In order to figure out how to create a good photobook I had to research different books in order to inspire me and create new ideas.
Growing Spaces – Chris Hoare
Chris Hoare is a photographer which was born 1989. His work surrounds areas of society that he thinks are overlooked and likes to create visual stories in a metaphorical way. He worked on 11 sites across the city. The work started pre -pandemic but its timing worked well to highlight the demands that the pandemic brought the workers to create and harvest produce.
I like the way Hoare created juxtaposition between the two images as it forces the reader to look for the similarities and differences between the two images. Overall I like the colour scheme used by Hoare as it creates a warm and emotive feel to the images which helps us to create a bond with the workers and their workplace. I think the story he creates displays the reality of working in the fields and outside whilst still showing the beauty of the greenery which helps make their hard work worth it in the end.
Idyllic photos of Bristol’s allotments over lockdown (huckmag.com)
Growing Spaces by Chris Hoare | Photography | Setanta Books
The Gardener – Jan Bryczynski
The Gardner follows a set of images or urban gardens in different countries and continents such as Nairobi, New York, Warsaw, and Yerevan in Armenia. The owners of the gardeners are members of the village from low income communities; they create the gardens with what they have at hand including reusing materials to give them a new purpose which will help them in their gardens. Each garden is arranged differently and structurally which interests Jan Brykczynski as it is a space for the villagers to express themselves and aid them with their everyday lives.
I like the way Jan edits his images to enhance the greenery in the photos; I think it works well as it helps add dimension to the images. I also like His use of two page spreads as it allows the important parts of the image not be distorted by the spine of the book.
Jan Brykczynski – The Gardener, Dewi Lewis, 2015, Stockport – photobooks josef chladek
Te Ahi Kã – Martin Toft
Te Ahi Kã – The Fires of Occupation is a book which follows the Whanganui tribe which live by New Zealand’s Whanganui river and shows their connection to the river and the Maori. Toft photographed them whilst the tribe worked on reversing the acts of colonialism.
He has two covers one for women which is the green cover with a design of a fern which the Maori Women used in terms of protection, purification and prayer. The Male version which is the yellow cover with a flame design as embers are said to be “traditionally wrapped in a Ponga tree leaf (silver fern) to carry the fire from one village to another as a symbol of occupation.”
I really liked his use of monochromatic images in order to highlight the detail and texture of the trees and plants. On certain pages the page opens up on both sides to reveal a photo with colour and on the left side and pages of writing on the right side which gives more information about the Whanganui tribe including some of their traditional songs and conversations with the members. I love his consideration of of background, midground and foreground in his portraits as he photographs the people in their homes or outside in their land which makes for much more interesting portraits that help to tell the peoples stories, cultural heritage and traditions.
Similar to Tofts Idea, I want to gift my book to my parents so that they can have something to look back on to show their life and work in this job in order to help them recall and tell others about their work and stories that came with them.
Te Ahi Kā – The Fires of Occupation on Vimeo