This series features interviews with independent photobook publishers. This month’s interview is with Emily Sheffer of Dust Collective.

Don’t Take Pictures: How would you describe Dust Collective to someone who has never seen your books?

Emily Sheffer: Dust Collective publishes handmade photography books that focus on themes of time, weather, landscape, space, the history of photography, and alternative photographic processes. The titles are often small, softcover books that you can hold in your hands and enjoy on a close-up scale. They are carefully crafted, with a fine attention to detail. I maintain a drive to convey photographic ideas in a clean and inviting way.

DTP: What series of events led you to start your own publishing house?

ES: I wanted to run a table at an art book fair, but I didn’t have anything to show. A few of my friends had made beautiful books as part of the photography program at MassArt, and I figured they were just sitting around collecting dust after graduation. So, I founded Dust Collective, and showed a selection of those titles. Since then, Dust Collective has started designing and publishing original titles, and we still reach out to artists who make their own artist books, and show those as well.

DTP: How do you find photographers that you want to work with and how do you determine what might make a good photo book?

ES: I’m constantly immersing myself in the photo world, so it is quite often that I come across work that I would love to publish. From there it’s just a matter to time, resources, and interest on the part of the artist. 

What I generally look for is a series that would most make sense as a book. I don’t necessarily want to publish a portfolio. I want a series that is enhanced by the book form, and has a firm concept, and works best as a set sequence. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a simple concept that is excellently executed.

DTP: Have there been any books that have been particularly rewarding to produce or that you felt a special kinship with?

ES: Dust Collective is releasing a new title at the Boston Art Book Fair in November with artists Danielle Dean, Alyssa Minahan, and Barbara Bosworth, titled Tide and Air. Being a witness to the sea can evoke a wide variety of strong feelings, and the artists were able to beautifully convey their responses. The images speak of the passage of time, and the photographic qualities of air and water.
Each artist submitted a different image format, so, as a designer, it was a fun challenge to figure out how to make them all fit into one book

DTP: What are some forthcoming titles you are particularly excited about?

ES: Dust Collective is releasing a new title from the artist Kyra Schmidt titled Coastal Matter. Kyra’s images abstract organic matter and water so the two mingle and float freely on a photographic plane. Her use of color is subtle with surprises of saturation here and there. Kyra’s work allows for a more playful approach, which was great for me when I was designing the book. 

DTP: What was one of the most challenging books that you have published and why?

ES: I just finished a book of my own work titled A Short History of Cyanotype. It walks the viewer through the invention of cyanotype in three booklets, focusing on the relationships between Henry Fox Talbot, John Herschel, and Anna Atkins. I made it this past month at the Maine Media Workshops book artist residency, so the challenge there was to make a complete project in a month of intense studio time. 

DTP: It seems that an increasing number of photographers, at all stages of their careers, are looking to publish a book. What should photographers think about before they embark on the book process?  

ES: I always come to a project knowing generally what images I want to include in the book, and roughly what sequence they should be in. That way, I can make the best design choices to convey my concept. Every design choice should somehow speak to and enhance the images. Also, always remember that less is more! 

Visit the Dust Collective website to learn more about their books.