Artisan State Photo Books

[Steaphany]

I just received my 8x11, 20 Page Layflat Linen Cover Photo Book from Artisan State featuring 17 prints of my highest rated photography. The collection includes both digital and medium format film captures, as well as a mix of color and B&W images.

It's absolutely beautiful !

Every image is perfect, correct dynamic range, perfect color balance, no quantized banding of subtle scene gradients, the B&W images have pure blacks with perfectly neutral grays.

I know when I assembled the book, I was selecting a challenging collection and I was a bit apprehensive over the submission format being limited to jpg. Artisan State exceeded my expectations.

Here is the link to my Photo Book's Preview

If anyone is interested in purchasing a copy of my book, and see first hand what Artisan State can do, please contact me through My Web Site

Whether for yourself or for a client, I definitely recommend Artisan State !

[Shadowman]

Very nice, is the book only available through your website?

[Donald]

That looks superb, Steaphany. Beautifully designed book. The images have plenty of room to 'breath'. So many self-published books are crammed with pictures to the extent that you can't appreciate the individual image. I hope the quality of the published product is professional and of such quality as the design and images themselves.

My complements.

[Steaphany]

Thanks Donald

I do want make it clear that I put this book together, Artisan State provides a web based flash book building tool, but you need to actually layout your own books, Artisan State does not perform the book layout, but they fabricate the books ordered.

I ordered and received the actual book. My original post was to describe the quality of work Artisan State delivered and to share with others here that they can not go wrong if the also turn to Artisan State for their own books.

When I assembled the book, I wanted each image to be shown in it's intended aspect ratio and to maximize the size within the 8" high, 11" wide book format, with a couple expanded into the 8" high 22" wide double page. This took a little work adding the green surround on some images. What is seen in the Photo Book Preview is my layout work.

The selection of photos that I included in the book was not by my choice. My photography on 500px gains a ranking based on what people like and favourite. Rather than my own bias on what photos to include, I chose to go with the top 17 rated by other people's opinions.

-=-=-

John, Yes, copies of my book are being offered by me personally.

Artisan State's photo book services are targeted to photographers to provide photo books that can be part of the deliverables to their clients. They do not provide open public sales.

A large part of the motivation behind making the book was from information that I read from several sources. I repeatedly seen references to online sales being inconsistent to poor. I have also seen recommendations regarding presenting a portfolio to a prospective client or photo editor, it's best to have a tangible book rather than having it online. Plus online presentations can fall victim to the settings of the viewers monitor, a crap monitor will show crap photos, and you can't get around that apart from providing pre-calibrated monitors. ( Not Practical )

The book provides a means for people to see my photography as I intend it to be seen. Large enough to get a good sense of each image while also being easy to handle. It can also motivate those who may be interested in a piece to hang on the wall to be more comfortable making a framed print purchase from my Print Shop on Fine Art America.

[Donald]

I do want make it clear that I put this book together, Artisan State provides a web based flash book building tool, but you need to actually layout your own books, Artisan State does not perform the book layout, but they fabricate the books ordered.

That's what I assumed and is why I made the comments that I did. I think it's a super piece of design work.

[Steaphany]

Thanks again Donald

[DanK]

A very nice book.

Have you ever seen any Adoramapix books? I have used them in the past, and I would be very interested in a comparison between the two. Adoramapix uses photo paper for its books, and the prints are very high quality. The books open flat, but the the pages are thick and stiff (two pieces of photo paper glued together).

[Shadowman]

Thanks Donald

The selection of photos that I included in the book was not by my choice. My photography on 500px gains a ranking based on what people like and favourite. Rather than my own bias on what photos to include, I chose to go with the top 17 rated by other people's opinions.

-=-=-

Steaphany,

Have you considered a future book that will present your personal favorites?

[Steaphany]

Hi Dan,

No I have never seen an Adoramapix book first hand, though from your description, it does sound close.

[Steaphany]

Hi John,

Yes, I have thought about other books now that I have gotten this one done.

As far as subject or theme, I haven't really considered one for Personal Favorites. I feel my perspective may be a bit biased and no matter how well technically executed an image may be, I can't help see areas where improvement would be needed.

[Shadowman]

Hi John,

Yes, I have thought about other books now that I have gotten this one done.

As far as subject or theme, I haven't really considered one for Personal Favorites. I feel my perspective may be a bit biased and no matter how well technically executed an image may be, I can't help see areas where improvement would be needed.

Your top 17 covered a range of genre so I'm sure on of those shown in the preview could be a favorite subject. It would be a nice project to spend a week or two just concentrating on your favorite subject and using the experience to hone your skills.

[Steaphany]

I have explored several themes, Meteorological & Astronomical, Nature & Landscape, Rural Decay, Railroading, but since the Artisan State books start with a 20 page minimum, I do not have a sufficient number of images to include in each category.

I decided to just wait and when I do have a good collection to pick from, I'll be making more books

[TonyW]

Steaphany, You photographs and book look lovely but I was especially amused by your description of photography as applied quantum electrodynamics.

[Steaphany]

Well, it is Tony.

Actually, I use that tag line on my web site, twitter, 500px, Fine Art America, and a few other places. What would you expect from a photographer who also has Hypothetical & Theoretical Physics for a hobby ?

[PhilT]

Sorry, I didn't actually look at the book by myself till now (I'll do later, but I rely on the expert judgements posted here to assume it's beautiful ).
What I would like to say here (I hope I'm not abusing), is that a photobook is my prefered option to keep and see my "best" pictures (travels, family and so on). I'm old school and always like the feeling to have a book on my knees, far more enjoying that looking at a monitor, wathever its quality. Furthermore IMO it's the best way for backup of your favorites pictures. There is plenty of photobook builders around the web, but you have to find the best in your own country, perhaps it is the place for everyone who want to give his advice in regard of the different countries they are from (many of the suppliers are offering only for the country of origin), or perhaps if you know good web based book builder giving high quality for everywhere on the earth (and if possible at competitive price )? Being from Israel, I can recommend the book builder Pic-A-Book for the quality and fidelity of their work.

[Mike Buckley]

What would you expect from a photographer who also has Hypothetical & Theoretical Physics for a hobby ?

It would be the same that I would expect from a hypothetical and theoretical physicist by profession who also has photography as a hobby. It would also be something that I would never be able to comprehend.

[Steaphany]

...you have to find the best in your own country...

That's one of the great aspects of Artisan State, they ship world wide.

Just check out their web site that I linked in an earlier post

[Mike Buckley]

they ship world wide.

At the same flat rate price.

[Steaphany]

Right from the Artisan State FAQ:

Where do you ship to?

We ship world wide to the following countries including but not limited to United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Singapore, Taiwan, India, and Phillippines.

We are unable to deliver to PO Boxes and APO/FPO addresses. We require a physical street address when you submit your order.

We are unable to ship to Russia, China, Hong Kong, or Macau at this time.

and

How much does shipping cost?

We offer the same flat rate shipping charge worldwide. Please see table below. All prices listed are in USD.

Shipping Cost Table