We experimented with 3D sculptures made from our images in response to our trip to L’Etecq as well as give a new perspective of the images we took.
Creating my Photo Sculpture
I used the images from my L’Étacq photoshoot to create a photo sculpture. I decided to use black and white images as i think that they contrast against each other better than colour images. After selecting the images that i thought were the best i printed them out and mounted them of foam bored.
I decided to tear the images along the outline of the rocks as this would best show the jagged edges rather than trying to cut them out. After tearing the images i measured each one to find the centre and cut a hole. I then placed the images on a stick from largest to smallest.
Inspiration
I got the inspiration for my sculpture when looking at examples on the Internet. I saw this image and thought it was a really interesting idea. However as it was quite a common idea i knew that i could improve it. I decided that rather then mounting it from the bottom i could connect the images by the centre. This is so that the sculpture can be viewed from any angle and still look good.
My sculpture
Evaluation
Overall i am very pleased with my photo sculpture. However i think that there are areas that could be improved. Firstly, i think that the the images would look better if the jagged edges where i tour the foam board were on all sides. This would make the images more 3D and look better mounted on the base. Next, i think that i could have done a better job at centring the images on the pole. I would do this by making the holes before i tore the foam as on this model i tore the foam first and it was not always to get the exact centre of the board.
Overall, I am impressed with how my virtual gallery turned out. The gallery displays all my best images from the Le Hocq photoshoot. Throughout the gallery, all the images are used in my Le Hocq photo-zine booklet. I used frames around each of my images involved in the gallery to try and create some sort of contrast between the image and frame. I feel as if the black and white frame outlining most of my images gives the best effect towards the black and white images due to them being the same colours. I tried to place my images together if they had similar features such as the three photos of Le Hocq tower because it keeps the gallery some what organised. Also, the wall and floor textures display my monochrome images in an effective way by keeping a similar colour scheme throughout the virtual gallery.
Virtual Galleries displaying some of the best images from this project
Evaluation
The Final Zine
I think this project turned out to be a success as my zine was successful with regard to following the success criteria, as well as a direct improvement not only (in my opinion) in subject matter/photographic presentation of the images, but also how I planned and constructed my zine to make it into what it turned out to be. Knowing this, I now know that I have improved my skills since then, which will help motivate me to do better in the next project, whether or not I create a zine in it. As for the success criteria, I was able to include a mix of close-ups and landscape images, which adheres to my initial plan for the zine. While perhaps not as colourful and vibrant as I made it out to be, I think my idea of ‘vibrancy’ was met with most (aside from the BNW images in the zine) of the images included. After viewing some of my peers’ works on the blog, I have noticed that a lot of them use vibrant colours in ways that intrigue me, I would like to use their themes and aesthetics as a means of inspiration for my next project also. As for the intended subject matter for my zine, I definitely included a focus on rocks and seaweed, which I found creates a contrast within natural substances.
What went well:
I think my zine stuck close to my original plan I laid out for it, which meant that I was able to accurately follow my own success criterion. As my second zine, I think I have improved how I plan and create my zine from the last time, as the zine followed a sequential order, theme and narrative that I think was much stronger than my first. With this zine, I learnt how to better order my zine, as well as the image selection, to give it a story. I was able to include an image taken by Guiton in my zine, which gave it a link to the archive itself, as well as the history of Le Motte.
What I can Improve on:
I think one of the weak points of my zine was also one of the stronger points: the (almost) symmetrical order it has. Because of this, I felt like my experimentation was not as in depth as it could have been, especially when it comes to the layout of the images. Next time I will be more experimental with how I lay out my images on each page, such as leaving space to place text in and so on.
In order to construct the Zine digitally, I will use Adobe InDesign to lay out each image on each page, as well as include any text and experimentations digitally. My Zine will be 16 pages, some images will take up a two page spread, while others will be one image per page.
Image Experimentation
This is a simple experimentation on one of the images. As the image itself was fairly dark in tone, I thought it would be a good idea to see how the image would look if I inverted it. I don’t think this was that effective so I won’t use this in the zine.
