In this week's edition of Endnotes, we take a look at ‘Still’ by Mary Jo Hoffman, which features images from Hoffman’s project of taking a still-life photograph every day for more than 10 years.
Here's how the book came together.
Mary Jo Hoffman, Author
“My agent first contacted me through Instagram: ‘Have you thought about a book?’ I had, of course. I started working on a proposal, which every author knows is a soul-killing slog. Once we signed the contract, the rest of the process worked like a well-oiled machine. My editor, Jenny, grew up in Winnipeg, and from day one I felt she was a
kindred spirit.”
Jenny Florence, Senior Editor, Monacelli
“When I read Leslie’s email, I jumped on it immediately. Mary Jo’s photos are gorgeous, but the story behind Still and how her thinking about the project has developed over the years is so compelling. I also loved that the Still project—over a decade’s worth of daily photos—is a huge achievement, but in a sense one that anyone could embark on.”
Leslie Jonath, Founder and Principal, Connected Dots Media
“The first time I encountered Mary Jo’s work, I was moved
by both her breathtaking images and her thoughtful narrative. From the beginning, our vision was to create an art book that was a work of artistry—from the paper choice to the layout to the binding. We wanted to find a publisher who would collaborate on every aspect of design and editorial. The team at Monacelli helped bring the vision to life.”
Jessica Fleischmann, Founder and Creative Director, Still Room
“We wanted something with a graphic energy
and emotional pull, and perhaps a bit of mystery. We wanted an image
and typography that represent the book as a whole, which meant an image that was more than a single plant or animal or stone. The final image is a dynamic composition, which allowed me to place the various text elements in response to the image. Mary Jo’s work reveals that showing less or allowing for quietness lets one focus. I think
this cover does that.”
