (using my own new ARKANSAS WILDLIFE pdf digital edition book as an example). Yet the images in this Vignette pdf are just horrid. You can tell that the lighting and subjects are amazing though - look at the caribou and Wonder Lake in Alaska on page 19. A real pef file or well-printed hardbound book would be absolutely stunning. I still can't believe the publisher got so many big names to contribute (like David Muench, George Lepp, Charles Cramer, Joseph Holmes, John Shaw, Jim Brandenberg, Jack Dykinga, Tom Mangelsen, Pat Ohara, Moose Peterson, Tom Till, Jim Zuckerman) - these are all iconic names in the industry.
Bill - two reasons why most of the images are film - first, when the project began there was no real good high-res digital yet. And secondly, the publisher mandated original trannies of at least medium-format - 4x5 and 8x10 originals were preferred. It would be a different story if this book were put together today, of course. It is surprising how many 35mm digital files they ended up using.
This book may never be printed and this pdf version is terrible, but at least it is quite an amazing collection of nature images from the top names in the industry that we get a peek at, and the price is right...
http://www.pplandscape.org/publications.html