New Alaska Photo Book Reflects the Values of a Community
A new Alaska photo book, to be released June 2005, reflects the values of a community. The focus of the book is on Haines, Alaska--"a place where five runs of wild salmon still return to natural, healthy watersheds; a community of individuals with unique skills and talents, generously shared; a place with more than a hint of Northern Exposure; a place where cultural traditions endure; the beginning of the trail and the end of the trail--"Dei-shu." Kathleen M.K. Menke/Crystal Images, Haines, Alaska--author/photographer/publisher.
(PRWEB) May 25, 2005 -- A new Alaska photo book, to be released June 2005,
reflects the values of a community. The focus of the book is on Haines,
Alaska--"a place where five runs of wild salmon still return to natural, healthy
watersheds; a community of individuals with unique skills and talents,
generously shared; a place with more than a hint of Northern Exposure; a place
where cultural traditions endure; the beginning of the trail and the end of the
trail--"Dei-shu." Kathleen M.K. Menke/Crystal Images, Haines, Alaska-
author/photographer/publisher.
"This is a wonderful book!" says Christy
Tengs-Fowler, lifetime Haines resident and owner and manager of the Bamboo Room
Restaurant & Pioneer Bar, of a new Alaska photo book "Haines for All
Seasons--Northern Exposures from Alaska Reflecting Our Bond to the Land and Each
Other,"
"The inspiration for the book came to me while picking berries
on Chilkat Pass," says Haines resident, Kathleen Menke, who is author,
photographer, and publisher of the book. "I had recently returned from my
father's funeral services in Wyoming and the themes for the book's double-page
spreads just started flowing through me while I was up on the pass picking
blueberries last August. I determined then and there to follow through on the
idea and dedicate the project in my dad's memory because my father, James E.
Kennell, also loved Alaska. He spent a lot of time here in 1950's doing geologic
exploration in the Kenai/Aleutian area."
The book, with its first
printing of 3000 copies, is being released in June of 2005, and according to
Menke, is targeted to locals and tourists and anyone interested in Alaska from
the perspective of one person living in one small, spectacularly beautiful
community. "I'm hoping to making a heart and soul connection with people through
the images in the book," Menke says. "The book is a good personal keepsake, a
great gift for family and friend 'Outside,' and will make a good addition to any
library collection."
Edward May, Executive Producer, Alaskan Life
Portraits/Insight Passage Productions comments, "My six-year-old son and I
reviewed 'Haines for all Seasons' together. Kathleen's artistic images evoke
emotions and fond memories, as well as inspire us to seek out new adventures.
Our small Alaskan community's wildness, beauty, and vanishing lifestyle are
uniquely documented here with two decades of images representing the values that
led us to call this place home and keep us here. I highly recommend this
well-crafted book to anyone and everyone."
The focus of the book is on
Haines, Alaska--"a place where five runs of wild salmon still return to natural,
healthy watersheds; a community of individuals with unique skills and talents,
generously shared; a place with more than a hint of Northern Exposure; a place
where cultural traditions endure; the beginning of the trail and the end of the
trail--"Dei-shu."
The book also contains a double-page spread of the
Inside Passage and the Southeast Alaska network of communities, a double-page
spread on the "Golden Circle (Haines, Whitehorse, Skagway route", and a
double-page spread denoting Haines as a jumping off point into interior Alaska
and Canada, including images of Kluane, Denali, and the
Tatshenshini.
Other themes include northern lights, bears, moose, eagles,
migrating birds, people gathering food from the land and sea, the hooligan
harvest, Tlingit cultural tradition, children and families, community members,
wild salmon, forest, mountains, oceans, trails, energy flowing, to dust
returning, and a place of abundance for all seasons, unfolding anew each
day.
The "About This Book" section on the back cover notes, "The book is
a collection of images reflecting our bond to the land and each other, as seen
through the eyes and heart of one photographer, over a period of twenty years,
throughout the seasons. Succinct headings provide the themes, reminders of
cherished values, for the page spreads. Photographic captions at the bottom of
each page provide additional information about each image."
The book's 48
tightly-edited pages contain 200 original color images. The size is 8 1/2" x 11"
x 1/4" with a vertical format. Menke says she spent a lot of time researching
the right printer for her project, choosing quality paper and deciding to have
the pages sewn as well as glued with quality lamination on its perfect bound,
softbound cover.
"After several months of research, I ultimately chose a
print broker (overseas) who was willing to communicate with me directly every
step of the way, was capable of handling the large Pagemaker files with embedded
color profiles for the high-resolution tiff images my project required (the
project shipped on seven CD's), printed the old-fashioned way with film, and
supplied me with several rounds of wet proofs, proofs off a press, so that I
could fine-tune the images to get the quality I desired. It cost me extra time
and extra money to print in this manner, but I am extremely pleased with final
print, binding, and lamination quality of the book," Menke says.
The
book's ISBN number is 0-9764261-0-2. The first edition print run is 3000 copies.
The book retails for $24 and a standard wholesale discount of 40% is available
for a minimum purchase of twenty copies. The website for the book is www.akmk.com/hfas
and provides a representative preview of nine of the book's 48 pages. Books may
be ordered online directly from the author/photographer with a credit card
through PayPal or by mailing a check or money order to Menke at PO Box 781,
Haines AK 99827. Shipping and handling charges are $4 for the first book and $1
for each additional book. Menke can also be contacted at 907-766-3517
(phone/fax/answering machine) or by E-mail: e-mail protected from spam
bots
Kathleen Marie Kennell Menke has been professionally photographing
subjects that capture her interest and her heart for over twenty years. The
journey brought her to Haines, Alaska, for the first time in the early 1980's.
the friendly community and the wildness of its natural surroundings drew her
back many times during various seasons until she decided it would take a
lifetime to complete this northern adventure.
She moved to Haines as a
permanent resident in the winter of 1995-1996. During the years since, she has
been building herself a small home on the edge of town where she also operates
her photography and publishing business, Crystal Images. She is frequently
observed walking the trails and beaches of the Chilkat Valley with her Haines 57
companion, Brandee Klukshu Small Tracks.
Her work has been published in
numerous regional, national, and international publications. Her photography,
list of published credits, products, and design services can be viewed online at
her Crystal Images website: www.akmk.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/5/prweb243590.htm