In the last couple of posts I’ve briefly mentioned the new photo book my friend Giovanni and I put together. However, after all the work that has gone into it, and the lovely responses it has received, I had to write something proper. Amazingly it is actually going to happen, as within 5 days of going live on Kickstarter, we hit the funding target, meaning any money we get above and beyond that initial goal can be used to make the book even better, with the likes of embossing, more expensive paper etc.
To be honest, our initial idea wasn’t wholly original. We basically decided to have two visual conversations. With the colour section, I sent Giovanni a photo, and he replied with one in return — an image that to him complemented, or somehow commented on mine. I then did the same with his reply, and so on and so forth. The only rule being that each and every photo had to have been taken in Tokyo. Then, once we hit our 20 photo limit, we went through the same pattern with black and white, only for the monochrome set it was Giovanni who got the ball rolling.
It turned out to be a fascinating process. With some images, an idea for a response came quickly. Almost immediately on a couple of occasions. But invariably it took time. Weeks for many of them. Thoughts that would be forever circulating in the back of our minds until the answer presented itself. A creative endeavour that was as interesting as it was distracting, which for me in particular was hugely beneficial after the tragic loss of my wife Akiko. It provided me with something to get completely lost in, while at the same time produce something that seemed worthwhile in a world suddenly bereft of meaning.
All that said, two photographers sending each other photos is one thing, but making them into an attractive looking book we could both feel genuinely proud of is another thing altogether, This was especially the case considering we really wanted to do something different by making it a flip cover, 2-in-1 book. An idea we had, but at the same time had no idea how to implement. This is when Holger Feroudj, a professional photo book designer working for the prestigious German publisher, Steidl Verlag, stepped in. And to see the transformation from half-arsed idea and rough PDF file to fully formed and fantastic looking book was nothing short of mind-blowing. Feelings that were enhanced even further when visual image developer and photographer Elena Bertocchi created mock-ups, enabling us to see that somehow, and sometimes seemingly against all the odds, we had managed to create something that as a whole was both special and really quite unique.
So, if you’d like to get involved, and get a copy of the book at the same time, this is the link to the Kickstarter page: Tokyo Conversations.
Down the line it would also be lovely to have an exhibition featuring a selection of the photos, which is something we are beginning to look into, but for now it’s all about the book, and this is a small selection of my shots:
Sean says
Huge congrats to you both. I think it’s such an awesome idea. Pledge incoming!
Lee says
Cheers, we are really pleased the way it has turned out. And thank you very much, thats really kind of you!
Giovanni says
A huge thank you from me as well, Sean.
Darryl says
This looks great, Lee, and I wish you all the best with the rest of the campaign. I just backed it, and I can’t wait to get the book. Take care.
Lee says
Thank you very much, Darryl, that’s very nice to hear. Thank you so much for backing it too. Without people like you, it would have remained merely an idea.
cdilla says
I’m so pleased you have managed to fan the spark of this idea and bring it to life.
It’s interesting to read about the background to the idea and the process involved.
I also like that you have credited and brought attention to the importance of getting others involved with appropriate talents in different areas to polish the design and packaging presentation.
Lee says
Thank you very much. Still can’t quite believe it is actually going to happen.
It was good to write about it in a bit more detail. We obviously had to be as concise as possible on the Kickstarter page. It was also the perfect chance to mention the collaborative approach in way more than just the photos. It simply wouldn’t have happened without the help and considerable skills of others. It really was amazing to see that talent bring it to life. Something neither of us could have done.
Richard says
Congratulations! The fact that the Kickstarter campaign was so successful is a tribute to the quality of the work Giovanni and you do. And to your commitment to engage with those of us who make comments at this site. I look forward to purchasing one when it is published.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. That’s very kind of you. With the campaign still ongoing, we can use the extra money to make the book even better, so that’s doubly exciting.
I’ve always felt the conversations here have added to the photos, and I’m lucky that they are in invariably kind, thoughtful and intelligent too, so joining is an absolute pleasure. They are definitely a big part of why I enjoy updating the site.
Giovanni says
Thank you Richard. Making this book come to life has been a very fun process, though challenging at times.
Lee and I have a very different set of skills, and they matched perfectly when it comes down to all that is around the pre-production, promotion of the campaign and so on.
Hopefully we can reach a point where the funds allow us to bring an exhibition around outside Japan.
Coli says
Congratulations! I have been looking forward to see some of your work in physical form for such a long time. Very very happy for you that you could get this accomplished. It speaks so much for your work to know that you got backed completely in such a short period of time. Lee you’re a beautiful human being and an incredible photographer! Please continue to share your passion for photography and continue to inspire!
Lee says
Thanks so much for your support, Coli, and for those incredibly kind words. They were absolutely lovely to read and mean an awful lot. Really appreciated and help provide a truly massive boost. Thank you!
Thomas Ribière says
Hello,
It was the minimum I could do, to order a book from kickstarter. I am following your blog for years, I am really happy to help you, especially that recently your life was not the easiest.
Best of luck,
Best,
Thomas
Lee says
Thank you very much, Thomas. Really kind of you to support the book, and to say such nice things. Life definitely has been difficult, and I’ve seen the worst of people, but the support I’ve had in the last 12 months, and for the book, has shown me that there are still so many good and kind people like yourself out there. Thanks so much again.