I read an interesting article today on the CBC website about self-publishing vs. working with a publisher. What stood out for me in this article is the general rule that when working with a publisher, the author/artist walks away with 5 – 15 percent of book generated income. How can someone possibly give away 85-95 percent of their hard work? I don’t know. I am a huge advocate of self-publishing. I know people who could not get a publisher for their work, and thus quit the entire project instead of just giving self-publishing a try. A lot of people think that having a publisher behind a book brings value to the work. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t. If work is good, it’s good; and people have differing opinions anyway. Having self-published tactile mind, yes I can say it was a lot of work and still is. What I learned about self-publishing was very important in finishing this book and having the confidence to sell it.
Lisa J. Murphy
Tactile Mind Studio Limited
tactile mind: A book of nude (3-D) photographs for the blind/vision impaired
I had an interesting conversation with Len at Lens Factory today while I was setting up tactile mind books for the signing this weekend. I had put up a beautiful custom print from the “Love Robot” shoot, and I mentioned that I didn’t want people walking in and photographing my photograph and my books. I think that makes sense. Sadly, he didn’t agree with me, and said I would be angering a lot of people in the neighbourhood. I find the whole attitude of people taking pictures of pictures tacky and tasteless; if you really like an artwork – buy it. I find it offensive that people don’t put a value on the time and skill it takes to produce art. I find it offensive that people don’t put a value on the time and the efforts of the subjects that help to create art. Any of my friends who posed for tactile mind would be horrified if they saw someone taking pictures of their photograph. I will be holding my ground with this one.
Lisa J. Murphy
Tactile Mind Studio Limited.
tactile mind: A book of nude photographs for the blind/vision impaired.
So finally today I had a chance to write an email of complaint to BBC about televising my images without a proper licensing agreement within one of their programmes. This happened almost 2 months ago, with the show “Have I Got News For You”. I was asked for images – which I supplied as I did with all media, and I was not made fully aware of the conditions of the agreement at the time, & then when saw the licensing agreement and passed it to a lawyer, decided I would not be signing it. I was then informed that the episode had already aired, using my imagery. The woman, who worked with Hat Trick Productions, and who I had been dealing with, sounded a little stressed that I had decided against signing anything. (I was not made aware they wanted a 5 year licensing agreement – and the payment to use my imagery for the entire 5 years was 150 pounds= 2 pounds a month). To work with this woman and give her the benefit of the doubt (we all make mistakes), I told her a week’s license was all I would be interested in, and then my images were to be edited/removed/ whatever. She did not contact me for another week or two after this, and then provided me with another licensing agreement that did not guarantee removal of my images. Lesson learned. I didn’t sign. Why did I wait until now to email a complaint to the BBC about all of this? -I don’t know if anyone at the BBC was actually aware this had happened. I had already discussed my case with a lawyer; not worth persuing. I just feel that I should stick up for my work, regardless of the time frame, period.
Lisa J. Murphy
Tactile Mind Studio Limited
So I had an on-camera interview today with VoicePrint Canada about ‘tactile mind’ the book . I was a little late running out of the house, and instead of spending an extra 30 seconds hunting through my drawers, I threw a yellow bra on under a (sheer) black top. Genius move. I checked myself in a mirror – the bra was not visible. Just received a picture taken after the shoot. Guess what? Yellow bras glow in florescent lighting. My mother is going to be appalled.
Lisa J. Murphy
Tactile Mind Studio Limited
Being interviewed for VoicePrint tomorrow morning. It will be an audio interview, and my absolute favorite; the much dreaded on-camera interview. I interviewed with VoicePrint about a year ago. They understand ‘tactile mind’ for what it is: A book of nude photographs for the blind and vision impaired. No gimmicks, no bullshit. I just have to make sure I am there on time, and awake (aka. jacked on caffiene).
Lisa J. Murphy
Tactile Mind Studio Limited
I just got back from a beautiful weekend in Muskoka. My only souvenir is a huge hickey from a black fly. Now at home, getting ready for a photo shoot tomorrow night for my next project. Last night there was a interview on butterscotch.com about ‘tactile mind’. I have not had a chance to check it out. On-camera interviews are my least favorite. At least on a radio or newsprint interview, I can pace my kitchen, distort my face, scratch myself, and nobody can see. I have another interview later this week with Voiceprint Canada. I find that my eyelids flitter all over the place when I’m trying to explain something. I am really going to try and focus. I will probably look psycho.
Lisa J. Murphy
TACTILE MIND STUDIO LIMITED
Today, by email, I had a question and request from a European T.V. station who wanted to do a segment on ‘tactile mind’ . I had previous contact with them, trying to organize something. Today this person wrote:
“I have some additional questions concerning a possible story. We are thinking of somehow connecting it to an example of blind people in Canada and what their daily live looks like – are there obsticles they have to cope with – or are they fully integrated into society? ”
Big generalizations. I had to wonder if there was something lost in translation. I opted out of this interview.
Lisa J. Murphy
Tactile Mind Studio Ltd.
