Fall Line Press, “Flooding on Island Road, looking toward Isle de Jean Charles, September 2008″ from Bottom of da Boot. Image © Kael Alford

This month is all about books on Lenscratch. In order to understand the contemporary photo book landscape, we are interviewing and celebrating significant photography book publishers, large and small, who are elevating photographs on the page through design and unique presentation. We are so grateful for the time and energies these publishers have extended to share their perspectives, missions, and most importantly, their books.

Fall Line Press is one of Atlanta’s true treasures. As an independent press dedicated to publishing limited edition art photography books, they value well-crafted works and photography that resonates with their audience. Most importantly, as a publisher, they strive to be a valuable resource for their patrons and artists alike by offering support and accessibility to the larger photographic community.

With two exciting new titles, just having gone to press, EDGE by David Ricci and From Yonder Wooded Hill by Riley Goodman, I sat down with publisher William Boling to discuss Fall Line’s vision in the field of photo book making, as well as, details about their forthcoming titles and advice to emerging photographic talent.

“We are an independent press dedicated to publishing limited edition art photography books in Atlanta, GA. We value well-crafted books and photography that resonates, but most importantly, we strive to be a resource for our patrons and artists alike, offering support and accessibility to the larger photo community as well as analog experiences that bring our community together.” 

Today photographer and curator Donna Garcia interviews publisher William Boling.

Follow Fall Line Press on Instagram: @falllinepress

What was the first book you published, and what did you learn from that experience?

Our first book was Bottom of Da Boot by Kael Alford. I learned that the creation of a book is a collaborative journey that can lift photographs, essays, and design up in ways that are not possible to fully anticipate beforehand. We learn what we need to know by going where we need to go.

What is your mission as a publisher?

To support photographers and the photography community by publishing great books.

Fall Line Press, Kirstin on Hilton’s boat” from Bottom of the Boot. Image © Kael Alford

How big is your organization?

We have two full time staff and a number of contributing editors, interns and part-time supporters. We also contract with editors, writers, copy editors and designers as needed on a book by book basis.

Fall Line Press, From Sweetheart Roller Skating Rink – 1972-1973, Six Mile Creek, Hillsborough County, Florida. Image © Bill Yates

What are the difficulties that publishers face?

Like every artist or company that makes things, we have to balance budget and timelines all while striving for excellence. That’s the challenge, joy and excitement of developing and creating beautiful art books.

Fall Line Press, From Sweetheart Roller Skating Rink – 1972-1973, Six Mile Creek, Hillsborough County, Florida. Image © Bill Yates

Are there any publishing projects that have been particularly meaningful to you?

I love all our books! And I felt very close to our publication of Sweet Heart Roller Skating Rink. It is a fabulous book and sold out quickly. It was talked about and sold all over the world. And what made it so special for me was how I could identify with those rough and rowdy Florida teens since I had been one just like them in the early 70s.

Fall Line Press, Cover of upcoming title EDGE by David Ricci

What upcoming projects are you excited about?

We have a number of great books in the pipeline that I’m excited about but the two that have just gone to press are EDGE by David Ricci and From Yonder Wooded Hill by Riley Goodman. EDGE is a rollercoaster ride of complex and precisely seen fields of structure in the American built world. It includes a stunning essay by Tim Davis, one of the greatest photographers and writers, and an original and extraordinary design by Margaux Fraisse. From Yonder Wooded Hill is a haunting photo, text and graphic driven contemporary walkabout through another place and time that operates for the reader as a gathering up of the stuff of local legend, myth and family history. The book is beautifully designed by the artist and Megan Fowler of Brown Parcel Press.

Fall Line Press, Spread from upcoming title EDGE by David Ricci

How many books do you publish a year, and how do you choose which projects to publish?

We are publishing about 4 books a year and seem to be increasing that number next year as our community, sales and network continues to grow. The books we publish seem to find us somehow! We still accept queries and several of our recent books have come in that way. We also do portfolio reviews, workshops, follow exhibitions and browse social media. Friends and followers will sometimes send great work our way too.

Do you have a specific focus?

We are very intentionally unfocused! We want to find fields and photographers that are doing work we love. That’s about it.

Fall Line Press, Cover from upcoming title From Yonder Wooded Hill by Riley Goodman

How can an artist get their work in front of you?

It’s great to see work “in the flesh” so to speak, so workshops and portfolio reviews are great for that. I encourage queries and especially if the photographer is familiar with the kind of books we create and understands why we would be a good fit.

Do you have any advice for photographers?

Keep taking photographs and read broadly and deeply. Go see as much art, theatre and opera as you can swing. Read Shakespeare and learn to trout fish – or something that will allow you to explore physically and passionately a side of life that is in a different realm than art or photography. Become a mensch and drink life down to the dregs – whatever fills the cup.

Fall Line Press, Spread from upcoming title From Yonder Wooded Hill by Riley Goodman

What is the typical timeline of a project, from the beginning to the finished product?

Timelines are somewhat variable based on needs of the photographer and press but tend to run from 10 to 12 months. We have gone from concept to book in hand in six months but that’s an exception for us and not something we would like to repeat!

Sequencing at a Fall Line Press workshop

How collaborative is the design process with the artist?

As a photographer myself, I value collaboration above all. Our photographers are working hand in hand with editors, designers and our project manager. I take a hands on approach personally in every project we take on – it’s why I love creating books. I can’t imagine not being personally involved from inception to completion, experiencing the discoveries along with the photographers and team as we move the photographs from project to completed book.

How is the financial side of the project structured between publisher and artist? Does the artist contribute to production cost?

We contribute infrastructure and expertise and support the photographer in raising capital. We’ve only had one project in 10 years of publishing that capital ended up not being sufficient to complete the book. Most of our photographers choose to do Kickstarters as a major part of their effort and only a couple have fallen short.

Sequencing at a Fall Line Press workshop

 What support do you give artists in terms of marketing or distribution? Do you attend book fairs?

We use our network to promote and distribute. We do art fairs and have direct connections with leading book stores. And we have worked with distributors off and on over the years. Currently with Amazon, social media and our direct sales, it hasn’t been necessary. We were excited to have our first book, Black Diamonds, to be picked up and distributed with Charcoal Book Club. We would love to see more of these kinds of alternative distribution resources come to market.

Donna Garcia is lens-based artist, curator, art director and educator based in Atlanta, Georgia. Originally from Boston, her work often illustrates a semiotic dislocation that has been organically reconstructed in a way that gives her subjects a voice in the present moment; something they often did not have in the past.  Her images rise above what they actually are and become empathic recreations in a fine art narrative. She often utilizes self-portraiture with motion to provide an indication of the other in her work; a surplus threat to the perpetuity of our modern day grand narratives in defining elements like gender and race.

She has worked as an art director for Ogilvy, NYC, an adjunct faculty member at the Art Institute in Atlanta, a contributing editor for LENSCRATCH, an instructor at the Griffin Museum of Photography and is currently the Executive Director at the Atlanta Photography Group and Gallery. Garcia is also the co-founder / co-host of the Modern Art and Culture Podcast.

She has exhibited internationally and has had her work published worldwide (see donnagarcia.com). She is a 2019 nominee of reGENERATION 4: The Challenges of Photography and the Museum of Tomorrow. Musee de l’Elysee, Lausanne, Switzerland. Emerging Artists to Watch.

Donna Garcia has a Master of Fine Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a Master of Science in Communications from Kennesaw State University.