[Milestone] Another amazing moment in my life

[sanctified Veteran]

Weeks ago I shared with the community a great moment in my life, a national award. Now Im here to share another one.

Just a few minutes ago one of my best friends (who contacted me with a national editor of art publications months ago) told me that the editor finally approved my book. We always knew he liked the project but now its totally official. Not only that but it seems the first draft of an intriduction has already been written by one of the best photography critics in this part of the country, now I havent read the entire draft but my friend sent me a short preview of it and to be honest Im feeling damn honored, I translated the preview to share it with you guys:

"...Mercado's low-fi, raw and sometimes almost naive, but totally deliberated, use of aesthetics and a set of outstanding photography and post-processing techniques, wich often includes abuse of the media he uses in both physical and digital ways, combined with his artistic manifesto (The visual depiction of the abandoned beign in urban settings) results in quite a visceral experience where the viewer only need to take a quick look into his body of work to already feel a deep sensation of loneliness and despair..."

I added the note about the "manifest" part but basically thats the preview.

I dont know, maybe its yet to sink on me but I dont even think I derserve this. This year has been wonderful so far, even in incredible ways that Im yet to accept. I wasnt ready yet I guess. Now, the book its not gonna be published any soon, there are still a lot of work to do, an estimated release date hovers around mid 2009.

Now, to end this post, I would like to show you guys the cover of the book (or at least the preliminary one). It looks plain in digital, the printed cover will be printed on matte paper with a glossy finish on the typography. I warn you, if you are a photography purist you will not like nor this cover nor the book. I spent years learning photography just to break the rules of it in the end :p:

BTW, the title reads:

The construction of destruction

An analysis about abandonment by Luis Mercado

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

I thought you had bought MGS4 :( ... :laugh:

Just joking, congrats man! We have a celebrity on Neowin now ;)

If I were more invested into photography and cameras, I'd promise you I'd consider looking out for your book, but alas I'm not. I'm useless with cameras. You guys who can pull it off are definitely skilled.

I know anyone can point a camera and take a photo, but it's the part involving creativity that you pull off I couldn't come anywhere near.

ps. I like the cover. Is it made up of real photos, or is it completely man-made?

[Brad.]

Amazing news! Congratulations! I'll certainly look out for the book next year. Keep us updated :D :D

[sanctified Veteran]

ps. I like the cover. Is it made up of real photos, or is it completely man-made?

Its a traditional photo, scanned with a dirty glass from film to add dust and scratches. :)

Thanks a lot guys.

[Matrix XII]

The good news just keeps coming in eh? :D

Congrats man, you must be quite talented.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Its a traditional photo, scanned with a dirty glass from film to add dust and scratches. :)

Thanks a lot guys.

(Y)

Can I ask what the main aim of the book is for you?

Is it a personal story, or is it purely professional literature on photography/art/camera work/ect?

[PL_ Veteran]

Its a traditional photo, scanned with a dirty glass from film to add dust and scratches. :)

Ooo, that's clever :)

Five profile stars for "making it"! :D

[Hurmoth]

Congrats, that's awesome news (Y)

[Rappy Veteran]

Congrats Mate!

[azcodemonkey]

That's awesome! =)

Is the book going to be published internationally or only in Mexico?

[sanctified Veteran]

(Y)

Can I ask what the main aim of the book is for you?

Is it a personal story, or is it purely professional literature on photography/art/camera work/ect?

It will be a coffee table book, it will be full of my photography work, with some descriptions here and there and some notes about things I have seen or hear on the streets.

Ooo, that's clever :)

Five profile stars for "making it"! :D

Thanks :p

The good news just keeps coming in eh? :D

Congrats man, you must be quite talented.

Congrats, that's awesome news (Y)

Congrats Mate!

Thanks a lot guys.

That's awesome! =)

Is the book going to be published internationally or only in Mexico?

I dont know, but that its a good question :o The publishing house its national but as far as I kow they are in someway associated with Taschen (An international art book publisher)

[CHALE]

Felicidades amigo. Look forward to getting your book, and if you are in Mexico can I get it autographed??? :) Congrats!!!

[sanctified Veteran]

Felicidades amigo. Look forward to getting your book, and if you are in Mexico can I get it autographed??? :) Congrats!!!

Tengo p?sima memoria, pero por favor, recuerdame mandarte una copia al DF el siguiente a?o y lo har? con mucho gust:) :)

[Keito]

Awesome man! I always loved your pictures - they're truly an inspiration for me, I really want to some day be able to take something of equal greatness... the gritty feel of the pictures of you I remember best is just so... perfect.

Congratulations again with this achievement :D

[CY:G]

Felicidades!!!!, ojala que sea publicado en el extranjero tambi?n, tengo una pregunta, las fotos son de cosas rotas o de edificios rotos??? No se que deducir del titulo...

