camera obscura and pinhole photography

long before the introduction to photography the idea of it had already existed in the ancient world. this known because the evidence shows that the earliest use of camera obscura dates back to 4th century BC. the ideas traditionally came from places like china and the ancient Greeks. ideas of photography were raised by people such as Mozi a Chinese philosopher. How was camera obscura done? Camera obscura was achieved by setting up in a dark room with a little hole in one of its wall, then light is needed from the outside of the room (daylight from the sun) reflecting an image of the outside world on to the wall opposite the hole in the wall. This method has been used and refined developing it to become more modern in the present. most well known examples of camera obscura would be the following, Leonardo Da Vinci using the method to study proportions an perspective in art, and Athemius of Tralles a Greek mathematician who used camera obscura for his experiments.

photo example of camera obscura

modern day recreations

the first ever picture when was it and is it really the first ever image?

unlike most historic things no one is actually sure of when photography actually started or if we really have found the first ever photo. However its widely believed that the first ever photo was made in 1827, by Nicéphore Niépce.

calotypes and Daguerreotypes

(henry fox talbot)

in 1839, development of photography started with a two step process. Henry fox talbot’s process started by putting images through light an silver chloride coated on paper, this produces a “negative” this invention was seen as groundbreaking. By exposing a little bit of light, over a short period of time these images would turn darker creating what we would call a “negative image” due to it having a limited amount of light in the image. From this process you could then use these images as templates to then create clear images by using chemicals on these papers then you’d be able to numerously print them. This is what we know as Calotypes.

(henry fox talbot example)

Louis Daguerre

the second type, that takes inspiration from  Nicéphore Niépce’s work using heliography, created by Louis Daguerre he used iodine-sensitized silver plate and mercury vapor. The method named after himself the “Daguerreotype” its process of making the image is quite unique. This method creates an image much different in comparison to Henry Fox Talbot as this process helps create a more 3D effect instead of a flat 2D image. despite the more unique image and method of creation the Henry Fox Talbots method would be superior as its was more simplistic making it the easier choice for everyone who wanted to make an image. however, his method would become more popular in the distant future due to the invention of the film camera.

Richard Maddox

Richard Maddox, suggested that sensitizing chemicals, calcium bromide and silver nitrate, would be be coated on a glass plate in gelatin. From this idea, Charles Bennett, made the first gelatin dry plates for the public to purchase, soon after the emulsion of these chemicals could then be placed onto celluloid roll film.

these gelatin plates helped create a revolution in photography. as they were commercially marketed as people bought them as if they were a necessity which helped create an even bigger interest for photography for people among the UK. it also saved time for photographers from having to sit in a dark room to create there images, instead images could have been stored away and developed whenever necessary. his work would also help with the construction of small cameras that could be held with your two hands.

(example of the work that helped create the said camera)

George Eastman

George Eastman was an America entrepreneur born in New York, and invented the first ever kodak camera (this lead to well known photographers such as Ansel Adams and Weegee to using this camera or later installments of it). However before he created the kodak camera he was already an expert in the field of photography as he had mastered the ability to make dry plate for photos. he manufactured these plates in London in factory and established a film company named “Eastman Dry Plate and Film”. This lead to him applying the dry plates process onto film therefore creating the Kodak to which he then made available for the public in 1888.

(this was a marketing poster for the camera when it was first created)

The Kodak Brownie- the camera that made photography accessible

out of all the installments of the kodak camera one of their most important creations was the kodak brownie, this is because it was a user friendly camera for people who weren’t exactly experts with a camera (similar to a camera on a phone) as it was as easy as pressing a button and it would create an image, it also a whole new market of people as photography was mainly for people of the upper class as it was pretty expensive to indulge in photography in its early days however this camera changed that and made it available to people of the middle class. In the 1900s the amount of people that had this camera sky rocketed on a mass scale.

digital photography

with film photography predominantly being used in the 20th century because of George Eastman’s invention it was bound to change with the tech development happening around the world. This lead to Steve Sasson’s invention of the first self contained digital camera for kodak. with this invention it became even more simple for people to use cameras which then obviously lead to modern day cameras being developed into what they are easy to use and accessible to anyone in the world.

