Google+ is gaining momentum as an online destination for photographers from all around the globe. In November 2011, the network encouraged student photographers to share their stills with public for a chance to get their photos on a public display in an offline gallery. This prize is for younger generation, which may need some encouragement and support to step out—but some photographers on Google+ didn’t wait for any calls and developed their own collaborative project, a book titled ‘Plus One Collection’ under Google+ name. The new product is celebrating the art of photograpy, provides an opportunity to see photos in print (in our digital era, this becomes a rare thing) and offers a nice contribution to a philatrophic community.

Photo: The Plus One Collection book, www.plusonecollection.com

Here’s how the initiative is described on the official website of the project: “We, a group of photographers from an online community on social network Google+ thought, hey, why not publish a photography book together? We spent a lot of time talking photography online, share and look at each other’s work, and even meet together to socialize and shoot. Why not collaborate on a project together? That’s how the idea of this book was born. When the call to contribute came, 520 photographers, both known and less known, from all over the world responded, willing to donate their art for the project.”

As to the content, the book includes pieces in all styles of modern photography to represent the diverseness of approaches—520 photographers (both professional and aspiring) from 53 countries (less than 50% are from the U.S.) contributed to the book. There’ll be several versions of the book, which was designed and put together by professionals from the dedicated Google+ community, who volunteered their time to this project. The printed Collectors’ Edition of Plus One Collection was released on February 9 (11 photographers selected 193 stills for the edition) and it will be available for less than two weeks, until 20, while the standard version along with the digital one (it will include all the photos submitted to the project) will arrive on February 21. In addition to that, the team will also release an iOS mobile app, which will contain all the stills as well.

Now, the charity point. The net proceeds from the book (the limited-edition printed version costs $200) will be donated to a cause on Kiva, a non-profit loaning community focused on alleviating poverty around the globe. “Besides being a fine art book, each sale of the Collector’s Limited Edition will generate close to $50 for Kiva,” says the website. The new book is one of the best examples of how art empowers people to bring actual change into the lives of those who need support, right here and right now.