Rodney Smith: "The End"

Cheryl Jacobs · Apr 23, 2009

When Rodney Smith does a book, he really does it. Check out the size of this book -- and the price tag. If I had kind of spare cash, I'd buy in a heartbeat.

Dead Link Removed

- CJ

Derek Lofgreen · Apr 23, 2009

Hmm, well for that much he could at least invest in a merchant account instead of paypal.

D.

jovo · Apr 23, 2009

Does the estate of Rene Magritte get a cut?

Marco B · Apr 23, 2009

Cheryl Jacobs said:
Check out the size of this book -- and the price tag.

Now if the book had been 30x40 inches, instead of just the poster... I could maybe understand the price tag

And it might literally serve as "coffee-table-book" after you've finished it (or should I say the book would likely have finished the coffee-table in that case? )

Marco

MikeSeb · Apr 23, 2009

Great work. Tiresomely snarky verbiage on the site.

Cheryl Jacobs · Apr 23, 2009

Mike, I agree. Tiresomely snarky comments on APUG, as per usual. A smaller, less "quality" book would've drawn criticism. Yet a large, excellent quality book also draws criticism. Personally, I don't care. Kudos to him for producing a gorgeous end product. I really don't give a damn about the method of payment he requires. Every now and then, APUG earns its snobbish reputation.

This is gorgeous work deserving of a gorgeous end product. Anyone who has produced quality photo books realizes the expense required in creating an end product like this.

- CJ

jovo · Apr 23, 2009

Cheryl Jacobs said:
Mike, I agree. Tiresomely snarky comments on APUG, as per usual.

- CJ

I may be mistaken, but I think MikeSeb is referring to the verbiage on the RS site rather than the little that's been written here on apug. In any case, nothing here is sacred text, and no one's work is immune from comment.

Mr. Smith has some wonderful work in his book, but it isn't sacred writ. C'mon CJ, if you feel so negatively about the apug audience, don't post here.

Cheryl Jacobs · Apr 23, 2009

jovo said:
I may be mistaken, but I think MikeSeb is referring to the verbiage on the RS site rather than the little that's been written here on apug. In any case, nothing here is sacred text, and no one's work is immune from comment.

Mr. Smith has some wonderful work in his book, but it isn't sacred writ. C'mon CJ, if you feel so negatively about the apug audience, don't post here.

John, you know me. I'm not a snob. I didn't say Smith's work was sacred writ. But when the very first response to a work like this is targeted toward the payment method, I get a little cynical.

I only occasionally feel negative toward the apug audience. But yes, sometimes I feel we need to be given a reality check.

Jeff Kubach · Apr 23, 2009

I'm sure it is a great book, but at that price afford I can hardly that!

Jeff

Marco B · Apr 24, 2009

Cheryl Jacobs said:
Mike, I agree. Tiresomely snarky comments on APUG, as per usual.

Cheryl, it was you had raised the price and size issues in the first place. If you had introduced the book by simply saying there was a great new photobook out, and maybe given some background on why you particular like the book and the photographer who made it (not all people know the photographers you know - I hadn't heard of him), reactions would be different... now people were only gasping at the price tag...

Cheryl Jacobs said:
This is gorgeous work deserving of a gorgeous end product. Anyone who has produced quality photo books realizes the expense required in creating an end product like this. - CJ

That's more what I mean

Cheryl Jacobs · Apr 24, 2009

Marco, and if I hadn't mentioned the price tag, people would have mentioned that I had left it out. LOL.

My reasons for liking the book are obvious, once one has looked at his work. People would be gasping at the price tag regardless, as they should. My introduction makes no difference whatsoever.

Derek Lofgreen · Apr 25, 2009

Hey Cheryl, no hard feelings. I am sure the book is top notch. Here is my point, if he has such a high end product and then use paypal for a payment method it just makes you wonder what kind of quality the book is and what he was thinking to ask so much for it and then use a paypal. It's like buying a Rolls Royce at the Ford dealer, know what I mean? Yes, I have produced many high end printed pieces and still do, I know what it takes.

D.

Cheryl Jacobs · Apr 25, 2009

Derek, I use paypal myself, and for clients that sometimes are paying upwards of $10K. It's convenient and I've been using it for years. I don't consider myself a Ford dealer, but you're entitled to your opinion.

I just found it sad that most of the comments here have to do with his payment method and website rather than his excellent work.

MikeSeb · Apr 25, 2009

MikeSeb said:
Great work. Tiresomely snarky verbiage on the site.

Cheryl, this thread has devolved into a fine example of why online communication, sans the body-language and facial cues conveyed during actual conversation, is such a poor substitute for the real thing.

I was referring to the verbiage on the photographer's site; as I've communicated to you in other venues, I find that too often the ironic/cute/too-cool-for-school bio/statement stuff tries to put the photographer above the work. You've explained to me your POV: that for some types of photography, that is an important aspect of marketing the work---selling the photographer him-/herself. On this we're coming at it from different directions; no harm, no foul.

Had I done a better job with my quickly-rendered sentence as I've quoted, I'd have better emphasized how much I DO like Mr Smith's work; and my admiration for his unstinting efforts to produce a high-quality product. You couldn't see my facial animation and delight-raised eyebrows as I perused his site!

I couldn't agree more that a comment about his payment methods seems to reveal a scarcity of anything else to offer this discussion. I suppose some would say that only a wire transfer would be tony enough for a real photographer, or perhaps payment in krugerrands. Maybe a letter of credit from The Dutch East India Company or somesuch 16th century relic....

So Cheryl, no offense meant on my end!

Rodney Smith: "The End"

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Rodney Smith: "The End"

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