(side by side comparison of film and digital camera)

after this a rapid growth in camera development happened from the 1970s up until the modern day

history of jersey photography

Thomas Sutton

Thomas Sutton is a well known photographer he was the first ever photographer to take a colored image by that isn’t the only reason he is well known Establishing a studio in St Brelade in 1848 here he worked alongside another photographer, Frenchman L.D. Blanquart-Evrard were they had a printing establishment. In 1850 this studio was advertised as “founded at the suggestion of, and patronized by, H R H Prince Albert” who was known to be a keen collector of photographs. 

(first ever colored image)

“What is your story?”

Described in 3 words –

Time, Life, Sea

Described in a sentence –

The lives and history’s of those who worked among the Jersey fisheries.

Described in a paragraph –

My Zine will portray a story through pictures, that depict the history and lives of great people, who worked among the fisheries and shores of Jersey. It will show the hard work and dedication that many generations of people and families have lived to get Jersey and its harbours to the incredible place it sits now.

Narrative –

“How will you tell your story?”

My story will be shown through photos that I have taken and meticulously selected to show the story of Jersey’s harbours. My title will help open and grasp the overall idea of my Zine and with small statements to help paint a picture of my story. With careful selection of font and wordplay throughout the zine will help bring everything together and show the viewers of my zine exactly what I want them to see. I have taken inspiration from countless archived photos or zines themself to help guide me on the best possible outcomes for my zines as well.

Sequencing –

I began with thinking about what kind of story I wanted to depict. I wanted to find a focused photo for me to use for my front cover. The photo used on the front and back of the zine helps start and end this beautiful story I wanted to show.

I found establishing shots that I gathered, that I though, even on their own, could show such a powerful story. So, with that idea, if I found a group of establishing shots, how great would my story be if each photo individually, could show their own mini story.

I wanted on each open page for the photo’s I’ve chosen to have a visual relationship, whether that was due to colours or just the nature of each photo. Carefully choosing each photo was a main focus for me during the creation of my zine. I believe that individually photos tell a story but together they can show a life.

The images I’ve chosen gradually depict a story that not only has history but almost shows a life as it unfolds. From photos from a museum to live photos of that life today.

Smaller detailed shots are added throughout the zine to show things in these photos that may usually be overlooked. However to closely look at them is like looking into a hidden window of the past which helps wind my story all together.

Front page-

Why I chose this image- I chose this image because the main subject is water sports which can be seen as significant as it shows an element of enjoyment and humour rather than working boats to allow company’s to operate efficiently. This decreases less tension and creates an element of fun and casual aesthetic which is important for the front cover. However, this image still obtains the working operations in the background such as the harbour and boats to bring supplies in. This makes a contrast of two important things. Another reason is because after I edited the image the left side is more shaded and dark in contrast to the bright sea and sky which shows variation and colour. The dehaze increased made the clouds more emphasised which they are seen as circle shapes, which contrast to the shapes of the canoes.

Page 2- Double page spread:

I decided to chose this image as it shows an element of history and also enjoyment, because these type of boats ( rowing boats) can be used for fishing etc, but also used to be a means of transportation. They were extensively used in the Mediterranean trade. The different colours of boats stuck out to me. To add more potential to this image, I added a heavy grain and a matte filter to make it have more of a historic aesthetic and to make it look like it has been taken from an old camera. I like that it doesn’t say a lot unless fully in depth. I like how they can be seen as an enjoyment sport such as rowing, pleasure or fishing. The origin of rowing began in the earliest regatta was held on 16 September 1274 in Venice, Italy. Which represents the historical aspect of this picture.

