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I am excited to announce that my new book of photographs with text by Terence Sellers " A Downtown State of Mind / NYC 1973 - 1983 " will be available in the new year on my Myspace page. Stay tuned for further info on how to get a copy and for release dates and book release party at Rapture Cafe. Until then the cover:
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The match-made-in-hell is of nearly 30 years standing at this point! Plenty of olde stinky sulphur abounding. Both born the same heinous year, in the same dreadful town, Washington DC, famed circle of hell... and both of us fled to NY in the same year!

Remember Bobby and I shared the last "Lifetime Achievement" trophy at Mother... year 2001. I was bawling my head off over it... and got off stage to see two gorgey drag-wimmen who shall remain nameless glaring their tits off at me! Bobby was also stunned by their ire.

For whatever reasons our fates remain enmeshed and it can be pretty, now and then...
Bad News: Lulu.com does not produce good quality b/w photo books. They look like xerox copies. Here is a post in the lulu forums from an unhappy poster who printed his b/w book through lulu.com

" I have just done a B&W book of photographs. Project number 1324309 - I didn't use the photo book option because there are no options for B&W, only colour and my project (a 210 page book of b&w documentary street photos around Asia) would cost me twice as much as I could possible sell it for if I went for a colour option.

I chose a b&w book option in 9x7 landscape format and on my computer screen, it looked just what I wanted. I have now received my copies and to be perfectly honest, I can photocopy better quality onto cartridge paper than I'm getting in this book and I'm embarrassed to even show it to anybody let alone ask anybody to part with money for it.

I want to know why it is not possible to get a photo quality book in black and white at a reasonable cost? There are many photographers out there doing B&W who would want to do a book, I'm a member of a camera club and several websites such as flickr and was recommending lulu until I saw this abomination appear. Now I'm recommending any serious photographer to stay as far away from Lulu as possible.

It is great for novels and written work, but bookshop quality photography books, not a hope in hell!!

Has anybody here had any similar experience with such poor printing?

I only hope some of Lulu's senior management look at these Forums - There is a gap for a good quality, b&w photo quality cost effective book option.

After years taking the photos, months preparing the book just as I wanted it, I'm devastated at the shocking quality of the final effort. If I'm lucky, I can give away a few copies FOC to my family but as for making any money back.. forget it."

Sounds awful. I am back to square one with my book project so it seems.
Hi my dear-

Haven't seen this post till your repost of it, but in defense of Lulu's product I actually ordered several photo books from them, both B&W and color, to see the quality before we started getting involved with Verbal there.

Thought the quality was very good, actually better than our offset printing of issues 2-4, so I wouldn't let this one post halt your project - you don't know what the files looked like that this person sent.

Since our project is still being laid out, I can't tell you what our experience was, but I certainly urge you to read all forum posts on this subject that you can before just abandoning Lulu. Or find a book or two of B&W photos that seems most like your project and order them from Lulu to see for yourself.

Good luck, please keep reporting what you find out here, and Keep The Faith!

Chi Chi
Chi Chi/ Thanks hon. I did exactly as you suggested. I ordered a copy of that guys photo book to see what he's complaining about. I also spent a great deal of time looking around at other self publishing sites and lulu seems to be the most feasible in terms of price. I am on pause at the moment as my father just passed this morning and I must go to Seattle for a week. I'll keep you posted on my updates when I return.
And now for the good news. My new book " A Downtown State of Mind: NYC 1973 -1983" will be available by mid May on my Myspace page and soon on my new web site: www.bobbymillerphotographer.com

I will also be releasing my other new book
" Wigstock in Black & White 1985 -2005" by mid June. You will be able to view my galleries and purchase prints, paper backs, hardcovers and DVD's (with sound track and narration) on my site as well. It has been a long haul but I am so excited about the progress I have made. I will keep you all posted here on the launch date.
Last edited by bobby
I just got my copy, and it came out beautifully! Blurb did a very good job...
What was interesting is that Bobby put the pictures in alphabetical order, yet the conjunctions of photos facing one another came out so interestingly, I thought the arrangement was deliberate... e.g. two faces with the same expressions facing each other...

The format is smaller than the average photo book, but the paper and quality of the pictures is excellent. It's well worth the price which in this day and age isn't all that high. An artefact of the Punk/No Wave era to hold onto to, to go with that new book from Harry Abrams I just ordered as well.

http://www.hnabooks.com/product/show/31109

Wait a bit (from this date)
before you order Bobby's book because inevitably I needed to copy
edit my piece *again* and we have to pay for the corrections! Oh well.

Congratulations dearest and thanks for having me be a part of the project.
Bobby, congatulations on the book!! I wanted to ask you, on the site you mentioned there are 2 versions, what's the difference between the two? forgive me if I sound ignorant, or if this was answered before, somehow the site doesn't give a detailed description of the differences. I just wanted to know so I could make the right purchase...after which, I have to send it to you (of course) to sign!

XXX
julian

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