Comments on: the best fall of my life by patricia lay-dorsey

By: NoahD

NoahD — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:10:39 +0000

Wow. Absolutely wow.

“The best fall of your life.” I love it.

By: the best fall of my life by patricia lay-dorsey | burn magazine | MagDemand.Com

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:46:21 +0000

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By: albertina

albertina — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:20:53 +0000

If I was the editor of this book I will put this picture as the last one, maybe in what in italian is called the “contro-cover”, in the back of the book with some words of explanation of the work.

By: Herve

Herve — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:43:04 +0000

We are all different. The mirror picture would do to me exactly what Patricia wants it to do. Book covers when I see something, but no real identifier (narratively speaking) are left on the shelves. and it may be wonderful happenstance, but I do not think it’s such an eye-catching picture as a cover.

If Patricia had been caught leaning back, as she lost her balance, that stronger sense of movement, and the suspension of it thru photographic capture, well, i may be alone, but I think it would make a better picture.

By: Danny Ghitis

Danny Ghitis — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:47:18 +0000

Patricia,
It was wonderful meeting you for a few moments at Look3. You’re a glowing orb of positive energy, and your attitude/perspective with this image proves it. If you choose it for your book cover it would make sense, though it took me a few moments to absorb the impact of the image. But I suppose it’s a good thing if an image brings up questions instead of a straight answer, especially when you want folks to search beneath the surface.
Hope to run into you again sometime!
Danny

By: Patricia Lay-Dorsey

Patricia Lay-Dorsey — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:56:42 +0000

My decision isn’t set in stone, Jim & Ross. Thanks for your input.

Patricia

By: Ross Nolly

Ross Nolly — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:38:43 +0000

Jim;

“If I saw this image on the front of a photo book at the book store, it would stop me dead in my tracks. It’s that strong.”

Totally agree, it would stop me in my tracks too.

By: Jim Powers

Jim Powers — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:06:11 +0000

When I’m a Books A Million in the photo section, and looking at a couple of hundred books on the shelf, it takes a pretty striking image to grab my attention, unless I go in looking for a specific book.

By: Patricia Lay-Dorsey

Patricia Lay-Dorsey — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:53:03 +0000

I so appreciate the feedback from ALL you Burnians. This is a great community.

Regarding the discussion about whether or not I should use this photo for the cover of my book, your opinions have really helped me discern exactly what FEELING I want to portray in that very important image. When I look at the book I already have with the cover photo of me looking in the mirror, it seems to invite the reader to come inside and see the world through my eyes. When I replace it (via Blurb book’s software on my computer) with this photo of “the best fall of my life” it feels intriguing, yes, but also off-putting. It makes me want to avoid this obviously uncomfortable moment. Since I want to invite rather than put off potential readers/buyers, I think I’ll stick with my original choice.

Maybe we could start a discussion about how one chooses photos for the cover of a book, or even for a published essay on Burn. What are you looking for in a cover image? What feeling do you want it to portray? How do you want readers/buyers to respond to it? Have you ever made a decision and regretted it later?

Patricia

By: albertina

albertina — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:33:10 +0000

Wow! This is a good teaching! Bad things (like falling in the middle of the street) often can be transformed in good things like the picture you got ;-)
Congrats, also for your book-project!

By: ginamartin

ginamartin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:19:15 +0000

BOB – i love that quote and it is perfect for our dear Patricia.

PATRICIA – first, i am glad you were not hurt. secondly, you nailed the photo. however, i am not sure it’s the right image for the book cover.

please be careful with your scarves – you may not always have some strong men to lift you up again.

By: Herve

Herve — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:39:38 +0000

It’s that strong.
———————–

I am not sure, myself, it is that strong without the story behind, and what it meant to Patricia (best fall of…).

It may prove to be more intriguing, not so clear (some think she laughs, I think she screamed because she wrote so). The photographic stance is also on total chance (more than serendipity). All I mean is that the visuals, strong if you wish, of one cover picture should not matter more than the purpose underlying (no pun!) the entire book.

Maybe have it for the cover and poster of “PATRICIA LAY-DORSEY at MOMA, A RETROSPECTIVE”… ;-)

By: bodo

bodo — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:28:16 +0000

…well, i meant my vote for the cover of Patricia’s book

By: bodo

bodo — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:26:41 +0000

though i simply love this image, but my vote goes for the original one chosen. that photograph definitely has an edge to it – i have no doubt about that.

By: Siddhartha

Siddhartha — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:12:08 +0000

Its a strong image.

I’m glad you didn’t get seriously injured.

What a way to get a photograph!

Quite an amazing and inspiring story for any self portrait endeavor or for photography in general. Sometimes the best images happen without us doing much, everything just falls into its own place.

By: Jim Powers

Jim Powers — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:22:33 +0000

I don’t know, Herve. If I saw this image on the front of a photo book at the book store, it would stop me dead in my tracks. It’s that strong.

By: Kyunghee Lee

Kyunghee Lee — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:56:33 +0000

Oh, Patricia,

Please don’t try again like that…. You’ve already taken very special self-potrait.
Your passion always inspires me. ;))

By: peter grant

peter grant — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:55:59 +0000

i’d hate for that to of happened to my mother and it to of been there in black and white so to speak. but strangely how we see things in a different light, as You, are inspired by it. Which only a photographer could understand. out with the saying you cant teach an old dog new tricks. now thats inspiring.

By: MarinaBlack

MarinaBlack — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:01:56 +0000

The power of coincidence :) Im happy you were not hurt, Patricia

By: Herve

Herve — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:57:41 +0000

It indeed looks like Patricia is laughing, but I think on Pbase, she mentionned she was actually shrieking from the fall.

Personally, I do not think this is the right cover for the book, Patricia. I was watching a french docu on Cartier-Bresson last night, and he mentionned to be careful about photos that may stay at the level of the anecdote.

For people who know little about you (yet), and pick up the book, I am not sure they would see in it everything that you, and many of us, may find in it, ie. subliminally. Or may see too much, that is not your purpose

For example, I think even if you were to laugh your heart out in the pix, people are bound to associate your fall with being wheelchair-bound yet “making the best out of a crippling condition”, which, correct me, is not the purpose of the book at all.

For em, too intriguing or too easily seen as anecdotic. Within the discourse of the book, inside, it will fit in perfectly, however.

IMO.