Frequently asked questions
Bringing you the bigger picture
For some time now, I've believed that something was missing from traditional photo book publishing. An itch became a scratch that became an idea, that now, I'm delighted to say, has become a beautiful, tangible book: Born To Run Revisited, with photographs by Eric Meola.
Born To Run Revisited is an ultra large format hardcover, with 96 pages, and a new 2,000 word introductory essay by Eric Meola. When closed, the book measures 24 inches high x 18 inches wide (60x45cm). A double page spread measures 24 inches high by 36 inches wide (60cm x 90cm). That's a vast scale in anyone's language. Just get out your tape measure and plot out 24 x 36 inches (or 60cm x 90cm). Now visualise a double page spread this size, carrying a single image in pin sharp detail. You will need your tape measure though - a ruler won't be big enough.
Why is this book important? Because something revelatory happens when a photograph is presented in a very large format: hidden details come to light, and the power and impact of the image are magnified exponentially. Unless you go to a gallery and see a large format print on the wall, you can’t experience this. That’s where we come in. Ormond Yard Press has been established to publish a carefully curated series of spectacular large format limited edition photography books that package the essence of large format gallery exhibitions, without reducing the impact of scale. Imagine an entire art gallery exhibition that you get to take home and keep forever.
This is a book that defies the normal 'coffee table' convention. In fact, it is like no book you will have seen before: much larger than a traditional coffee table volume, it is slim and elegant at the same time. Born To Run Revisited is housed in a beautiful custom slipcase which reproduces the front and back book cover art. The slipcase is lined with black suedel, a felt-like material, which cushions and protects the book. The cover of the book and slipcase have been deliberately left free of text so that nothing detracts from the power of the images. As a result, the book looks like a work of art you could hang on your wall. And in fact you can, as we have developed a special slide-in-slide-out frameless acrylic frame that we are launching in early 2012, and which enables you to do just that. More on that later.
Liking it so far?
The content of the book
Contains Eric Meola's most important images of Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons from his June 1975 Born to Run photoshoot, alongside previously unpublished material
The book brings together familiar images in a spectacular new format, and at the same time introduces you to previously unpublished material. Eric has made his personal selection of the very best images from his 1975 Born To Run session to present in this dramatic 24 x 36 inch spread size. That spread size is no accident - it has been deliberately chosen in the same aspect ratio as 35mm film, namely 1:1.5. This is important as it allows the photographs to be presented across an entire double page spread, with no detail cropped out.
While a number of these photographs have been published in the past in books and magazines, they have never been presented in this physical scale before. Just imagine the classic Born To Run cover photograph, presented in its full uncropped glory, 24 inches high x 36 inches wide.
In addition, Eric has also ensured that a selection of previously unpublished photographs from the 1975 shoot are included in this incredible book. We have included one of the previously unpublished images alongside, showing Clarence lifting Bruce.
Eric has also contributed a 2,000 word introductory essay as the introduction to the book.
To give you a better idea of the layouts of the book, we have included some sample pages in the visual at the bottom of this webpage. If you scroll down, you will be able to 'turn' sample pages, and view in fullscreen mode.
Incredible levels of detail
The opportunity to present uncropped images across double page spreads reveals incredible levels of detail never previously presented in book format.
You will be amazed at the level of detail you can see in this book. Here's an example: when you look closely at Eric's Born To Run album cover photograph, presented uncropped as a glorious 24 x 36 inch (60cm x 90cm) double page spread, you will see there are not two, but five people in the frame. Bruce, Clarence, Elvis (on the badge) and two people on a tiny detailed painting on the leather pick guard on Bruce's guitar. The painting on the pick guard is a revelation, and is something that most people don't know about.
We've reproduced an extract of this alongside. Look closely at the pick guard and you will see a moonlit scene with a man leaning against a lamppost in front of a brick wall, while someone looks at him from a window of an adjacent building. The amazing thing about this is that here you have an image that you have looked at hundreds of times. It's one of the most familiar photographs in the history of rock'n'roll. But if someone asked you how many people there were on the cover of Born To Run, you probably would have said two. That's because you never had the chance to really look - until now.
