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Schott One-Star in NYC - Book review

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
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5,313
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Iowa
Here's one you don't see everyday on the FL. I was granted this book by a fellow lounger (dannyk) via the classifieds, as it had a few flaws and Schott sent him a new one on their dime. In any case, I jumped at the chance to review a photographer's work on the famous Perfecto One-Star model. Photographer is Lisa Kato.

Here's the link to the book as it's for sale from Schott directly: https://www.schottnyc.com/products/schott-nyc-onestar-in-nyc.htm

Upon receiving this book, I was surprised by its' contents. Here's what I wrote back to DannyK after receiving it:
So I unpacked the book last evening. It is -- Interesting. Sort of not quite, at all, what I was expecting. No complaint here, just that it is a rather odd book that, well, I just don't fully understand. Do you know more history on it?

I see a professional Photographer who, from what I can tell, takes four brand-new Perfecto One Star jackets and goes all over NYC, getting folks to put them on and take all kinds of posed photos of them. It's interesting as I indicated, but I was sort of expecting a more vintage take - as in a collection of older photos of folks wearing their One Star jackets through the period they were produced in. In all seriousness, I suspect that many of the people posing in this book have never worn a Perfecto style jacket, ridden a motorcycle, or even considered a Schott brand item in the past.

Even the formatting, of a lot of photos with captions only in the back of the book, is indeed unique.

It's not necessarily educational, other than the 1000 words each photo represents. There are only a few short paragraphs at the front & back of the work. It's a picture book really.

I did not research the book at all prior to asking for it. Just wanted to be surprised by what it would be. Indeed, I was and am surprised.

Just a few photos for context:
IMG_6904.JPG

IMG_6906.JPG

IMG_6907.JPG

These actually represent, in my view, some of the better shots in the book. It's a Photographer's book, so I want to respect her desires to receive funds from her work. All well and good.

It's just very different. It's a new take on a product that's been staple of the motorcycling community for decades. Enjoy it, if it's to your liking.
 

Carlos840

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4,920
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London
You make it sound like it is an advertising "look at the multiple styles you could pull off with a perfecto" book more than anything else... The jacket pictured in the pics you showed don't even look worn in.
Let me guess, do they open with the classic "since Marlon Brando wore a perfecto in the classic "The Wild One"..."
 

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
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5,313
Location
Iowa
Carlos - that's the point I was attempting to make. They jackts were all brand-new. Nothing was broken in.

You or I could do this, just select a jacket style and take a few copies of it, with a camera & tripod out into a local city. It's probaboly a fun idea...maybe worth a try.
 

Carlos840

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4,920
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Or even better, do a “the fedora lounge book” that shows actual worn-in pieces with a story behind.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is actually a cool idea!

I own a camera lens hand built by an old Japanese man in his basemant (Mr Miyazaki), someone obsessed with his lenses decided to make a book of pictures taken with his lenses and offer him the book as a thank you.
He asked all the owners of the lenses around the world to send him their 4 favourite pictures and selected the best 100. It ended up being a great book, my pics were selected but even if they hadn't i would have enjoyed it.
Maybe we should de the same thing and do a TFL book.

Here is the book in question:

https://www.blurb.com/b/6945266-the-perar-book
 

AlexB

One of the Regulars
Messages
292
Location
Berlin
That is actually a cool idea!

I own a camera lens hand built by an old Japanese man in his basemant (Mr Miyazaki), someone obsessed with his lenses decided to make a book of pictures taken with his lenses and offer him the book as a thank you.
He asked all the owners of the lenses around the world to send him their 4 favourite pictures and selected the best 100. It ended up being a great book, my pics were selected but even if they hadn't i would have enjoyed it.
Maybe we should de the same thing and do a TFL book.

Here is the book in question:

https://www.blurb.com/b/6945266-the-perar-book
I am very much into photography. I would love to do that! Especially the global footprint of the lounge would be a very nice touch. We should get together a team!
 

