View Full Version : GAS? what about BAS?
I know quite a few of us here is a victim of GAS but recently I've caught BAS (book acquisition syndrome)... I'm guilty of building up a small library of photobooks that would rival the photo book collection of my home state. Tell me it's not just me :-)
Ken, dont worry - BAS is even worse than GAS! They are heavier and take up much more space - and you dont sell any of them - or trade them - so they just keep accumulating! I have had BAS for decades. A rough estimate is 750 books - all dealing with Photojournalism - mostly post WWII but some earlier. Cameras come and go - but books stay.
Dave Wilkinson
08-04-2009, 13:55
Ken, dont worry - BAS is even worse than GAS! They are heavier and take up much more space - and you dont sell any of them - or trade them - so they just keep accumulating! I have had BAS for decades. A rough estimate is 750 books - all dealing with Photojournalism - mostly post WWII but some earlier. Cameras come and go - but books stay.
750 books! Tom!....Hell's Bells - are you part-time caretaker at the local library? :eek:
Dave.
kshapero
08-04-2009, 14:16
BAS has not stricken me. I love and NEED hardware, hardware!!
Florian1234
08-04-2009, 14:18
Here, I have it, too... BAS with mostly history related stuff (Middle Ages and WWII mostly). Recently photojournalism takes a big part.
Books are often heavier than cameras, and few look good, in and of themselves, plus, resale value, easier to trip over?
I finally tossed out the National Graphics-- actually gave them to someone who did not have cable. ;-)
MAS, Magazine Acquisition Syndrome-- That two year old copy of Shutterbug with the article on the new M8?
Lots of other AS'S out there-- ;-)
Next it will be flash cards, external HD's?
John
dannynono
08-04-2009, 14:39
Whoops... am I the only one who thought the B stood for Beer? Speaking of which, my Newcastle should be properly chilled by now.
Al Kaplan
08-04-2009, 14:43
At least I finally outgrew my Chick Aquisition Syndrome.
http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com
At least I finally outgrew my Chick Aquisition Syndrome.
http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com
To be successful with Chick Aquisition Syndrome, you need Chick Aquisition Syndrome Help.
Is Chick Aquisition Syndrome cheaper?
@Tom: Wow 750 books... that's A LOT. Books can get expensive fast... even at $10-$30 a book, it slowly and carefully accumulates. Not to mention the ones that are over $100++ ...
I know quite a few of us here is a victim of GAS but recently I've caught BAS (book acquisition syndrome)... I'm guilty of building up a small library of photobooks that would rival the photo book collection of my home state. Tell me it's not just me :-)
OK, it's not just you.:D
plummerl
08-04-2009, 18:43
BAS, GAS & MAS. I've got it all. It runs in cycles, right now I'm probably a bit more BASy. :D
http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs49/f/2009/155/a/0/a08fd571c804eb3acf283825ec3a9eb4.jpg
Can you guess who my favourite photographer is?
And there are so many other books by so many others that it occupies and entire bookcase.
750 books - all dealing with Photojournalism - mostly post WWII but some earlier.
This sounds like heaven to me...:angel:
I clicked the thread with the expectation of the "B" going to equate for bag, which is another never ending search for perfection... Although I do have photo books, in general book acquisitions aren't a problem for me...
Ugh, camera bags...
And we complain about our wimmen's shoe habits. LOL. :p
..but these are bags for serious men's business :bang:
Sonny Boy Havidson
08-05-2009, 04:23
I would be glad to join the band but Eugene W Smith's books are not easy to find in Europa.
As I see it, BAS is a way of living to me.
I purchase photo-books once a month on a regular basis.
Once, a photography teacher of mine, told me that photo-book is like a good friend.
Someone you call for advices every now and then.
Or, you want to debate or argue on a photographic issue.
The book is there for you, just take it in your hands and it starts talking, photographically.
I took his words seriously and started gathering around me many good friends :)
I still do.
fixbones
08-05-2009, 04:39
I don't have a large collection but would not hesitate to buy if i happen to come across a great photography book.
I'd still much rather read and own 'physical text and pictures' over the internet. Plus they look good on my book rack =D
Bought 'Annie Leibovitz at work' recently. Insightful look into her photography visions
BAS? Yes, I got BAS. Currently, I have about 6 stacks of books in my bedroom - each about 4 feet high. It may not seem like much but the BAS bug only bit me recently. I got tired of knocking the stacks over at night so I myself moved into a small guest bedroom. (Also, my camera gear had taken over the bed - easier to move myself into the guest bedroom instead of the moving the books and gear.) I previously stored the books in my basement but I've been dealing with some humidity/water problems so they were moved upstairs. Hoping to come up with a new storage solution asap since the BAS/GAS combo is not very compatible with CAS.
Lately, I've been into Japanese photography books and have purchased a few titles from Dirk & Kurt at JapanExposures.com. I just love the look and feel of those books.
sar-photo
08-05-2009, 07:31
I suffer badly from this - damn Amazon and their well stocked and low priced warehouses :mad:
I keep them in bookshelves around our place. Bedrooms, living room, den, upstairs office etc. This usually means that when I look for a specific book - it takes a while, as I keep finding other ones that seem more interesting. Lots of french photobooks (Chambre Calire in Paris is a dangerous place), some Japanes, lots of English/American and some from the Nordic countries. Vancouver used to have a couple of good "old book" stores - now there is really only one McLeods. Messy and books stacked a bit hap-hazardly - but if you are willing to look, you will find something (McCullins "The Destruction Business" for $5).
http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs49/f/2009/155/a/0/a08fd571c804eb3acf283825ec3a9eb4.jpg
Can you guess who my favourite photographer is?
And there are so many other books by so many others that it occupies and entire bookcase.
don't want to make things worse, but you need to add these to your collection: american photographs, walker evans at work, and the moma retrospective. the errata editions volume on american photographs is pretty good, too. :D
skibeerr
08-05-2009, 22:40
BAS is great you never can read and reread enough.
I suffer from another type of affliction "GRS" Gear Rotation Syndrome.
My dream is one lens one camera and walk the earth, but then I read some review and I have to get that hardware wich is then to be sold shortly afterward.
OK I have outed myself.
Help me,
Please
:D
thomasw_
08-05-2009, 22:47
Between my wife and I we have an extensive home "library". Photography, medieval/byzantine art, philosophy, mathematics, physics, theology, patristics, literature, unix programming and fly fishing books make up the big share of my shelves. My wife has other categories, too. Between the two of us we have over 6,000 books --- a little library that seems to keep growing. Everyone in my family loves to read.
guvenilter
08-26-2009, 02:31
Same here, real bad BAS (over 5000 and counting), and CDAS (over 1000 and counting)... The books are mainly history, art and music, the CDs are mainly classic rock and blues. I have to divide the GAS between musical instruments (6 guitars, 2 amps and 4 keyboards at the last count, not to mention recording gear) and photography.
Thankfully, the significant other has her shoes and bags :)
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