Customer reaction
The most important thing in all this is of course what the owners think of what we are doing.
The feedback from the first clutch of customers to receive their Born To Run Revisiteds has blown us away. In particular we loved this photograph that Jim from Marietta, Georgia sent us of him with his book. That is the smile of a satisfied man. As he put in his note, "received the package yesterday and I am loving it!"
Here are some of our other favourites so far:
Received!
I received this morning a big black and white baby,
extraordinary,
he is really magnificent,
so happy ;-) Nathalie M, France
The book arrived safe and sound on Friday and I had it wrapped and under the tree before my wife got home. She opened it today and was absolutely "blown away." I didn't look at it beforehand so my first viewing was when she opened it. All I can say is that it is a wonderful piece of work. You, Mr. Meola, and everyone involved should be proud of what you have created. This is something we will always treasure. We are huge Bruce Springsteen fans so this means a lot to us.I thank you for making this happen and for adding so much to our holidays this year. All our best to you, William G, Virginia USA
Your "Born To Run Rev" book is awesome! Guido H, Italy
Took delivery of the above last week, and I have to say I'm thrilled with the content, format, and quality! A superb initial publication from Ormond Yard Press .I await with interest your next edition, trusting that now you have set the benchmark it will be in the same ' class leading ' bracket ? Ray C, Warks, England [ Ray - it will ! ]
The books arrived just in time. They are beautiful! Well done! The gift was a big hit and I, of course, love mine. Thanks for all your help and happy new year. Craig B, California, USA
The book and case arrived safely on Friday. Thank you.It is stunning ! and my husband is over the moon with it. It looks wonderful in the wall mounted slipcase. Many thanks for your help. Karen J Shrewsbury UK
Limited to just 500 signed numbered copies worldwide
Just 500 signed numbered books are being offered to collectors worldwide.
In the limited edition book world, this is a small edition and we expect demand to be high.
Are you going to become one of the fortunate 500 ?
One incredible version
“A Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking. All the Cokes are the same and all the Cokes are good. Liz Taylor knows it, the President knows it, the bum knows it, and you know it.”
So said Andy Warhol.
We could have gone down the track of carving out a special edition of the books we publish. You know the kind of thing - an edition with a signed print, a special binding etc etc. A lot of publishers do this, and although we did consider it, it wasn't for us. Why? Simply because we are focused on making them all special. When you look at yours, you know that no-one has a better version. They are all the best.
How long til I get the items I've ordered ?
That depends on whether it is in inventory or needs to be made by the photographer.
If you have ordered something in a particular specification that we do not have at the gallery, then your order needs to be made by the photographer. We will get it to you as soon as we can, but turnaround time does vary from photographer to photographer. On average, a 3-4 week turnaround is standard for an unframed piece.
If we do have the piece you require in stock in the exact specification you have ordered, then we can get it on its way to you straight away. In practice, for an unframed piece held in inventory, we will aim to send it within 3 working days of receiving your payment.
Framing adds a further two weeks to the process.
We know it is frustrating to have to wait for something, but can we please beg your patience. It will be worth the wait !
How do you ship work overseas?
When we are sending unframed photographs to customers outside the UK, we take great care with packaging. There is no point in taking any chances with potential damage in transit, so we err on the side of caution. We would rather 'overpack' than take any risks. We use a very heavy duty board to flat pack items for paper sizes up to 30x40 inches. For larger sizes (which are too large to be flat packed) we use extra heavy duty tubes. We use fedex for international shipments and will email you a tracking number so that you can follow progress on fedex.com. Typically fedex will deliver within five working days from the day they collect from us.
How much does it cost?