Page 3-

I chose these specifically together because the two images contrast well together. The left image’s main subject is fishermen boots hanging from a fishermen’s store room. This obtains some element of a historical factor due to these storage rooms being in Jersey for years, and had many people on a waiting list to gain one. Therefore, I added a heavy grain and a black white filter to give more of an old aesthetic. I think this contrasted significantly to the right image due to the main subject being a fishermen and his profession of catching sea creatures. The main reason why I put these images together is because the right image is modernized and more visible that it is the present due to me keeping it clear when editing, in contrast to the left image. Therefore, these two images relate on a factor, but are also slightly different as they are portraying the same thing, in different times. Within the first image, these cottages for fishermen had been located since the first ever harbour, and colour was still difficult within photography. This is why I made it black and white to emphasize the historical aesthetic, to compare with the coloured modernized image.

Page 4-

I chose this image because there isn’t a lot in it, yet shows a lot. The main subject is visibly the safety boat however in the background there is 3 fishing boats not in use. I liked the vibrant colour of red in contrast to the opposite, blue. This instantly makes the viewer of the image draw their eyes to the safety boat. I put the image on a double side spread to show the environment around it. I added heavy grain to make the image look more vintage and old, but kept the colour to keep it modernized as safety has and always will be a priority. I like the way the sea is highly texturized in contrast to the texturized rocks in the background. As well as the foreground, having a completely different textures and even shapes. This shows a varied image showing different elements in one image.

Page 5 experiment 1-

Page 5 experiment 2- Adding borders

Why did I chose these two images?
I decided my left image for my zine because it shows a story. Not only does this show peoples professions, such as fishermen and selling the sea creatures they sell but it also has an element of the ‘ Decisive moment’. This is because I caught the right moment of the main subject in the centre of the image getting ice. Whereas, although the viewers eye will instantly go to the centre of the image, the man on the right side of the image is still very significant. The background of the image shows the environment and operations needed to operate their employment. The contrast of darker and lighter shades make it have an older aesthetic with deepened shadows. I decided not to make this black and white as I thought the brown and cooler filter made it look more natural to match it with the image, as the image and the people are completely natural. Which is a very big key factors of ‘ Decisive moments’ as people may change their behaviour and mannerisms. I contrasted and compared my left image to my right image because right image shows the harbour and operations on how the harbour works. The harbour is very historical due to it first being built and opened in the 1700’s and this is why I chose to put it in black and white, as photography started in the 1800’s but colour only began in 1861. This is to emphasize how long the harbour has been around to make an old and vintage aesthetic. The high contrast of the clouds and the texturized sea makes the image more interesting and drawing to the eye. The bottom half of the image has significantly dark shades whereas the top half of the image is very light which is obviously separated through the middle. I think both these images matched well as the left shows how it operates in contrast to the operations itself.

Page 6-

I chose the left image as they are sport boats. They are not to operate for an objective like fishermen with rowing boats. Instead, these are for pleasure and enjoyment for ones self. I liked how it shows something other than employment or operations. The contrast of the lighter sky to the dark deepened shadows on the floor is significant. Not only this, but the reflection off the kayaks creates a mystery factor due to the fact as a viewer you cannot see around the main subject, making your eyes only paying attention the centre of the image. In contrast to the right image, I personally believe it is a good match due to the fact these boats in the harbour could be for enjoyment as their main function is not to do something productive. The range of different colours stood out to me, so I kept it in colour. Another reason I kept it in colour was because when St Helier harbour began in the 1700’s the boats that came in were purely to help Jersey operate, such as trades and bringing supplies in etc. Therefore, this image shows how now there is more than that, and how the harbour has modernized. Therefore, these images contrast significantly and show more of a modernized aesthetic and look.

Page 7-

Page 8-

Page 7&8 experiment-

I chose this image because it has many geometrical shapes with different textures and colours. Although it isn’t showing a lot, it is showing the more in depth products on how the harbour operates and potentially even Jersey itself. I put it on a double page spread because the separation of colour between the metal boxes would separate nicely between two pages like so. The contrast of rectangular coloured boxes with a circular black tyre within the centre of the box is very significant and drawing to the eye. The texture of the blue wood to the right almost showing half of a triangle. The darker shade of the left box is significant as the two other boxes are bright and draws your eyes to the vibrant coloured boxes.

