A Zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. There are different types of zine such as art and photography zines, literary zines, social and political zines, music zines, travel zines and food zines.

For my zine I used 16 of my best and strongest images from St Malo, I used a mix of black and white images and images in colour which I felt gives my zine a variety of tones and emotions. Below are the Images that I used.

NARRATIVE

A narrative refers to the structure and presentation of a story, typically involving characters, settings and event. It serves as a means of conveying information, emotions of ideas in a sequential and engaging manner. Narratives can be found in various forms of literature, film and other artistic mediums, allowing for the exploration of complex themes and the expression of diverse perspectives. They often follow a specific structure, such as the exposition of diverse perspectives. They often follow a specific structure, such as the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution to create a coherent and impactful storytelling experience.

EDITING & SEQUENCING

For my zine I had previously edited my pictures on Lightroom and photoshop. I named it “descender à St Malo” which means descend into St Malo. For my inspiration I looked at old zines online and the ones in class to come up with the idea of mine.

Importance of a zine

A zine is an important platform for photographers to showcase their work outside traditional channels. It democratizes art, allowing emerging talents to reach a wider audience. They serve as a tangible and accessible platform to enhance the connection between the artist and the viewer. In an era dominated by digital content, zines preserve the tactile experience of photography, offering a unique, intimate journey through the creator’s vision. Ultimately, photography zines empower artists to share diverse narratives, contributing to a richer, more inclusive cultural dialogue.

I created this grid on indesign

To add the pictures I made these boxes first to help me choose the layout that I wanted. I then added in my text when i was happy with my pictures. For my text I picked the title of Souvenirs de St Malo which translates to memories of St Malo. and then I just put some history about St Malo that I found from google.

This is my final layout

This is a mood board that I found from the internet of street photography in St Malo.

These are my edits of my favourite images from St Malo. For the majority of my images I wanted them to come across as bright with vibrant colours, but for the images that didn’t have the colour tones that I was looking for I decided to to make them monotone which I felt helped me have more contrasting images that I could use in the future such as for my zine.

I edited all of my images on Lightroom.

These are my favourite photos

This is a mood board of some of my pictures

Street Photography was first created by The Daguerreotype’s limitations which were revealed in 1838 by a photographer Louis Daguerre in what is thought to be the very first street photograph. Street photography is the one that shows everyday life in public spaces. To make it interesting and different from a simple snapshot.

This photo was taken of a man selling food in the streets of India. You can see that the man is not aware that the photographer has taken a picture of him and is just going on his day to day life. the photo is entitled “Street photography in India” By Andrew Studer. Where he has taken multiple pictures of their culture and the difference between India and westernised life. you can also see how crowed/busy it is behind the the man and his crate. The lighting is dark with highlights around the focal point and a blurred background to not draw attention around the other figures.

Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French photographer born in 1908 and died in 2004. He was known as the master of candid photography. He pioneered the genre of street photography, genre of photography that records everyday life in a public place, and viewed photography as capturing a decisive moment.

Cartier-Bresson was also one of the founding members of Magnum Photos in 1947, he worked with the responsibility of rapidly supplying the world with information, be it from the liberation of Paris to Ghandi’s funeral. Cartier-Bresson aided in the development of street photography, which is a genre that is still frequently used today. An international photographic cooperative owned by its photographer-members, with offices in New York City, Paris, London and Tokyo. In 1937 Cartier-Bresson produced a documentary film, his first, on medical aid in the Spanish Civil War. The date was also his first reportage photographs made for newspapers and magazines. His enthusiasm for filmmaking was further gratified from 1936 to 1939.

The Decisive moment

Henri Cartier-Bresson’s magnum opus, originally titled “Images à la Sauvette” and later known as “The Decisive Moment,” stands as an enduring masterpiece in the annals of photographic history. Published in 1952 by Simon and Schuster in New York in collaboration with Editions Verve, Paris, this iconic book is a curated collection of Cartier-Bresson’s finest work from his early years. Recognized as one of the pioneers of street photography, Cartier-Bresson displayed an unparalleled ability to artfully capture the poetry of everyday life through his lens. The coining of the term “The Decisive Moment” by Cartier-Bresson encapsulates a transformative concept in photography. Published in English under the same title, the term refers to a formal peak wherein all elements within the photographic frame harmoniously converge to create the perfect image. This concept became a guiding principle for photographers, emphasizing the significance of seizing spontaneous and fleeting moments that reveal the true essence of a scene or subject. Simon and Schuster’s collaboration with Editions Verve underscores the international acclaim and impact of Cartier-Bresson’s work. The book’s influence extends across generations of photographers, shaping the very fabric of the art form. Its English title, synonymous with achieving photographic perfection, highlights the meticulous approach Cartier-Bresson brought to his craft. What sets Cartier-Bresson apart is not only his technical prowess but also his humanist viewpoint. His photographs transcend mere documentation, capturing the profound beauty inherent in ordinary moments. The images within “The Decisive Moment” serve as visual poems, evoking a deep connection to the human experience. Through his lens, Cartier-Bresson invites viewers to appreciate the inherent artistry found in the ebb and flow of daily life. The book’s enduring legacy goes beyond its immediate impact; it has become an integral part of the world’s collective memory. Cartier-Bresson’s ability to pair technical mastery with a profound understanding of the human condition has left an indelible mark on the art of photography. His work continues to inspire and influence contemporary photographers, reminding them of the timeless power embedded in the decisive moment.

In conclusion, “The Decisive Moment” is not merely a collection of photographs; it is a manifesto that has shaped the philosophy of photography. Cartier-Bresson’s legacy lives on as a testament to the enduring significance of capturing the fleeting beauty inherent in our surroundings, a legacy that has earned its place as an A-star contribution to the rich tapestry of photographic history.

Nostalgia is a sentimentality for the past and is usually triggered by something reminding an individual of an experience from the past. It is often characterized as a longing or desire to return to a former time or place.

Nostalgia can also be thought of as “the memory of happiness,” as it is often associated with happy memories from the past. It can be a source of comfort in times of sadness or distress. However, nostalgia is not just about happy memories; it can also be about longing for a time when things were simpler, or for a time when we felt more connected to others.

The mood board below is of actual images that someone has taken which reminds them about nostalgia.

I feel that Will Lakemans exhibition represents the theme of Nostalgia As he explained that when he was creating the images he made them from his memory and his senses. He said that he had a conative issue described synaesthesia (a perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway.) this makes him get his senses mixed up when he gets over stimulated due to him having autism, This can be seen in his images as they are very bright and unrealistic compared to other photographers. He did this by using Artificial intelligence to give them more of an imaginative and surreal look to them. His AI images are repsentative of dreams as they don’t make much sense to the naked eye without the context behind them. Will talked about how he always wanted to turn his dreams into a visual experience for his audience, as he didn’t like listening to other peoples dreams due to them not making much sense and being boring.

The image above is created by Wills memory of there being a small and dirty pool that customers had to step in to clean their feet before they went into the pool. He created this by using AI to get a realistic look into what he remembered. I thought this image really linked back to his them of nostalgia as he described to us that when he talked to other people about this small pool they remembered it to be brown due to all of the dirt that people bring in with their feet, While having this knowledge Will still decided to give the pool a purple tint to it in this image as he wanted to recreate the way that he remembered it.

Over all I enjoyed his exhibition as I haven’t seen many pictures created by AI. I also Liked how they all where made from his memory even though they are not all repsentative of what Fort regent was actually like when he was younger but yet gives him a nostalgic feeling.

For my images below I Printed them out on either A3 or A4 glossy paper stuck them on a foam board using a spray glue to create a levitating look to them and then cut them out so they have a boarder around them. Then I positioned them onto Black/White card. I used the pictures that I found work well together and are similar in style. And for the Pictures that are on their own I felt had a more individual feel to them and didn’t fit well in a group.

For the image below I did a large window mount.

How successful was your final outcomes?

I Feel that my final outcomes are what I was achieving at the start of the project so I think that they are successful in how I captured the modern day pressures on both genders. And how the stereotypes for girls is that they are meant to be soft and emotional where as boys are meant to look masculine and have contrasting qualities to female’s such as being independent and decisive with having an idealistic strong figure and stance.

What references did you make to artists references – comment on technical, visual, contextual, conceptual?

For my references I looked at Anna Gaskells work For my femininity shoot due to her using multiple different females to create a utopian reality by exploring imagination and creativity. I felt that her work really linked to femininity as the girls in her photoshoot wore old dresses and shoes which I feel explored fashion in history and what girls where required to wear in contrast to the 20th century. I also like how she uses more pastel colours in her photos as it gives them a softer tone and warmth to them. For my second photoshoot it was a last minute idea as my brother and his friend came to my house, This means that I wasn’t inspired by a photographer and just went off what I thought would look good.

Is there anything you would do differently/ change etc?

Next time I would put more preparation into my Masculinity shoot as I wasn’t sure if I was defiantly able to do it due to my brother and his friends schedule. I feel that if I researched a photographer that takes similar photos to my shoot I would of had more a sense about what I was doing and someone to base my work off of. I also should of used sandpaper to sharpen the edges of the foam board before I stuck them down on the black card.

Art Steps

This is my Virtual gallery for my Femininity photoshoot. I did this by uploading my images onto the website art steps and then positioning them around the gallery.

This is my virtual gallery for my masculinity shoot for this I used darker frames to fit with the images better.