The blog of photographer Kim Ayres

The Exhibition Launch and The Book

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The launch of the exhibition, Staring Back, took place on Saturday, barely 10 weeks after I was called by The Mill on the Fleet and offered the opportunity to put on a show of my portrait photography.






Photos courtesy of my son, Rogan, who enjoyed being the official photographer for the event.


24 images of people staring intensely into the camera, and thus at the viewers, seems to have gone down well, and I received overwhelmingly positive feedback from everyone I spoke to.

Of course I knew nearly everyone I spoke to, so there’s no guarantee the wider public will be anything like as enthusiastic or tactful.

However, it was a good afternoon and I thoroughly enjoyed being the centre of attention and lavished with praise.

I could get used to this…

I’ve had many comments from bloggers, friends and relatives who have said they would love to have seen the exhibition but lived too far away to be able to attend.

This set me thinking about the possibility of creating a book of the event.

I already had all the images in digital format, as well as writings to go with each of the photos.

So using Blurb.com, an online print-on-demand service specifically set up to create photo-books, I put this one together


I ordered a copy a couple of weeks ago and fortunately it arrived in time for the exhibition. And I have to say I’m very impressed with the quality. I paid the extra couple of pounds to have the thicker paper and it was well worth it.

Unfortunately, the unit price on these things is not cheap, so it is more expensive than an equivalent book you might buy in a store or on Amazon. However, the real advantage is I haven’t had to fork out thousands of pounds in advance to be left with boxes of unsold books. They only print copies when someone orders them, and they are delivered right to your door.

The book is 10x8 inches in landscape format. The postage fee is the same whether you order 1 or 5, and if you order 10 or more in one go (if you’re wealthy and want to treat all your friends and relatives) then I think there’s a 10% discount.

So if you would like a copy of the book, visit
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1314623 with your credit card, or click on the widget above.

And to whet your appetite further, I put together a wee video of it


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29 comments

Eryl said...

Rogan did well with the photos, the place looks as good as it does in the flesh.

I think I bored Stevie into a coma last night telling him how great the exhibition is. I'll bring him to see it later in the week. And, if it's ok with you, I'll take some photos and do a blog post review on it.

Hope you got some sleep last night.

Pat said...

I can feel the buzz from here. congrats all round especially Rogan.
I've just ordered my copy. Next time I see you you have to sign it.
It all looks so professional.

hope said...

I am beyond impressed! And I LOVE your video.

Yep, seems I'll have to get myself a new gift. Good for you!

Kim Ayres said...

Eryl - Thank you so much for coming along and all the support you've given me from the beginning - it's greatly appreciated :)

Rogan did a fine job, especially considering the lighting wasn't that great.

And I'm never going to object to further publicity - you're a star :)

Pat - my first sale! I'm almost tempted to drive down the 350 miles just to sign it for you. I might have to wait until next time I'm in the area though... but thank you for support, Pat :)

Hope - thank you :)

The video idea just came to me last night. The voice-over is just the intro I wrote for the book and I already had all the images sitting on the computer, so it was pretty easy to put together :)

Brindy said...

Congratulations on a successful first day, you must be so proud to finally see it for real. Enjoy the limelight.

Rachel Fox said...

It all looks great! Huge congratulations.
x

Charlie said...

Add my congratulations to the pile. I've ordered my copy too, but I wish that you, Meg, and Eryl could all autograph it.

Nevertheless, it will be a treasure.

Fay Campbell said...

I'm proud of you. Now isn't that weird? You're a talented man.

Attila the Mom said...

Lovely, just lovely!

debra said...

Wow, Kim, this is wonderful. Would that I lived on your side of the Pond...

Unknown said...

It looks like the exhibition was very busy. I hope you get loads of business from it. You should.

I ordered a book, but they just scoffed at me when I asked them to hand deliver it to you for your signature before mailing it. Some businesses are so non-accomodating.