Final page-

I chose this image because I liked the way all the rowing boats were very close together with lots of different vibrant colours. I liked the way this image was portrait as it is following the way the boats are going. I think the wooden path on the right side of the boats is very significant due to showing different textures and shapes contrasting with the boats. In the foreground it is showing a different style of boats however, the colourful boats in the fore ground are the main subject and the most eye catching to a viewer. I wanted to make it have an older and vintage aesthetic and to do so I added a heavy grain and a matte coloured filter. I wanted this image to look like it had been taken from an older camera due to the historical factors of rowing boats, not only this but because this was taken in the harbour which had began in the 1700’s. The boats look rather rusty and looks like they have been in use for a while, so changing the style of the image to older definitely emphasises this.

Changing some bleeds-

Adding a title-

Page1 (The front page) – I made it in black and white and put the photo full bleed all over the page with black writing that has an effect on it.

Page2- This is also a double spread but landscape to capture the whole image.

Page3- One of the images is full bleed so you notice that one more and the other one is normal.

Page4- Here is another full page spread of one image, landscape.

Page5- This page has one photograph and the other page has writing about St Helier harbour.

Page6- Has a poem about the harbour on the left and a photograph on the right.

Page7- last page black and white full bleed, just a simple image of the boats with low tide.

About the Zine.

Each of these I did a shoot at St. Helier Harbour because I wanted to show the mix of man-made stuff and nature. I like how the boats and buildings sit next to the water, and I wanted to capture how even busy places can feel quiet sometimes. The lighting was soft and cloudy, which was great because it made everything look calm without harsh shadows. I used a medium aperture (around f/8) so both the boats and the background stayed in focus, giving a good sense of the space. I went for cooler colours like blues and greys to give the photos a chilled, maybe even a bit lonely, mood. I also used lines and symmetry in my shots to show the difference between the solid structures and the more flowing, natural feel of the sea.

There is loads of different tones with being light and dark capturing the sea and the boats all around the harbour- you could say there is a pattern of repetition where by each image is lining and capturing each bit sort of like a sequence.

the ISO to 400 or 800 roughly, but the higher the ISO, the more grainy the image can look as it was a cold and rainy day. However capturing boats in the sunlight or reflections in the water, stick with a low ISO which is what I did.

I used Slow shutter speed to let in more light and can make moving things like water look soft and blurry, giving it a dreamier effect. On cloudy days, things can look bluish. Try switching to the Cloudy setting to warm things up, which is what I did. By adjusting these three settings, you can make sure your photos of St. Helier Harbour capture the mood you want, whether it’s bright and clear, soft and dreamy, or warm and glowing and by doing all of this I captured exactly what I wanted in my images.

Creating a zine about St. Helier Harbour has been a personal and creative project. The harbour, a place I’ve known all my life, provided a mix of old boats, local people, and daily activity that helped me explore my photography in new ways.

I’ve always seen St. Helier Harbour, but photographing it made me appreciate its detail, the old fishing boats, the reflections on the water, and the people working there. Working at the harbour wasn’t always easy especially with unpredictable weather and lighting but it taught me to adapt. I learned patience, waiting for the perfect light or an interesting moment, and focused on capturing the everyday life of the people who work there. Putting together the zine was about more than just taking photos; it was about telling a story. I arranged the photos in a way that takes the viewer on a journey through the harbour. I added handwritten notes to give it a personal touch and make the zine feel like a reflection of my experience.

Conclusion

Overall, this project helped me grow as a photographer by teaching me how to tell a story through images. It also deepened my connection to a place I’ve known for years, allowing me to capture the beauty and life of St. Helier Harbour in a way that feels meaningful to me.

I printed out all of my zine photos onto one big sheet of A3 paper, fitting 18 images to a page. I then cut the images out and laid them onto A4 paper which I had folded to create a small book.

The reason I did this was to create a smaller scale mock-up of my zine so I could see how my images worked together. I was not able to print my images in colour, and the images are of course not to the scale how I would have them in my final print, but I wanted to just create a small mock-up to really see if I enjoyed my storyline and how well it all flowed together. I also have not added my text anchorage to my mock-up because some people will just not even bother with reading the text, so I think this gives me more of a feel of what the real one would be like than if I did add my text.