The signed limited edition book, in its slipcase and a sturdy external shipping box, costs £ 395 (approx* USD 630 / Euro 460)
Given the size and weight (approx 9 kg /20 lbs) of the slipcased book in its external shipping box, we recommend that you have us deliver the book.
The delivery charge depends on location as follows:
UK: next day signed for courier - £25
Europe and USA: 2/3 working days, signed for courier service £65
Rest of world: 4/5 working days, signed for courier service £75
If you wish to collect the book from the gallery, then there is no delivery charge.
*USD/Euro prices are illustrative based on current FX rates. Actual USD/Euro prices will depend on the rate at the transaction date if purchasing online in USD or Euros / or the rate applied by your credit card company if purchasing in GBP. If you wish to use Amex, you will need to get in touch with us at the gallery rather than purchase online.
What happens if something is damaged in transit?
While we take incredible care with the packaging of orders, once they leave the building, they are in the hands of commercial couriers. While we have never experienced any major problems with damaged packages, we can’t rule it out in the future, simply because it is not under our direct control.
Rest assured that if there is any damage to a product as a result of mishandling in transit, we will send you a replacement. If it is not possible to send you a replacement, we will issue you with a full refund. We may ask you to return damaged goods to us. Where we do that, we will bear the shipping costs.
How can I pay ?
We accept all the main credit and debit cards, including American Express.
You can purchase securely online, and you will see all the payment options as part of the checkout process. If you are ordering online, you can also pay by Paypal.
We can also an process credit card payments over the phone through the terminal at the gallery, so if for any reason you are uncomfortable with using your credit card details online, all you need to do is call us with your card details and we can process your order manually.
Amex cardholders please note that we don't currently accept Amex for online purchases - this will change, but for now if you want to use Amex, just get in touch with us and we will put your card details through the terminal at the gallery.
If you prefer, you can always wire funds direct to our bank. If you would like to pay this way, just get in touch.
Can I pay in Euros or USD Dollars?
Yes! The whole aim of this website is to make it as straightforward as possible for you to buy online. The default setting of prices on the website is British Pounds (GBP), but you can view and pay for products in other currencies if you are buying online.
So if you are making an online purchase from the comfort of your apartment in Manhattan, you can view prices in US Dollars, and pay in US Dollars. Likewise, if you are in sitting at your computer in Berlin, Paris, Brussels or any other Euro-zone location, you can view prices in Euros and pay online in Euros.
Please note that our terminal at the gallery only accepts GBP payments, so if you are calling us to give us your credit card details for us to process manually offline, we have to use GBP prices. In those circumstances, the local currency equivalent that you are charged will depend on the exchange rate applied to the transaction by your credit card company.
When do I get it?
There is no hanging around - books are in stock, and ready to ship.
We are shipping books every day. Please bear in mid that the clock on the edition is ticking. Books are selling fast, so the practical timing issue is simply when we run out and sell all 500 copies in the edition. So our advice is, if you want one, get it now and avoid disappointment.
Delivery times depend on location very from next day (for UK orders) to approx 1 week (for more distant destinations)
The book is packaged securely and anonymously. We have gone to town on packaging, as we don't want to take any risks of the book being damaged in transit. It comes in an extra thick unbranded shipping box, with void areas to absorb any knocks in transit.
I know what I want but I can't see it on the website. Can you track it down for me?
We certainly can. Picture research is a ongoing part of what we do, and we are regularly asked to track down a piece for a collector.
Maybe it is the cover photograph from an obscure album that you cherish, or maybe something you saw recently in a newspaper or magazine feature.
Chances are we will know who took the photograph, and if we don't we will know someone who does, so get in touch and we will start the hunt. Once we have a price for a print for you, you can then make a decision about whether you want to go ahead. There is no upfront obligation.
I want to buy a present for someone. Where do I start ?
We are always delighted to recommend pieces to fit your budget, whatever that may be. Get in touch with us and we would be delighted to give you some one on one advice. We aim to delight the person who thinks they have seen it all.
