1. Research a photo-book and describe the story it is communicating  with reference to subject-matter, genre and approach to image-making.

2. Who is the photographer? Why did he/she make it? (intentions/ reasons) Who is it for? (audience) How was it received? (any press, reviews, awards, legacy etc.)

3. Deconstruct the narrative, concept and design of the book and apply theory above when considering:

• Book in hand: how does it feel? Smell, sniff the paper.
• Paper and ink: use of different paper/ textures/ colour or B&W or both.
• Format, size and orientation: portraiture/ landscape/ square/ A5, A4, A3 / number of pages.
• Binding, soft/hard cover. image wrap/dust jacket. saddle stitch/swiss binding/ Japanese stab-binding/ leperello
• Cover: linen/ card. graphic/ printed image. embossed/ debossed. letterpress/ silkscreen/hot-stamping.
• Title: literal or poetic / relevant or intriguing.
• Narrative: what is the story/ subject-matter. How is it told?
• Structure and architecture: how design/ repeating motifs/ or specific features develops a concept or construct a narrative.
• Design and layout: image size on pages/ single page, double-spread/ images/ grid, fold- outs/ inserts.
• Editing and sequencing: selection of images/ juxtaposition of photographs/ editing process.
• Images and text: are they linked? Introduction/ essay/ statement by artists or others.  Use of captions (if any.)

UNDERSTANDING PHOTOBOOKS:
NARRATIVE, EDITING, SEQUENCING, DESIGN, FORM, FUNCTION 

Mother- Matthew Finn.

INFORMATION:

HARDBACK= 280MM x 200MM

ISBN= 978-1-911306-14-6

PAGES= 96 PAGES

LANGUAGE= ENGLISH

PUBLISHER= DEWI LEWIS PUBLISHING

PUBLICATION DATE= NOVEMBER 7, 2017

DIMENSIONS= 11.46 X 0.63 X 9.45 INCHES

ITEM WEIGHT= 1.6 POUNDS

INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHER MONOGRAPHS= BEST SELLER RANK NO. 3195

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY= BEST SELLER RANK NO. 5823

Matthew Finn Qualifications.

• MA Photographic Studies (University of Westminster)
• BA Photographic Studies (University of Derby)

Matthew Finn Teaching.

• BA (Hons) Photography at Arts University Bournemouth
• BA (Hons) Photography at Lincoln University
• BA (Hons) Photography at University of Wolverhampton
• MA Fine Art at University of Wolverhampton

Matthew Finn Awards.

Jerwood/Photoworks Award- 2015

1. Research a photo-book and describe the story it is communicating  with reference to subject-matter, genre and approach to image-making.

This book is a representation of Matthew Finn’s mother, Jean. He decided to photograph her in her home in Leeds in order to record and document her life as she ages and lifestyles change. The photos are reflecting a meaningful and touching overview of parents dealing with loneliness, old age and death. The bond between mother and son is also displayed throughout as relationships change and evolve through time. The quote “For my mother and I, this switch of roles was quick. Diagnosed with mixed dementia two years ago, she fell silent and our collaboration was over. I no longer exist to her and she cannot recognise herself. What remains are these pictures” demonstrates how mental issues and illnesses can both affect the person but also those closest to them. Adaptation to lifestyle changes cause emotional damage and this book was created to explore and spread a message about the fragility of life and how domestic changes affect a child. Creating images of his mother became a routine and a comfort to Matthew Finn as a way to appreciate and remember his mother throughout difficult times in their life. Small aspects of his mothers personality and style are repeated throughout such as her hair and significant clothing she treasured. The feeling of needing to protect and support his mother is reflected throughout. After being diagnosed with dementia, his images were no longer able to be captured, so this book is used as a way to reminisce and remember his mother as her true self before illness. The quote “I’ve lived a good life” demonstrates how no matter what hardships and obstacles his other has faced, she is still grateful and positive about the life she has lived.

2. Who is the photographer? Why did he/she make it? (intentions/ reasons) Who is it for? (audience) How was it received? (any press, reviews, awards, legacy etc.)