**I took these photos on my phone and then emailed them to my school account so therefore they may not be the best quality. **

Cover Page

I will have this image fit the whole page and have a title but I think it is a good historic cover page.

1st Page Spread

These images will also have text, and create historic anchorage and cover both pages.

2nd Page Spread

For my second page spread I have kept with the black and white theme, but will include some colour popping to smoothly transition to newer modern photos.

3rd Page Spread

This image will be bigger across the page as a bold statement.

4th Page Spread

This image will be bigger with colour to create a better sharper transition

5th Page Spread

I want this page spread to be the start of the modernisms.

6th Page Spread

I want to use this page spread as a visual, something to make people think rather than just telling them the answer.

7th Page Spread

This will be a very factual page, meaning it will include text with facts about ferry speed and the pier.

Back Page

My last page is more of a loop, a final connection to the cover page.

First, I opened a document using these measurements:

Then, I used the square boxing tool to create the sizing of the image I wanted.

After I selected the image, I could choose the appropriate fitting. I selected ‘Fit Frame Proportionally’ so that the image would size up into the box and be laid out properly. This way, my page wouldn’t look strange and would sit neatly.

The result:

Throughout my work, I could go into display mode so that the resolution would be good and I could see how my work would look physically:

To create my two zines, I added them to the same document by duplicating the spread. This made it easier to manage and also I could compare both of my zines to one another to make sure that they were different and contrasted well so I could represent the harbour from two different perspectives.

In this image, I am duplicating the spread to see which image should go on the left and which image should go on the right. This ensures I can make the page look the best as possible and that the two compositions match up properly.

Overview:

Experimentation:

I experimented with different fonts, sized and text-designs, repositioning them into different angles to see which were best suited to my first page. I did this to ensure that my title was representative of what my zine’s story was about and the narrative I wanted to tell as well as where I actually placed the title so that this wouldn’t look strange on the image.

I ended up choosing this font for my title as it is bold and dark to match the silhouette of the ladder as this is a more modern image.

I chose this font for my second zine as I think that the black outline with the white lettering matches the colour palette of the image really well, and the way that the writing curves matches the structure in the image too.

My Zines layout:

Zine 1:

Zine 2:

ZINE: What is a zine?

A zine is short for magazine, being a self-published piece of work of original or appropriated text and/or images. This is typically used as a form of developing identity by expressing artistic vision about a certain topic. This is non-commercial print-work that is usually produced in small, limited batches.

I will be creating a zine to showcase my best images from my two photoshoots from the harbour and the marina.

In the zine that I produce, it’s important to select the right images and sequence them so that they link with each other and spark a narrative. To create a narrative I will need to convey relationships between the images in my zine but also creating an ideal design through InDesign. I will be experimenting with different layouts and references to the different aspects that surround the harbour, possibly resulting in producing more than one zine.

Once you have considered the points made between the differences in narrative and story and thought about what story you want to tell about St Helier Harbour and the images that that you have made in response, consider the following:

STORY: What is your story?

As I will be making two zines, I need to create a story for each as they represent two different things:

Zine 1:

• 3 words: The fishing culture.
• A sentence: The lifestyles exhibited through the fishing culture.
• A paragraph: The fishing industry is one that is unlike the rest, a culture that is unmatched to any other. The culture of Jersey’s fishing companies entails many different liabilities – the catch, the preparation, the retailing. Whilst this is something that is typically hidden away from the people, pushed to surround the sea, the fishing industry is something that is a crucial part of Jersey’s heritage and history which may go unappreciated if it isn’t revealed.

Zine 2:

• 3 words: Identity of a rower.
• A sentence: The Jersey Rowing Club’s way of life.
• A paragraph: The Jersey Rowing Club is something that isn’t acknowledged very much, being that it is tucked away over one side of the marina, passed by everyday by hundreds of cars. A rowers life consists of strong dedication and willpower that takes years of experience to achieve.