If you just can't make your mind up, you can always get a personalised gift voucher, available in a range of values, from GBP 10. You can buy gift vouchers through the shop as well. Click here and we'll whisk you straight there.
Do prices include frames?
No. Photographs are priced unframed on the website, but we would be delighted to organise framing for you.
If you have placed an order for an unframed photograph and would like to discuss framing, get in touch with us and we can take you through the options. If you are buying an unframed photograph on the online shop on the website, then please do complete your order first and we can discuss framing once that order is 'in the works'.
You can read all about framing in detail here
What is perspex reverse mounting?
This is a new kind of 'frameless' frame that we offer for some photographers' work.
It is a very clean and modern presentation, and works best with large size colour photographs, as it seems to enhance colours and really makes them 'pop'. Typically we only use it for 30 x 40 inch ( 75 x 100cm ) paper sizes and larger.
It is optional rather than compulsory - an alternative to a regular wood frame/white mount/glass.
You can read all about how it works here
Why are some of the prices not nice round numbers?
You will see that the prices displayed on the website won't always have nice round prices. So for example, a photograph may have a price of GBP 127 (rather than the 'tidier' price of 125 ). This is because of the underlying currency in which the price is set. So for example, a US photographer we work with may set her prices in USD. This means that to get to the price in GBP the website will automatically translate at the current rate, and inevitably this will give an unusual looking number.
Can I get my favourite number?
Sadly the logistics don't allow us the luxury of everyone being able to pick a specific number they would like.
We're allocating books in sequential number order, so people who order earlier, get earlier numbers.
Why do prices change for a photograph ?
There are two reasons for this.
The first is caused by demand and supply. Where a photographer offers work in a limited edition, it is common practice for the price to increase as the end of the edition is reached. In these circumstances, the last photograph in an edition will be more expensive than the first one offered for sale. Different photographers have different approaches to price uplifts. Some will phase the increases during the life of the edition ( eg numbers 1-5 will be x, 6-10 will be y etc), while some will adopt a more flexible approach, adjusting prices on an ad hoc basis, or an annual basis.
The second reason for price changes is because of currency exchange differences. So where a photographer prices his work in USD, the underlying GBP price for a UK customer will change over time as the underlying exchange rate changes.
How often do you change exchange rates ?
Prices will vary as exchange rates change. Of course, exchange rates move all the time, and it is not practical for us to amend prices all the time. In practice we aim to update prices for current exchange rates on a fortnightly basis, sometimes more frequently.
Hang your book on the wall
Special acrylic slide in slide out wall display case
Make no mistake, this is a big book, and we wanted to give you some different display options. Of course you can put it on your coffee table or (big) bookshelf, but we felt it deserved something a bit special. At the design stage of the book/slipcase we took a conscious decision to keep the cover free of text, so that nothing detracts from the power of the chosen front and back cover images. That notion gave rise to the idea of this display unit - because it means you can, should you choose to, display your book just like a piece of art on the wall - which is what it is, after all.
Constructed from 5mm clear acrylic, this is a solid, simple and practical way to display your book on your wall in its slipcase. It measures 18.5 inches (w) x 25 inches (h) x 1.5 inches (d). That's approximately 47cm x 64cm x 4cm.
It is open sided on the left and right, allowing you to slide your book (and please read 'book' as 'book and slipcase' here) in and out whenever you want to look at the contents. You also have the flexibility to show the front or the back of the book and flip it over if you feel like a change of view.
It has curved edges, and a split baton hanging system on the reverse. Special acrylic 'feet' at the bottom ensure that it hangs parallel to the wall. It is a nice, elegant, solid piece of work. Turnaround time is approx 3 weeks.
If you would like a display case, they cost GBP 350 + shipping, and you can order one online here
(Please note that the 'Buy it now' button below relates to the book and not the acrylic wall unit).
What if I don't like it?
