We (Still) Live Up Here

After the wild popularity of the 2012 photo book “We Live Up Here,” creators Andrew Knapp and Christian Pelletier are back with a second edition.

“We Live Up Here: Volume 2,” featuring 150 images of the Sudbury area submitted by local photographers, is set to hit bookstores in early December.

The photos in these self-published books don't resemble tourism pamphlets. They're instead reflective of the Sudbury we all know and love, warts and all — everything from the city's industrial areas to its many beautiful lakes.

Knapp — better known as the author of “Find Momo,” a book about his hide-and-seek-loving dog — said he received about 800 submissions for the first book, and about the same for the second edition.

“We felt that it deserved a follow-up,” he said.

“We felt there was the energy there. We wanted to do it again. We wanted to continue to create stuff, and to evoke a conversation. This year's book was put together with photos that were sent to us over 2013 and 2014.”

The second volume's cover features a photo of Jamie Lee — taken by Mackenzie Fraser — on a summer bicycle ride in an urban landscape.

“It spoke to us in its non-chalantness,” Knapp said. “It's a photo of Jamie Lee riding a bike in an alleyway in the summertime. It's just kind of the moment we all love, the idea of floating down a backstreet.

“We're all advocates for cycling. There's a strong movement for cycling in Sudbury. It was very, very appropriate.”

The first book's launch was well attended, featuring a good chunk of the contributing photographers, plus family and friends.

“That event felt like one of the most important aspects of the book because it was a fantastic way to bring like-minded people together — people with a passion for photography or a passion for our city,” he said.

Knapp said he's in the process of planning a launch for the book's second volume. Details of the event will be released soon.

The book is available for pre-order at www.weliveuphere.com for $25 until Oct. 28 and $35 afterwards. It will be available at local venues — including Chapters, likely — after its release. All profits are funnelled back into other projects by We Live Up Here.