NARRATIVE: How will you tell your story?

Within both of my zines, a big factor I want to convey is the aspect of form because this means I can hone in on particular details of the harbour and marina, not just the simplest and most obvious sections of it. To do this, I am going to use strong directional lines because I feel that this will make my work become more bold and it will add a sense of sharpness to it. As well as this, I feel that using the same colour palette throughout my zines is important because it enables me to link each image to one another, telling the story in a more smooth way. However, I still want to have a sense of ambiguity in my work as this means that the viewer can interpret my work in their own way subjectively. Through my zine, I am not going to use text very much aside from the title because I want the images to speak for themselves instead of being an informative piece so that I can keep this subjectivity in my work, however I will be experimenting with different fonts-types, designs, colours and sizes so that I still involve some graphics too.

Because my first zine is about the fishing industry, this is going to be concerned with the colour blue predominantly as I feel that this is the colour most commonly associated with fishing, therefore this will be most effective as it correlates the most. As well as this, I am going to use more orange and brown tones as accent colours as whilst these are the colours that surround the animals that fishermen actually catch, these tones are often associated with age, for example rust, meaning that this can denote how long these companies have been running at the marina. As my second zine is concerned with the Jersey Rowing club, typically there are not colours associated with the club however I am going to use my images of the equipment, tools and location to create dynamic shapes in my work because I think that this will tell a story about the club in an implicit way, instead of just shooting these objects alone. I want to create a balance of bold block colours alongside pastels to make my work be contrasted against itself, however still continuously running smooth. Alongside this, I want to ensure that my work contains fine details instead of displays of the harbour, for example, because I want to point out the parts of the harbour that people do not typically see of associate with the marina as I think this will be really effective in representing it how it actually is. This will be completed through using depth of field tactics, making the main focal points of my images sharp and precise with the background being blurred, for example with the harbour in the background just out of focus. I think this will work really well in my zine because it ensures the viewer is aware of what my zine is actually about and where it is located, however this means I am not explicitly showing that. I will also be using different structures too to create leading lines in my work as well as shape, whether this may be squares up to ambiguous patterns.

FINAL SELECTIONS:

Initially, I printed out my best and final images and laid them out on the editing table in the photography classroom so that I could envision how my zine would physically look and then, I could piece together my images and see if the compositions would link together smoothly. By doing this, I could use process of elimination to make critical decisions of which images suited my themes and which ones were outliers.

Zine 1 mood board:

Zine 2 mood board:

Front cover:

Page 2:

Page 3:

Page 4:

Page 5:

Page 6:

Page 7:

Page 8:

Page 9:

Back cover:

STORY: 

What is your story?
Describe in:

• 3 words – Industry, History and Normality.
• A sentence – Within St Helier Harbour the Fishing industry prepares and sells the fish, History of the harbour is shared from the locals and sites and Normality is experienced by those living in amongst the boats.
• A paragraph – In the busy area of Jersey’s Harbour, much goes on within small section of Jersey. With Men and Women working hard to provide for the island their work can be seen from within the Jersey’s fishing industry, managing shipping and keeping our harbour areas clean. With such a rich history, Jersey’s past has much to offer, within the harbour this can be seen clearly with the old harbours of long before, reminiscent of events and stories of the past. With places and people such as the Maritime Museum and Captain Brian Nibs, they are here to tell this story of what has come to be of Jersey’s harbour. All though the harbour is busy with its large ships, such as the condors or shipping vessels, the harbour also has some recreational use with the varying personal vessels docked in the harbours many marinas.

NARRATIVE:

 How will you tell your story?

• Images > New St Helier Harbour photographs
• Archives > Old photographs of St Helier Harbour from SJ photo-archive or JEP Photographic Archive
• Texts > Write a short introduction or statement about your picture story, image captions
• Typography > creative uses of words, letters, font-types, sizes

Add a selection of your final 10-16 images as a moodboard/ gallery to the blog post too, including any archive material too.

Some Images I may use:

Some archive Imagery I may include:

Albert Smith’s Photography –

Unknown –

During the Second World War: