Bit Of An Old Stamping Ground

[ABERS]

Saw this this morning and was somewhat surprised that it seemed to be presented as a 'new' take on part of the London Scene.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-29518975

I started in the 80's and spent many a happy hour catching the people on camera, some strange, some not so strange and some downright weird!

My images are archived in the Bishopsgate Institute that holds an archive on the place.

http://www1.clikpic.com/ALANABERS/section153282.html

http://www1.clikpic.com/ALANABERS/gallery_121105.html

As I say, it really is the 'Best Free Show In London'. If you have a spare Sunday afternoon when in town make your way there photograph and enjoy the spectacle, and join in if you dare 

[Andrew]

Yes, I too saw this article - and based on the intor blurb on the front page I half expected to see your pics.

He clearly has a better marketing agent! 

[ABERS]

Should have signed you up Andrew 

Sold 83 Blurb books so far. (Didn't realise I'd got that many relatives )

[Reinardina]

Should have signed you up Andrew 

Sold 83 Blurb books so far. (Didn't realise I'd got that many relatives )

That sounds impressive Alan. Do you market them in any way, or is it mainly through clubs and other photographically centred environments that they get the publicity?
Have they ever been presented for a review?

So far, I have only made two books, one for a relative and one purely for myself. Not commercial at all.
I sometimes think about digging out shots that might be suitable for a 'general book,' but always get distracted and lost.

[ABERS]

The sales were made by pointing people towards Blurb whenever possible, either by word of mouth, attaching a link to my web site, showing an example whenever I gave a talk to a camera club on the subject or just by other people giving a recommendations.

No sales for the past year but I didn't set out to make a fortune  and only embarked on the process when somebody suggested the portfolio might make a reasonable book. I've made a couple more since but no great shakes from them, but it only goes to show if you want to make sales you need to make the effort to sell 'em.

[Reinardina]

Thank you for the explanation.

PR is everything these days; maybe you should get an agent to promote your books?

You may not have set out to make a fortune, but inane celeb selfies are constantly in the news, so people must be interested in images. If they are suddenly confronted by some of your gripping shots, who knows where that will lead?

I won't charge you for this advice. Yet.

[ABERS]

PR is everything these days; maybe you should get an agent to promote your books?

I won't charge you for this advice. Yet.

I spent the last 15 years of my working life as the Press/Publicity/ PR manager for the UK and ROI of a global company. I can smell a PR initiated scam a mile off, my wife often accuses me of suffering from severe cynicism when some pathetic nobody or a failing celeb tries to garner some publicity to either bolster their ego or keep their agent happy. 

[Reinardina]

That's the problem these days, with people's interest in celebs (even the broadsheets are guilty, in one way or another), the only publicity that seems to get attention is theirs.

But if you're from the (old) PR world yourself, you'd know how to get things noticed.

Ever approached Waterstone's or an independent book store? Christmas is the time for beautifully laid out 'coffee table books.' Even for discerning people.

[ABERS]

We have a lady in our club (I nearly said in the club) who produces books of the local scenery. Endless pictures of deer in Richmond Park, the Thames at all times of day, Hampton Court etc. etc. and does very well with them in the local Waterstones. It's not a path that I would like to follow however, I would get bored very quickly.

However it works and for anyone wanting to make a bit of dosh it could be one way of achieving it.

[oggalily]

I prefer your work to Enklemann's, Abers.  Your distinct post-processing gives the images much more directness and they are vastly more engaging.

[Reinardina]

I would have thought, there'd be a distinct market for them.

[Hinfrance]

I prefer your work to Enklemann's, Abers.  Your distinct post-processing gives the images much more directness and they are vastly more engaging.

Ditto

[ABERS]

Blimey! Thanks for the compliments. I think Mr Enkleman's approach is different in as much as he is trying to display the atmosphere and the essence of the place when it is in 'full flow'.

Whereas all I'm really interested in are the characters and their expressive faces and quite frankly, if they congregated elsewhere I'd be in that place as well. Having said that I'm all for the easy life and The Corner presents such a variety of opportunities in that respect that it's a magnet that I can't resist, a bit like shooting fish in a barrel really.