Despite my zine focusing on the vibrancy of the images, I want a few black and white images at certain points in the zine to create a contrast. These are the black and white images I plan on using:
As well as these images, I will be using an archived image taken by Emile Guiton showing the La Motte Excavation:
For the seventh page spread, I am planning Guiton’s image on top of it, to create the symmetry that the zine has (the second and second-to-last spreads are both large double-page spread images that are black and white). I will use one of my own images of green island and place an image by Guiton on top. I want to have the viewer lift Guiton’s image up (from tape) to reveal the new image underneath. I think this interaction will create a sense of turning back time, linking nicely to the archive. Above is Guiton’s image I will use.
For my original experiment, I had two images from Guiton on the original Zine and having one of my images being placed over it:
This is the original page spread, with two images of Green Island from the archive.
This is the page spread with my image printed in acetate laid over it.
This is that same image but with the acetate lifted as a demonstration of how it would work.
This is my image as a plain piece of paper laid over the original spread.
This is another demonstration of me lifting the page to see how it would work.
I think swapping the layout of this spread around (so my image is on the zine and Guiton’s is the interactable addition to the page) will be more effective as it will give my image more of an emphasis, it will also fit with the symmetry of the zine better.
Here is an example of the new layout:
This is what the layout looks like on the printed zine:
Zine Layout
For the front and back page I used one image of seaweed spread between the two. I chose this because it is a colourful image with striking lines and textures. I chose the tower as the main image on the second page spread because it marked the start of the journey of the photoshoot, but also acts as a way to point towards the other image on the left (with the flag). I chose the third image to be a double page spread because it contrasts with the previous pages and the next because of how it is laid out, as well as the fact that it is black and white.
For the fourth page spread, I chose this layout because it fits with the almost ‘endless’ amount of small rocks and pebbles, which is represented by the higher amount of these images in the page. I chose the seaweed to take up a double page spread next because it continues the sequence of the large seaweed images, contrasts with the previous and next page spreads due to it’s colour. The sixth page spread is similar to the fourth (with the sequence reversed) to mirror the other pages. It is also worth mentioning that the zine’s viewpoint is getting closer and closer until the fifth page spread (which is the middle of the zine) where it then starts to zoom out.
On the seventh page spread, I chose two images by Emile Guiton and put them on each page in a uniform sequence, similar to how a document contact sheet would be laid out. The next page spread consists of two images (the one on the left has a frame) which the horizon line of it leads into the image on the right which is a full page image of a rock. The boarder creates an emphasis on the image on the left. The back of the zine is the other half of the image on the front cover.
Name of the Zine
While thinking of a name for my zine I wondered what Le Hocq meant in modern English. After searching it up, I found that Le Hocq means ‘the headland’ or ‘the cape’ in English.
I think I will use one of these (perhaps with or without ‘the’) to name my zine.
Text:
As for the placement of the title itself I had a few ideas of where to put the text, the font I will use and the orientation of the text.
I think I will use the layout of having the title in the centre of the page, as it gives the text enough space to stand out, it also isn’t too light/dark as to obscure parts of the font.
In terms of the font, I will use ‘Algerian’ as it is a nice serif font that will give the title an older aesthetic, which I think is fitting for the subjects of the zine.
I also experimented by using an underline to divide my name and the title of the zine.
A sentence: A journey through the bay with sights of rocks and seaweed.
A paragraph: Mirroring my own photographic ‘journey’ through Le Hocq, my story will (somewhat) follow the path I took through Le Hocq. The story will start out with wider landscape photographs and slowly zoom in towards the finer details, until it will zoom back out again to resemble the end of a journey.
Points to Consider for my Zine
How you want your design to look and feel – I want to put a focus on the rocks and seaweed found on the bay. I also want to make my images appear more vibrant, as opposed to a more documentary-like aesthetic, however I may include some black and white images as well.
Format, size and orientation – I will experiment with page spreads and how big the images are in comparison to the page (1/2, 2/3, Boarder Single, Single No-boarder, etc…).
Narrative and visual concept – I want my zine to be a journey of Green Island and the bays around it, including both close up and landscape images to show the wider scale, to the smaller details one might miss.
Design and layout – I will aim to make my zine ‘symmetrical’ in the sense that the first page spread (page 2 and 3) will mirror the eighth page spread (page 14 and 15) in terms of layout and aesthetic. I think this will give a structure to my zine that will help it tie into itself.
Rhythm and sequencing – As stated above I want the rhythm of my zine to be ordered (symmetrical) so that the rhythm, sequence and narrative of the zine is displayed by the arrangement of the images.
Images and text – My images will be mainly landscape images of the bay at Le Motte, including close-ups of stones.
Title and captions – I want my zine’s title (and captions if I decide to include them) to involve the idea of a bay/rocks/seaweed in some way, perhaps a description of all three at once.
Moodboard
As stated above, I want my Zine to be on the vibrant side, so these are zines that I found that match that description. I will also use some black and white images to create a contrast with the more vibrant ones. The bottom image (largest) in the moodboard fits what I am going for, however this may change during the experimentation/creation stage.
These are some examples of published zines created by the Société Jersiaise: Éditions Emile, which was named after Emile Guiton whom I have written about before. These zines are produced twice a year, each with links to the archive and the history they have recorded. The zines include images stored in the archive (some perhaps taken by Guiton), and some images are created in the modern age for the zine.
Image Selection
These are the images I will be using to create my Zine (all of the images are edited, some with black and white or cropped versions).
I started by selecting the best images from this photoshoot and decreasing my total number of images from 500+ to 16-20. I was aiming to stick with a predominantly black and white theme for my images, which I have done for the last couple of projects. I wanted to combine a range of very close-up and very wide-shot images to create something interesting. When I was happy with my chosen images, I began to arrange them in InDesign to create my zine. I wanted a simplistic and sleek design, so I started with the double-page spread images. I wanted both pages to be completely taken up by these images. My remaining images were mainly portrait orientation
To begin the process of creating my paper mock up which will help me to create my zine and organise the layout in InDesign, I began by printing my photos out and sorting them into 3 separate piles. These 3 piles were: -Objects -Views -Rocks I found this organisation to be helpful as I was able to lay them out, giving me a clear view of the photos that I have chosen to use and see how well they flow and work together.
Then I began to decide on the way that I want the photos to be laid out. This process started by placing the first picture in the top left, which I decided to be my front cover that I will later invert in photoshop to create the back cover. Then I placed the photos which I wanted on the same spread next to each other and the ones which I wanted separate by themselves. I also decided that I wanted to create a spread across my middle page, consisting of three photos. I found that this way to create my zine, and adding it to a little book, made it easier to visualise before bringing it into InDesign which I will do later on.
This was the final outcome that I decided upon for the layout of my zine. I created this mini paper mock up zine by gathering 3 pieces of paper and folding them in the middle then layering them to create a mini book. Then I placed my photos on the pages where I thought was applicable and would work well, this made it easier oy visualise and see if the photos which I have chosen to work alongside each other flow well, which many did. I found this technique to be helpful and will use it in the future as it made it easier for me instead of going straight into InDesign with no direction to follow.
Moving to InDesign –
To create my zine in InDesign I used the settings below to create a new document which provided me with the template of a zine.
Generic layout –
Using my paper mockup, I began to insert my photos in the places where I had decided to put them, following the mockup which I had previously created but then moving and adjusting the photos in different ways to show experimentation.
This can be seen as I chose to have the photos on the first page to be at different heights/points on the paper to add a level of individuality to my work so that it wasn’t following a uniformed structure, I then repeated this once more before the end of my zine but going the opposite way.
I then decided to have one full page spread next to one which used the white of the page as a border around it. I liked this spread on these pages because I think that it shows a zoom in to the textures of the rocks and then it shows you what surrounds them.
I only decided to have one full page spread for one photo of a view of the beach with a boat, which I really like, in my zine. I chose to do this because I felt as if it would be overwhelming to have more than one as it would tell the main story of this is where the location is where the story that you crate is based and to remember this scenery when developing the story for yourself.
I created a 3 photo spread across 2 pages as the objects which I photographer of various items which I found along the way on the trip to green island. I thought that this could create different stories of how they ended up there and why they have been put together in the set, making the viewer think about the deeper meaning as to why as it could show links to pollution and damage to sea life etc.
Then I decided to have a photo by itself, but I positioned it so that it did not take up the whole page and only spanned across the top left of the opposing page. I really liked this spread because I think that it shows the scenery of the page but the framing is quite effective as there is a lot of open space, but it allows me to add text to it to create a story throughout my zine which I add later on.
For the 7th spread, I began by using the original template of having 2 opposing pictures but then I wanted the photos to be different shapes so I made the photo in the top left corner squarer whereas the picture below it on the right had more of its original rectangular form. I then experimented with their sizes across the two pages and decided that I liked them to not conform to the normal grid and had them spilling over on the sides.
