Frequency warned me they’d be sending a copy of their hardbound photo book for possible review on YoBeat, and well, we love easy content, so I’d already given some thought to the concept before it arrived on my doorstep. As I sliced open the box and flipped through the first few pages, I was excited the intro I’d already written in my head was going to work. I’d planned on talking about print’s place in the future of media and how Frequency had staying power, etc. But when I got to Jeff Galbraith’s intro, I found he’d already spelled out exactly what I planned on saying. Quality print is here to stay, so that begs the question: other than being hardbound, is this issue actually quality? I mean, I can print my grocery list on nice paper and give it a hard cover, but does anyone want to read it?
I guess that’s why they sent it to me to review, so enough beating around the bush. Frankly, I am confused. It’s call the Frequency Photo book and it looks and feels like a book, but when you open it up, it’s actually just an issue of the magazine. It has reader letters, ads, random departments and even a page of tear-out subscription cards. I am no dummy, I get that all those elements within the book cost money to produce, so this is probably the most cost effective way to make a collectors edition people will actually hold on to, but just photos the photo sections would have been potentially more effective. Maybe that’s just me.
Anyway, after I got over my confusion I spent some time with the book. Reading the essays, looking at the images. The variety is definitely there, photos and photographers from around the globe, some well known, some not as much. I liked the little essays each photographer wrote. After my brief foray into snowboard photography, I have much respect for people who attempt to make it their living. While I think some of the photos may have been trying a bit too hard to be artsy, or just the rejects from the other mags, overall, it’s got its share of quality images.
I am excited to have a copy of this year’s photo book to live on my coffee table for now, and eventually on a bookshelf. I think snowboarding needs something like this. Timeless, yet timely at the same time. Basically like a story of the season that years from now, after links no longer work, will be fun to look back at.