English....

Congratulations!!!, hopefully it will get published everywhere also, i have a question.... are the pictures about destruction, of things broken??? buildings broken or what, i can't tell from the title...

[maplecookie Veteran]

Amazing! Again, this is something you totally deserve as your photography skills are like nothing I've ever seen before. Congrads!!!! :hug:

[sanctified Veteran]

Felicidades!!!!, ojala que sea publicado en el extranjero tambi?n, tengo una pregunta, las fotos son de cosas rotas o de edificios rotos??? No se que deducir del titulo...

English....

Congratulations!!!, hopefully it will get published everywhere also, i have a question.... are the pictures about destruction, of things broken??? buildings broken or what, i can't tell from the title...

Espa?ol: Es una combinaci?n de escenas urbanas, generalmente de las clases sociales bajas o de los grupos de personas mas abandonados por la sociedad aunque tambi?n intercalo im?genes mas austeras, sin personas, pero que igual comuniquen dicha sensaci?n de abandono o soledad.

El titulo es mas po?tico que literal. Para ser sincero no me convence pero al editor parece que si. Tambien para ser sincero preferir?a otra fotograf?a como portada.

English: Its a combination of urban places, generally of lower social classes or groups abandoned by our society, but also I add more austere images, without people, because they as well communicate such feeling of abandonment and loneliness.

The title its more poethical than literally. To be honest Im not totally happy with it but it seems the editor likes it. Also I would prefer another photo as the cover.

Amazing! Again, this is something you totally deserve as your photography skills are like nothing I've ever seen before. Congrads!!!:hug:; :hug:

Thanks a lot m:)#39;am :)

[CY:G]

Espa?ol: Es una combinaci?n de escenas urbanas, generalmente de las clases sociales bajas o de los grupos de personas mas abandonados por la sociedad aunque tambi?n intercalo im?genes mas austeras, sin personas, pero que igual comuniquen dicha sensaci?n de abandono o soledad.

El titulo es mas po?tico que literal. Para ser sincero no me convence pero al editor parece que si. Tambien para ser sincero preferir?a otra fotograf?a como portada.

English: Its a combination of urban places, generally of lower social classes or groups abandoned by our society, but also I add more austere images, without people, because they as well communicate such feeling of abandonment and loneliness.

The title its more poethical than literally. To be honest Im not totally happy with it but it seems the editor likes it. Also I would prefer another photo as the cover.

Thanks a lot ma:)39;am :)

Wow, that sounds great, definitely want to check it out, make sure you repost here once it gets released and try to find out if it will be released in the US and Canada, if it comes out over here im buying a copy f:) sure :)

[azcodemonkey]

Wow, that sounds great, definitely want to check it out, make sure you repost here once it gets released and try to find out if it will be released in the US and Canada, if it comes out over here im buying a copy for sure :)

+1

[sanctified Veteran]

Wow, that sounds great, definitely want to check it out, make sure you repost here once it gets released and try to find out if it will be released in the US and Canada, if it comes out over here im buying a copy for sure :)

As I said, its a long way left, but Im surely will post once its released, thanks :D

[dreamz Veteran]

congratulations again! this is amazing news. as you might expect, i love the theme of the book. does your aesthetic analysis suggest any conclusions in relation to the sentiments of loneliness and despair?

also, the cover is powerful and very indicative of content of the book.

i hope the book includes personal commentary on your craft, i.e., how you prepare for it, your opinions on photography in general, etc. i'm always interested in learning more about how artists think.

coincidentally, i am reading malraux's voices of silence, a philosophical analysis of art and its history. it's long (i've only just begun it), but you may find it to be of interest.

[.Markus]

well done buddy, your work continues to impress me :)

[Scirwode]

Wow, congratulations (Y) !

Scirwode

[brayan27]

felicidades hombre! that sounds amazing.

[sanctified Veteran]

does your aesthetic analysis suggest any conclusions in relation to the sentiments of loneliness and despair?

No at all, at least not by itself. Each photograph its planned to work as a decontextualisation by itself. When you take away an element from the urban ambient it stops to be just that, an element, and starts to be a phenomenon by itself. An observable and analysable event. In a way instead of concluding, the body of work offers the possibility to the viewer to conclude him/herself about it. In the beggining I wanted to do a deeper study about those feelings, however while that can be done the conclusion would be totally personal and I wanted to provoque self-reflection in the audience so I opted for a more open aesthetic. Im sure I succeded in that without beign vague with my works.

well done buddy, your work continues to impress me :)

Thanks a lot man :)

Wow, congratulations (Y) !

Scirwode

felicidades hombre! that sounds amazing.

Thanks guys :)