Here's our guarantee to you. If you aren't completely satisfied with your book, return it within 10 working days of receipt and and we will give you a full refund.More about Ormond Yard Press™
Ormond Yard Press™ : Dedicated to bringing you the bigger picture
Our mission is a simple one - to create incredible books that we, our artists and our clients can be proud of. That's a heavy burden but one which we embrace. Behind everything we do is the goal of producing elegant and brilliant books; books that celebrate classic moments in the history of popular culture, in a physical scale that mainstream publishers can't deliver.
Layouts and presentations are designed to let images shine across double page spreads, in a clean, uncluttered style. Less is more. The book is the boss, and forces you to look at what is in front of you. When was the last time you really looked at a picture properly?
We know that collecting precious things is addictive. So we plan to help you with your addiction in a number of ways.
Timing. We don’t want to bombard you. We are planning no more than three titles in each calendar year. We will be releasing details of new titles every few months.
Consistency. We want you to be able to build up a collection that works together, where the individual components can be stored and displayed together. So we will ensure consistency with all future titles in the series. A consistent look and feel, a consistent size (24 x 18 inches when closed, 24 x 36 inches spread size), and each book housed in a bespoke slipcase. This means that serial collectors can build up a handsome set of volumes over time. Of course the contents will vary, but they will be consistently brilliant.
Loyalty. We reward loyalty. Existing owners of our books will always have the first opportunity to order new titles. So when we offer pre-launch incentives, these will be made to existing owners first.
Born To Run Revisited, with photographs by Eric Meola
Eric’s is the first in a series of large format limited edition volumes that we are publishing under the Ormond Yard Press™ banner. It is a perfect place for us to start, but it begs the question - how do we follow it? Well, alI will be revealed in due course, but in the meantime we very much hope that you take up this opportunity with Eric’s epic book.
How do I look after my photograph?
1.Make sure your framer uses conservation materials for anything coming into contact with the photograph. If you can afford it, think about museum glass as the glazing material - its the Rolls Royce of glass: as well as the UV filters, it has excellent anti-reflective properties.
2. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from extreme temperatures and damp conditions.
3. Don't tell your wife what you paid for it.
I am a photographer seeking gallery representation. Are you interested?
Yes. We are always interested in seeing your work. Whether we end up working together comes down to the strength of the individual images. It is always easier for us to view your work as low res JPEGs attached to an email. Please mark your email " gallery representation? " and send it to us at info@snapgalleries.com Please do not send prints in the post. Generally, please don't send us anything by post unless absolutely necessary. For example if your work has been published in a book and you want to send us a copy of the book, then that's fine.
Why 'Ormond Yard' Press™ ?
Naming a brand is always difficult. You get one shot at it, and it has to work on a whole number of levels.A number of different threads led us to the name Ormond Yard Press™ .
First, the books we publish are a yard wide – three feet – when opened up.
Second, Ormond Yard is the name of a relatively unknown street in the heart of St James’s, just a stone’s throw from our Piccadilly gallery. Ormond Yard has played an important role in contemporary popular culture as it has been the location for many photoshoots over the years – most famously it was the location of the cover session for The Rolling Stones’ 1965 album Out of Our Heads (December’s Children in the U.S). That image, by British photographer Gered Mankowitz, has always resonated as a perfect early piece of pop iconography.
Third, the topography: Ormond Yard is itself tall and slim – proportions that echo the books that are now being produced in its name.
And don’t you love it when coincidences connect distant events? In his introduction to Born To Run Revisited, Eric Meola explains that the record he was playing in his studio when he photographed Bruce and Clarence on 20 June, 1975, was none other than December’s Children by The Rolling Stones.
Read the Ormond Yard Press Blog
We've started a blog. The purpose is to to go behind the scenes and share our experiences in bringing this fantastic project from idea to reality. You can read our posts on Tumblr .
It's a lighthearted look at things and we try and make it interesting plus have a bit of fun. Here are a couple of examples of recent posts to give you a flavour:
