South Carolina Reflections—A Photographic Journey
A conversation with author Tom Poland and photographer Robert Clark
Intro by Elizabeth Poland Shugg
Tom Poland and Robert Clark have been working together for over 40 years. Together they have published six books. Their latest, South Carolina Reflections—A Photographic Journey, features a timeless exploration of South Carolina’s treasures. In this conversation, they tell us about their experiences working on this book together.
BP: How did this book come about?
RC: Tom and I thought Reflections II was the last book we’d do in the series. The acquisitions editor at USC Press suggested we do a third edition, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the initial publication. Images of the first and second edition of Reflections are combined with fresh new images to complete the book.
TP: I was driving to Macon, Georgia, when I stopped to check emails and saw that the Press wanted us to develop a new edition. I called Robert and we both felt we had a wealth of material that would make for a strong book. Soon we were hard at work.
BP: How did you choose the images that would go into the book?
RC: Images chosen amounts to a process where I turn in the photos I like best and build a gallery where Tom and the USC Press team view photos and start the selection process. The images chosen represented all regions of the state.
TP: I’m the first to see Robert’s photos. It excites me to see the potential for a book and this book, by far, is our best in the Reflections series. It was very hard making selections; they're all so good.
BP: How do the two of you collaborate?
RC: Tom and I have worked together for over 40 years, and we trust what the other does. We look at photos and discuss subject matter, and Tom usually asks me to tell him what I experienced when capturing an image. Tom takes this info and builds an informative and creative cutline.
TP: From the beginning, the way we collaborated set us on the path to book authorship. Our first project, a feature on tenant homes, brought out the best in us as creatives. As Robert says, we trust each other and we bring the best out of each other.
BP: What determines which photos make the final cut?
RC: I know which images best represent South Carolina’s various regions. I try to photograph new versions of my favorite areas. I can get too close to some images just because they’re my favorites. So, I create galleries that give others a broader view when it comes to the final selection of images.
TP: First I look for visual impact—the “knock my socks off” effect. Next, I consider the photo’s potential for telling a story. I then consider where it fits in terms of the state’s regions, perform some research, and get a feeling for how I want to write the title and the supporting narrative
.BP: What goes into the selection of the cover(s)?
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