Doctor Damage

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4,263
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Ontario
There's a ton of photographers who for years have been photographing 'street style' as quasi-papparrazi, particularly in NYC, so this sounds like the same sort of thing, although supplying a jacket for the regular joes/janes to wear. I think this would be really interesting, actually.
 

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
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5,313
Location
Iowa
I need to get the old Nikon DSLR out of hiding much more often. I should head to Chicago and meet up with Tony, and roam the streets looking for good shots. Might even just have to happen! :)
 

Justhandguns

Practically Family
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779
Location
London
There's a ton of photographers who for years have been photographing 'street style' as quasi-papparrazi, particularly in NYC, so this sounds like the same sort of thing, although supplying a jacket for the regular joes/janes to wear. I think this would be really interesting, actually.

Yes, absolutely, it is not just in NY. It has been around in London for a long long time, particularly around the London Fashion Week period. I have been reading Japanese magazines such as Lightning and Clutch for a long time, we see these street style photos week in week out.

As for the photobook itself, it looks to me that it is more of a fashion catalogue sponsored by Schott after all. I do not even want to get into the complicated history of the original one-star jacket here.... I bet that most of Schott's employees don't know the Durable story anyway.
 
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Feraud

Bartender
Messages
17,190
Location
Hardlucksville, NY
There's a ton of photographers who for years have been photographing 'street style' as quasi-papparrazi, particularly in NYC, so this sounds like the same sort of thing, although supplying a jacket for the regular joes/janes to wear. I think this would be really interesting, actually.

Yes, absolutely, it is not just in NY. It has been around in London for a long long time, particularly around the London Fashion Week period. I have been reading Japanese magazines such as Lightning and Clutch for a long time, we see these street style photos week in week out.

As for the photobook itself, it looks to me that it is more of a fashion catalogue sponsored by Schott after all. I do not even want to get into the complicated history of the original one-star jacket here.... I bet that most of Schott's employees do know the Durable story anyway.

Well said. We've seen the 'street style'/look book thing done to death already. I for one am so over it. If someone needs instruction in how to wear a leather jacket (or fedora, necktie, etc.) maybe they shouldn't wear it? That is not to say basic style inspiration is not welcome. Like I said it's been so done to death. I don't know if that tough greaser looking guy with the full sleeve tattoos posing on a rain soaked cobble stone city street knows a monkey wrench from a blush brush. :confused:
 

Doctor Damage

I'll Lock Up
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4,263
Location
Ontario
Well said. We've seen the 'street style'/look book thing done to death already. I for one am so over it. If someone needs instruction in how to wear a leather jacket (or fedora, necktie, etc.) maybe they shouldn't wear it? That is not to say basic style inspiration is not welcome. Like I said it's been so done to death. I don't know if that tough greaser looking guy with the full sleeve tattoos posing on a rain soaked cobble stone city street knows a monkey wrench from a blush brush. :confused:
Yeah, most of those people are useless and barely know one end of a hammer from the other, lol
 

Justhandguns

Practically Family
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779
Location
London
This is from the photographer Lisa Kato's webpage.

"Lisa Kato was born and raised in Japan. She studied photography at Tokyo Polytechnic University. After graduating from university, she moved to New York in 2010.

She worked at a still-life photo studio and learned filming and editing there. After that she started working for fashion photographer KT Auleta as a photo assistant. She and Auleta made several fashion films together which were released from VOGUE Italia and NOWNESS, etc.

Currently Lisa Kato works as a photographer in New York. She explores takes many kinds of subjects and especially loves taking portraits of gentlemen.

Recently she was featured as a photographer by several magazines including Cosmopolitan, Clutch magazine, VOGUE GIRL and &Premium."


So, there you go, that's the connection. No wonder they look alike. I think she also is responsible for Schott's 2018 advertising campaign as well.
 

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,313
Location
Iowa
Offering this book up for grabs. Would really appreciate being PayPal-ed $15 to cover shipping, as a it's large hardcover book. Just not my taste overall, been sitting on my shelf since 2019.

Free to CONUS folks, (would appreciate a bit for shipping).
 

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