I chose to research this specific photobook as I believe it contrasts the work I am currently studying of Helmut Newton. My chosen photographer of Helmut Newton, demonstrates high-quality, glamourous fashion images used to promote clothing and products, whereas in contrast, these images focus on the documentation of the life of the older generation and highlight the not so glamourous and idealistic aspects of life. The models displayed in Helmut Newton’s images are photographed for fame, money and attention, whereas Matthew Finn’s mother was photographed as to be photographed is to be appreciated, to be seen and wanted which is an activity where his mother could feel needed and was able to express herself by taking role in what looked good and what she didn’t like. I find it very interesting that Matthew Finn did not mean for his project to become so meaningful and important to him as when he began photographing his mother he believed he created the book “Because she was there! I was about 16 in 1987. I’d just become seriously interested in photography and needed people – things – to take pictures of,” I find this particularly inspiring as something so basic as needing someone to photograph became a popular and touching lifelong project which highlights moments of hope, struggle and frailty are conveyed through Finn’s unceasingly compassionate filial gaze. The photographs are not portraits in the usual sense of the word, yet they are an account of a life, a deeply humanistic response to a set of human circumstances. Whilst viewing this piece of art the audience is able to join the photographer and his mother on a journey of life and how his mother has aged and how some particular habits never die out. These images may relate to viewers and help to consider the meaning of life an dhow their own parental figures have a larger and more significant role in their life than they’d think. By sharing these images, Matthew Finn is displaying only one journey of a single, aging parent in Britain, which represents a certain social class and culture. However, In reality multiple social classes, ethnicity and types of people all still deal with grief, loneliness and solidarity throughout life, especially in such a crucial stage of life such as motherhood.

Photo-Layout.

Matthew Finn’s book layout consists of a hardback book containing a beginning page of wallpaper from his mothers home. This beginning page creates an immediate homely, calm feeling of a mothers comfort and how even though he no longer lives in that house, the wallpaper will immediately remind him of childhood nostalgia and looking back. It is then followed by the title of the book ‘Mother’ and the photographers name “Matthew Finn”, followed by a signed signature personally by the author and the publisher in a small font below.

The book then continues to a small 2 page explanation of touching moments in his mothers life such as different times he has taken images of her over the 30 years and how this project was not carefully ordered material but in fact a need to create stability and a ritual that he was not able to abandon. This essay helps to introduce the reader into the images there are going to view and provides an overview to the love, loss and hardship his mother faced throughout the period of 30 years he photographed her in her home. By doing this, the reader will feel a sense of familiarity and care for the mother and sympathise or empathise with the emotions and struggles she faced, alongside the happy and positive moments she shared with her son.

His book then consists of around 90 images of his mother which are displayed as single images, double page images and occasional images with a white border around them. However, these three formats create a theme throughout the book as all the images are presented similarly but differ slightly.

I can see this because in some images she is looking and posing or the camera whilst smoking, talking, writing, drinking cooking or cleaning. This demonstrates her daily duties in her life and her routine in life at her household. and in others she is mid-motion and not looking at the camera.

The majority of the images are of the woman herself, however, some of the images are of her possessions and objects in her home such as picture frames, her sofa, tables and rooms. These images are to show her possessions and how they have meaning and purpose in her life as memories and comfort items.

The title ‘Mother’- is a straightforward, to the point title highlighting who and what the book is about. The word mother immediately displays to the reader that the person is a parental figure who is an important part in the artists life. The narrative is a story of his mothers life throughout the 30 years and how her physical appearance has changed and how she can been affected by old age and illness. The photos have a trend of candid or documentary photography styles. The structure consists of a concept and narrative of basic everyday life, but instead romanticises a comfort with everyday routine and how her life goes on despite outside events. All the photos are in black and white which is a trend amongst them all as it shows they are all equal and of equal matter. It also shows a more solemn and dismal view as the dark tones show a sense of loneliness and sadness which the mother experiences. Although the images are taken along 30 years the editing of black and white are all similar although technology has evolved massively over time.