For the back cover, I began by being unsure of what to do and considered leaving it blank but then I decided to invert the colours of the front cover so that it gave it this x-ray feeling which I really liked as it added another layer of creativity.
Personalising my zine in different layouts –
For my front and back covers, I decide to experiment with inverting the photo which creates a comparison of the front and back covers, which reminded me of sea foam too as this was originally a miniature rock pool and this fits in well with the theme of my zine which is mainly the seaside and surrounding areas/objects which you may find on the ground. I achieved this through bringing the original front cover in to photoshop and darkening the original photo so that the blacks and shadows contrasted well against the grey tones. Then to create the inverted back cover I chose the ‘invert’ option which was a pre-set setting. The inverted filter reminds me of sea foam too as this was originally a miniature rock pool.
To create my front cover I decided on the title ‘What path will you choose?’ and I chose the ‘Baskerville old face’ font to create this in white colour so that it stood out against the darker colours in the rocks. I began this process by just writing the title and placing it in the middle of the page but I felt as if this wasn’t effective enough as the words seemed to get lost in one another. I then decided to enlarge the word ‘choose?’ to emphasise the importance of my zine which is deciding the path by yourself of what you could take. Then I decided to turn it at on an angle but I decided that I didn’t like this as I felt that it made the text look quite messy and unorganised. Then I finally decided on having the text at the top in a smaller font than keeping the enlarged word of ‘choose?’ which created this impactful effect, knowing that this journey is completely up to you, which I really liked and chose to have as my title. I also experimented with the position of my name and decided that I preferred it be in the bottom right corner instead of the middle as it looked better and the white contrasted well against thee darker tones.
I also decided to experiment with placing my name on the back of my zine, but I didn’t like this because the font and black colour didn’t work well on the back cover as it felt lost and misplaced throughout it which I didn’t want to happen. Therefore I ended up choosing to have it on the front and leaving the back blank with no text to show the inverted filter and effectiveness of it.
Text used: Pg1 “An unexpected path?” Pg2 “Unspoken rules of creativity” Pg4 “Let you imagination flow” Pg5 “Different stories…” Pg6 “Different textures…” Pg7 “Endless possibilities for you to decide.”
Above shows the experimentation of text which I decided to bring in to my work, using the same font as my title to show a continuation and flow throughout my zine as I felt that using a different font would make it seem unorganised. I began this process of decision by knowing that I wanted the text to act as a subconscious guide throughout my zine but also make sure that the journey which you experience is self guided as well. I felt as if this collection of text which is seen throughout the book didn’t flow as easily as I wanted which I wasn’t happy with so I decided to rewrite it, as seen below, but keep different parts of it but change where they are placed.
Text used: Pg1 “Let your imagination flow and fill the colours in” Pg2 “You’re the guide.” Pg4 “There are different stories…” Pg5 “Of what used to be.” Pg6 “Told by the different textures.” Pg7 “What path did you choose?”
These were the final version of the text which I included in my zine which I thought was successful. This was due to the way that the text flows easily from one page to another, which creates a poetic sense and feeling throughout the experience. I really liked how I used a continuation of texts to create a sentence in my zine on pages 4 and 5 because it creates a scaffolding for the viewer of what they should be thinking about yet letting their imagination and creativity run free. I also liked how I included the title on page 7, before the back of my zine, as I think that it acts as a summariser for it as it reminds you of the journey you have taken and why you have taken it which makes the viewer reflect on my zine later on in their own time.
Final outcome –
This was the final outcome of how my zine turned out once I had printed in and I was pleased with the way that it turned out. This was because the text feels as if it is in the correct places and it doesn’t appear to be too overwhelming as I made sure to keep them small and precise. I also liked the different framing techniques which I experimented with in each spread as I was able to have many different ways to create a story through the way that it is presented. I am glad that I decided to keep a black and white theme throughout the zine of my photos as I wanted the title to imply that as you take this journey, on the path that you do end up choosing you fill the colours in yourself. This means that they could be as vibrant or as dull as you wanted, dependant on your mood and how you feel at the point in time and then you can come back to it in the future and decide on a different way to go with the journey and the colours which you paint with your mind. I really liked the process of creating a zine from the decision of photos and creating a paper mock up to using InDesign as I think that it is a unique and different way to present the photos which I have taken.
