First Draft Photobook Layout

This is my first book sequence draft which I believe successfully follows what I originally intended for the design of my book. In my design specification I stated ”Some images will be best as full page spreads (single or double), some images will look best with boarders and some will look best grouped together, and therefore I am not going to limit myself by completely sticking to one uniformed layout and will instead lay out my photographs in the way which I believe individually best suits them…The sequencing of images in the book I intend to follow a narrative of how surveillance is evolving/developing. So as the book continues the images represent closer and more personal forms of  surveillance, such as surveillance through our own devices. Whereas in the beginning it will look at visual forms of surveillance (birds) and then early forms of technological surveillance (CCTV etc.)” This, as I said, was something which I definitely followed up on and stuck to.

Possible layout – ongoing draft

Photo-book Layout

These are three possible layouts I have decided on for my phonebook. I have only changed specific images throughout the three designs as I believe some images are strong how they are and don’t need changing. I have included borders around certain images to create variety as a large proportion of the images are full bleed, double page spreads. The use of borders and different positions of the images throughout the layouts, I believe Create a strong effect on the book as it means the book doesn’t have the same monotonous feel to it. I want the viewer to know the story behind the images in the clearest way possible so I chosen these as I believe they are all different to one another and show a different perspective of the subject reacting to its surroundings. These layouts are still to be added to and adapted but create a rough outline for how I want to present my book.

Third Photoshoot

Photoshoot Plan: The third poem is called tunnelling and talks about my grandpa when he was younger and the memories he had on the beach with his parents. I want to take photos on the beach near Corbiere lighthouse which illustrate the poem and also link to memories I have of family walks in the same place.

I found cuttle fish lying in a pile in the beach and decided to arrange them in a pattern on the sand creating a leading line along the beach towards the lighthouse mimicking the walk the would have made. 

I am happy with how this photoshoot turned out, although on the day the weather was over cast, I like the feel it gives the images because they look more real and show what the landscape looks like the majority of the time. The sea also look rough which gives it a dramatic feel. Also the colours that this lighting gives the images is very bright but not sunny making everything look golden more pastel and muted which is the aesthetic I wanted for the book.

Earlier in my coursework whilst looking at and creating work on collections I took photos of one of the any collections my grandpa had. small figure lighthouse which were displayed in their bathroom for years. I took Photos of these in front of an off white backdrop to show the simple details and how they all go together. I am thinking of incorporating these images with the new ones I have taken.

Second Photoshoot

Photoshoot Plan: I want to take photos at Grosnez Castle, when I was younger we used to visit the ruins of this castle with my grandpa. It was in walking distance from their house so many family outings happened here. I was always fascinated by the stories he would tell me of my dad and uncle growing up in the area and historical facts. I want to take photos of the castle at dusk when the lighting has interesting colours too help give a dramatic effect. I want to show the area as I would have seen it when I was younger, as big and mesmerising. 

I like the style and colours in the photos that I took because it give a romanticised effect and exaggerates the landscape however the lighting at the time was bad and the photos have a lot of noise. it was also very windy so the camera was shaking a lot this mean the long exposure images weren’t as sharp as I would have liked I want to do this shoot again and improve the lighting. I will also stay for longer and get more images of the actual castle.

Primary image Anylsis

Image analysis of main images found within my book:

I chose this image due to its clear relation to the sublime. The division of her face once again strips away any identity and importance to the girl compared to the importance of water. The reaching of the hand is almost an indication of help. I wanted to create a fluidity of movement within the piece and have an aspect of struggle and fight within the water. Although, while this piece does show aspects of the sublime and emotions of the power of nature, it is still clear through the dress and effortless posture of the girl that there is beauty and innocence within the photo. The use of the walls almost indicates a tunnel and also shows a sense of narrative to the image, as there is a physical tunnel pulling you in.This tunnel continues the narrative and suspends the image as less of a one off but as a journey this girl is on. Perhaps it shows more indications to that of sirens and being water based. The division of the face is something really deliberate that I knew I wanted to capture within this image although the division of the face between the water would show an illusion of repetition and almost capture the girl in a  different and mystical world. Not only does this show an extrusion to the image, but it also creates a direct form of interest for the girl herself. I did not think think this image needed any more photoshop due to the already complexity shown. For the colour I did not want to over edit the image, and keep a slight romanticized and old feel. The original was too bright and removed the element of segregation and abandonment and showed to much of a relation to the overly bright pool.

