Sacred Steel photo book 30% discount

[Bob Stone]

Hello,

My book of 152 duotone B&W documentary photos of the Sacred Steel community to be published by University Press of Mississippi December 15, 2020, is available for pre-order now. It is a high quality 10"X10" jacketed hardcover. Foreward by Dr. Eric Lewis Williams, curator of religion at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Learn more here:
https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/C/ ... Like-Jesus

Also, it has all of page two in UPM's Fall 2020 catalog.
https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/Catalogs

This book was made possible by the generous support of the Arhoolie Foundation.

Life is good! Stay tuned for updates.

[Mike Neer]

Looks amazing, Bob. Congratulations!

[Bob Stone]

Thanks Mike. It's been in the works a long time.

Wishing you and yours all the best living in NYC.

[John McClung]

Wow, Bob! Looking forward to it. Very unique documentation of one of the branches of the steel guitar family tree!

[Bob Stone]

Thanks John!

[John McClung]

Just pre-ordered your book, Bob. As an avid photographer I'm sure I'll enjoy it. What gear were you shooting with? I'm on a Canon 6D full frame, various L lenses, mostly 70-200 f/2.8 for shooting bands onstage.

[Bob Stone]

Hi,

About 95% of the photos were shot on film. I scanned the negatives and adjusted the tonality in Photoshop. Sort of the best of both worlds--the look of film and the advantages of a digital darkroom.

I've always used Canon equipment, and my go-to lens for this sort of work is a 24-70 2.8 L. I follow the old axiom for documentary photographers that generally, closer is better--of course, not for every shot.

I'm not sure what equipment I was using for the few digital shots in the book, but they weren't full frame. Today, I have an EOS5D Mk III, and love it.

I also own the 70-200 2.8, but used it very little for this work. It's more for rodeos and wildlife (with a 2x multiplier for the latter).

Thanks for your interest and your order!

[Bob Stone]

My book is on sale through the end of August for 30% off. That's just $28 for a deluxe hardbound 10X10 book with 152 full-page photos, introductory text and extended captions.

https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/C/ ... Like-Jesus

[Steven Portman]

Thanks, Bob, for the awesome ethnography. This is a one-of-a-kind glimpse into the world of sacred steel; you've contributed a significant project to help us understand why the steel fills an essential role in these services. Just bought the text, thanks for the discount PSA.

[Bob Stone]

Thanks Steve. It is a labor of love.
Stay tuned for an announcement about a traveling exhibition.

[Gene Tani]

I was reading Bob's prior book (from 2010), which is GREAT, lots of very detailed research, all distilled down into a historical document which shows that the early players didn't have it easy, had to contend with office politics just like everybody else. Especially liked the story about a couple players going into Sho Bud's factory and hearing some guy do warmups which were really good. What was that guy's name? they asked. Jimmy Day.

https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/c ... 35548.html

[Bob Stone]

Thanks Gene.

I tried to let the musicians and congregants speak in their own voices as much as possible. Glad you enjoyed the book.

Several of the interviews used in the book have been posted on the Arhoolie Foundation Website: arhoolie.org
The Foundation is in the process of hiring a professional full-time archivist, so lots more interviews and photos will be posted in the future.

Onward!

[Daniel Morris]

Wonderful book, at a fantastic price.
A very worthy companion to Bob's SACRED STEEL book.

[Bob Stone]

Thanks Dan. I really appreciate your kind words.