There's been a lot of PhotoCPL covers, in a way that's kind of a dubious honour. There sure have been some bad ones. If you didn't know, for a photographer, getting page one of a magazine, a newspaper or a book is a big deal. It's a goal of every aspiring photog. It's vindication that you've made it, you're running with the big dogs.
But here's the twist; IF you are employed by a publisher as a ...lets say... Senior Surf Photographer for around 15 years. [You may know someone that fits this bill]. The criticism is levelled at you, and the publication, that the cover shot decisions reek of nepotism.
One of best PhotoCPL covershots, Maz Quinn a millennium ago at/in Upper Thunders, Metawaii Islands, made the cover of NZSM, the contents page of Tracks, Town and Country made it into an A0 poster and it was ...is... the cover of the first PhotoCPL book.
Of course contributing photogs think their shot should be the cover-shot. That the only possible reason it wasn't was because the editor wanted to hook the staff photogs up. That the publication was trying the save money. All sorts of conspiracies used to raise their heads.
Here's the real deal. An editor's job is to appeal to the readers, to create an issue that is popular and sells well. An editor's JOB is to select the best possible cover shot, that will sell copies. It's not to hook buddies up and do favours. This is most certainly a popularity contest that's proven on the book stands. And yes, your publisher holds you to account.
A staff photographer does have some huge advantages over a free-lancer though.
A] You're probably shooting more than anyone else -it's your job.
B] You're probably shooting the feature stories, so your images will tie into the rest of that issue. Editors love to have a cover story- a lead in.
Sometimes editors get it wrong, they choose the wrong covershot, their reasoning at the time was a bit off. I definitely made a lot of bad cover choices when I was the editor NZ Surf Mag. There's some that still look pretty good too.
Rant aside, the point is, a cover shot is bit of a holy grail for photographers, one for the CV, the portfolio.
Here's the latest two PhotoCPL covers...
Whanga grom Ash Rogers gracing the cover of the Whanga News this week...yeah its a freebie broadsheet, but heck it's still a cover- I am chuffed as.
And just released this month Aaron Topp's 4th book Nor-East Swell, got the cover wrap! This was a really special project for me, I shot the cover of Aaron's first book Single Fin.
Simon Deken and his cousin Jeremy Evans feature on the cover of Single Fin. The image was made on our first trip to G-land in 2001. The new cover was shot with Single Fin in mind, ie two surfers heading out. But with the context of story, stormy, a young couple. I shot both 'land' shots and then re shot most with the drone. The drone shot won out.
I got to be one of the people that get quoted on the cover of the book! I was stoked that Aaron asked me to have a go at getting the cover shot for the new book, doubly so when he asked if I would be availed to review the digital copy prior to publication. I loved the tale, Aaron's crafted a bloody good Kiwi story here. I would have bowed out if I wasn't enjoying the read, but in fact, I actually ended up binging it out, a digital page turner. You totally should check it out HERE
Always watching/ Always judging!!!! ...wait till you see Randy...so f@cken good. It's the 10 year of the Aotearoa Surf Film Fest. I'm a founding judge, man I've watched some crap so you don't have to. But over the decade there’s been some gems, some diamonds in the rough. Nick Stevenson, the driver of the ASFF is passionate about helping new Kiwi film-makers, kudos to Nick for his 10 years of graft. Well done mate.
The dates for the nationwide roving festival are HERE
From The Book Shop
Oh yes you good thing! Over 2/3 of the print run are sold. To be really honest that's about right for a book project; sell that 66% in the first 1/4 and then the remaining 33% will go over the next 12 months. So its a proven seller I guess right??? Anyway, wanna pick it up and not pay for P&P...well you can HERE