This almost illusion was created in order to show a more abstract view of water, and show a creativity within it. Despite the water being in front of the girl, it almost captures and shows an impersonation of the light hearted, young girls spirit. Once again I edited the tones to show it being more blue, but instead of doing so in such a way to create a darkness to the image, I wanted to lighten the image as this is the original emotion you get from this piece. The division of the close up secs of water, in comparison the the slow drifting of the smaller specs of water almost emphasis a falling of beauty and creates further connotations to the young girl herself. The direct eye contact with the camera breaks apart the photo and allows a direct connection with the girl and creates a contrast to the main importance of the image. There is something almost angelic and magical about this image, it not only is a question of the possibilities of how it was taken, but the magic within the image also constitutes to a sense of mythological accent to the images. The small circles are almost heavenly with their softness and brightness of colour. I believe too all the colours compliment themselves within the photo, the light purples and blues represented against the themes of my editing the water in blues, or greens dependent on the overall original tone of the image.  It seemingly purposes what the sublime is through the inventive collaboration of life and beauty and a new passion of wonderment, while without the pain. It is full for childish wonderment, the light pink of the lips emphasises the front of a profound yet beautiful image.

I took this image with the purpose to make the water and the boy to look as though they were one. I wanted the water to have an aspect of blending into him and see as through he is enjoying the use of water. I had this intention as much of my imagery is the frustration and aggression of water, whereas this looks almost peaceful and although the water is blessing or helping the boy. I wanted to make sure I got the water captured dripping at the bottom. I wanted a picture of slow movement yet the shutter fast enough in order to show a moment captured in time. The darkening of the photo shows an even more eccentric character of time and wonderment. The dark outter tones almost purpose a sense of time that is running out. The shadow of the boy also demands an question of, who is she and why is he here and how did this happen. I wanted to create a whole narrative and story within this on image as this is what is seen within a romanticised landscape. How did this beauty and circumstance happen for someone like me to be able to see it. The highlights of the light within the three areas of his face allow a life to be projected onto himself, and not just a still of emotionless wonderment. The tiles in the background, leave a question scenario, it indicates connotations to isolation and like a lab of enclosure. The crystal white also shows a his aspiration for cleanliness and purity, perhaps why he is washing himself. There is such a large extent to the emotions and delicacy within this image, and this is why I belive it is such a valid primary image.

I’m very set on having this image as a double page spread, at the end of my book before my essay. This is due the representation of her no longer being trapped under the water, or being seen facing the camera, but she is now able to stare into a sublime romanticised landscape, seeing the beauty and emotions herself, and no longer being subjected to be stuck within a landscape but part of it. This image also has clear denotations to pictorialism influence, I need this with clear intentions as she is a very classical looking young girl, and the use of the colour, too links with the old fashioned movement. This also influences a sense of purity to the last image, very different to the start of  narrative book where there is a greater representation of emotion. Her stance not only is strong and shows a power within a young girl, mimicking the power of nature, yet also as it is centered in the composition, it allows a balance to the book and creates implementations the sublime is just as much equally what someone makes of it then what it actually is. Her position also shows clear indication as if she is standing on water, this religious influence and enhances the landscape t be elevated above everything else due to it having a relation to being ‘godly’. Overall I think there is no better image then to end the book on. Not only could this image be an ending, but it purposes a start of a new journey, and for a novel this is fundamental as it allows the photos to have a future, it creates a wonderment of the journey the next photographer might perhaps go on. you cannot see an end to the water, and you do not know the direction the girl will go.

This is the starting double page spread of my photobook. I chose this image due to its disparity and the hectic atmosphere it contains. It shows a beauty within panicking, and creates a clear illusion of ‘pleasure and pain’. The position of her body is extended and demonstrates as if she is being pushed down and her hands are trying to grab onto something. The outward of bubbles surrounding her face, not only show an inability to breath, but whips any identity of the girl, this re-asserts the power the water has over the girl and her life. I decided to edit this image into deeper tonal blues, because I wanted to mimic the colour most related to water, I darkened the edges to show a fading of life, and lifelessness drifting. For an opening image it instantaneously shows the continuous theme of water and pain throughout my book, and also shows an interest to create images usually not seen in photography works. Once again the slow closing of the edges allow the life within the colour centered in the middle to show a sense of loosing breath and hope of escape within the image. Both allowing the image to have a combination of beauty and death combined. I did want this image also to look as though it was at a much greater depth. I had to take my images in a more shallow pool, due to this, I had to experiment with many more angles, in order to create a look as though she is in a great depth, as this increases the chance of pain and also a physical suspension and light weight edges of the water.