Brindy said...

I have just been sent a follow up book from an author in the US who also sent me an autographed bookplate to stick in the front of her first book that I have just finished reading. Maybe you could design something simialr to send to all those who are unable to get your autograph personally?

Another opportunity to use one of your wonderful self portraits shots.

Falak said...

Congratulations!!!! Enjoy all the praise and attention!You deserve it after all that hard work you put in:)

Hindsfeet said...

You really pulled it out, Kim...What an inspiration!! Way to carpe your diem over there ; )

Kudos, Kim...

"Hindsfeet"

Katie Roberts said...

CONGRATULATIONS Kim! well done to you and your whole family for helping you fulfill this vision. It really looks great (and thats a professional opinion!) You should feel very proud of yourself, you deserve to. Did you enjoy the opening? elated? relieved?
Glad you managed to do it all Kim.

Anonymous said...

What a great accomplishment- it should feel good! I love the book idea and thanks so much for the video. I'll just go round and check out the book now!

Isabelle Chevalier said...

I jacked your blog name without even knowing it.
great minds....
but now also leaving me feeling unoriginal. DANG.

Kim Ayres said...

Jacqui - thank you! It was great seeing all the images up together. I'd only been able to see them one at a time on the computer screen, but all up on the wall together they have a bigger impact

Rachel - thank you :)

Charlie - I might look into Jacqui's suggestion of bookplates to mail out to anyone who wants one, in which case I could certainly get Meg's signature for you :)

Fay - thank you :) I don't know that I'm deserving of your pride, but I don't think it's that weird we can feel pleased for bloggers we've been getting to know over a period of months or years :)

Attila - thank you :)

Debra - let me know when you plan to visit :)

Carole - as I mentioned to Charlie, I might look into the bookplate thing if it's something you're interested in :)

Jacqui - it's certainly an interesting idea and I'll look in to it - thank you for the suggestion :)

Falak - thank you :)

Hindsfeet - diems should always be carped :)

Katie - I did enjoy the launch - I have a huge, cavernous ego that can take all the praise anyone can throw at it and still have room for seconds ;)

Starrlife - the book is surprisingly easy to create. It's just a shame the costs are so high

Isabelle - I wasn't the first to use the "Ramblings of..." title for a blog. Shortly after setting it up I found a few others. I like your Melodramatic Teen bit though :)

Helen said...

Hey Bearded One - Really, really thrilled for you. You pulled it all together and it looks absolutely wonderful!! You had better start looking for that maroon velour bathrobe........

Kim Ayres said...

Helen - I have a pipe and slippers at the ready...

Unknown said...

That looks great, congratulations!

I am new to your blog and to your photography, pretty darn impressed with both!

Will be back, am following (stalking)...

Mary Witzl said...

Damn, Kim, you're good! Those photos are so thought-provoking and compelling.

Wish we could have been there.

Kim Ayres said...

Brahm - thank you, and welcome to my ramblings :)

Mary - well I'm up for a holiday in the sun if you can find a sponsor for me to show it over there :)

Jayne Martin said...

Congratulations! You richly deserve all the attention and praise. I loved the video and I could listen to your voice for hours. Someone should hire you to read books on tape. The photos are each so special and I wanted to know the life story behind each one. Good job, my friend. May wonderful things come your way for this.

Mimi and Tilly said...

Huge congratulations.

erika said...

Congratulations, Kim! I'm so proud of you! I had no doubt that your exhibition will be a great success. And the book is a marvelous idea!

Kim Ayres said...

Jayne - thank you :) If you look at the Blurb sample pages, you'll see I've written a bit to go with each of the images in the book

Emma - thank you :)

Erika - thank you so much :)

MsAmpuTeeHee said...

A little late to the party, but...congrats! :-) I really enjoyed the little video clip, and I'm putting the book on my gift/wish list.

Kim Ayres said...

MsAmpuTeeHee - thank you :)

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