Introduction (250 words): Reflect on the origin of photography and describe in your own words the difference between the two photographic processes, Daguerreotype and Calotype. Consider how they could be viewed as either a mirror or a window of the world according to John Szarkowski’s thesis. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s text and comment if you agree or disagree.
Read John Szarkowski’s introduction and review by Jed Pearl- and select 3 quotes form each that is relevant to your essay
–“Is it a mirror reflecting a portrait of the artist who made it, or a window, through which one might better know the world”.
Select two images, one that represent a mirror and another that represents a window as examples to use in your essay.
Use some of the key words that you listed above to describe what the mirrors and windows suggest.
My Top 3 Quotes:
“The photograph is seen either as a mirror- a romantic expression of the photographers sensibility as it projects itself onto the things and sights of this world; or as a window- through which the exterior world is explored in all its presence and reality”
Paragraph 1 (250 words): Choose an image that in your view is a mirror and analyse how it is a subjective expression and staged approach to image-making. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s thesis and another from Jed Pearl’s review which either supports of opposes Szarkowski’s original point of view. Make sure you comment to advance argumentation in providing a critical perspective.
Paragraph 2(250 words): Choose an image that in your view is a window and analyse how it is an objective expression rooted in a sense of realism. Choose one quote from Szarkowski’s thesis and another from Jed Pearl’s review and follow similar procedure as above ie. two opposing points of view and commentary to provide a critical perspective.
Conclusion (250 words): Refer back to the essay question and write a conclusion where you summarise Szarkowski’s theory and Pearl’s review of his thesis. Describe differences and similarities between the two images above and their opposing concepts of objectivity and subjectivity, realism and romanticism, factual and fiction, public and private.
What are the differences between photographs that are WINDOWS and MIRRORS.
Windows include perspectives and ‘show the world as it is’. They invite the person looking to view an outside experience. They also capture life from a distance and promote curiosity and wonder about ‘the outside’.
Mirrors incorporate a reflection which may show a persons mood, feelings and personality. It also portrays specific moments and experiences which reflects a persons identity or story through a mirror image.
Window photographs open up the world for exploration, while mirror photographs invite personal reflection and connection.
John Szarkowski
My favourite quote –“Is it a mirror reflecting a portrait of the artist who made it, or a window, through which one might better know the world”. This is saying that mirrors reflect the society we are in and can reflect a lot about us and how we do things. “Mirrors” are photographs through which a photographer is trying to tell us how he feels about himself. The study of texts that reflect their own identities, experiences and motivations. They also provide insight into the identities, experiences and motivations of others.
“A mirror – a romantic expression of the photographers sensibility as it projects itself on the things and sights of this world; or as a window- through which the exterior world is explored in all its presence and reality” – JOHN SZARKOSKI
The Mirror and Window Analogy.
“MIRRORS AND WINDOWS has been organised around Szarkowski’s thesis that such personal visions take one of two forms. In metaphorical terms, the photograph is seen either as a mirror – a romantic expression of the photographer’s sensibility as it projects itself on the things and sights of this world; or as a window – through which the exterior world is explored in all its presence and reality.”
Mijanou and friends from Beverly Hills High School spending their Senior Beach Day at Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles. Mijanou won the title of “best physique” at Beverly Hills High.
Lauren Greenfield photographs acclaimed chroniclers of youth culture. These photographs reveal insight into the daily lives and rituals of women. Her photos range from extreme to more genuine photographs. She photographs girls of all ages from pre-schoolers to post-grads, with a multitude of different jobs. The thing I admire most about Lauren Greenfield’s work, is her exploration of the peer pressure, exploitation and sexualisation which women experience, and how it may effect their emotions of self-worth.
This photo demonstrates a girl who is not especially rich, but her friends are. The girl is dealing with the pressures of the world, and struggling with keeping up with it all. However, due to her beauty, she is able to enter the popular, higher class group of people. However, she believes in substance over beauty and did not want to be included only for her looks and instead for her personality. This creates a mirror in the image as the main character in the photograph is seeking more than what the eye can see. This photo is a mirror as…
Two people are looking at each other like a reflection. There is 2 cars next to each other and 3 people in each car.
2. It is also a mirror metaphorically as It is reflecting the girls place and feelings in the group as she is unfocused and shows the lifestyle of Los Angeles an how young people grow up quickly under the influence of Hollywood.
Window Image:
Child with a toy hand grenade in Central Park, N.Y.C.
Diane Arbus was an American photographer best known for her intimate black-and-white portraits.
This image of young Colin Wood, a skinny boy is stood in Central Park holding a toy grenade in his hand. is seen as ‘iconic’ as it shows the tension between childhood fun and violence, this photo is highly celebrated due to its historical attributes. This photo is a window into the boys life and also a window from childhood innocence and silliness, into adult danger, death and aggravation through war. America’s historic transition from isolationism of the 1950s to the turmoil that would emerge in the late 1960s and 1970s is portrayed in this image.
An iconic image that embodies the awkward tension between childhood tomfoolery and primal violence, this has become one of the most celebrated photographs in the history of the medium. America’s historic transition from the complacent isolationism of the 1950s to the socio-political turmoil that would emerge in the late 1960s and 1970s seems to seethe beneath the surface of this image, underscoring Arbus’ prescience and intuitive understanding of her time.
My first favourite topic we studied in November 2023 was lighting techniques in the studio. I particularly liked photographing people and my friends and then further editing whilst developing new skills on Adobe Lightroom.
Rembrandt Lighting– Rembrandt lighting is characterized by an illuminated triangle under the eye of the person, particularly on the less illuminated side of the face. It’s a popular technique because it creates images that look both dramatic yet natural.
Butterfly Lighting– Butterfly lighting is a lighting technique used by photographers where a light source such as a flash head is placed right above and ever so slightly in front ‘an exact 45-degree angle’ of the models face. This creates a small butterfly-shape made from a shadow under the nose. This technique is often used to make the model look thinner and their eyes look larger.
Chiaroscuro Lighting– Chiaroscuro was a compositional device developed by Ugo da Carpi, however high renaissance artists Leonardo da Vinci was found out to have also helped to ‘pioneer’ the creation of Chiaroscuro lighting. Chiaroscuro is a renaissance painting technique which means “light-dark” in Italian. The theory of Chiaroscuro is that it is alwaysbest achieved by the effect of light falling on the model/ subject however it must also allow the shade to give two-dimensional figures a sense of volume.
This method of photography also helped me gain knowledge on tools used during photographs which I did not know were necessary. these photography tools called ‘reflectors‘ help to redirect light onto my model, I must remember that it does not It doesn’t create any light but it will move and redirect light that is created by a flash head create fill light and lessen shadows.
Portraiture and Experimenting with Colour.
During this topic particularly enjoyed using different models and using a honeycomb head and a snout head on the lights. I had one person standing next to the lights and holding the coloured gels. I wanted this person to be interchanging with multiple colours such as pink, purple, red, blue, yellow, white and green. I loved experimenting and having my models use different expressions and facial expressions to display their emotions. I wanted my photos to convey a sense of ‘false identity’ and mystery as they could possibly show the persons real ‘self’ or ‘story’.
This project also then extending my editing skills on Adobe Photoshop, as I experimented with different layering and colours to create a picture. I really enjoyed working with brightness opacity and colour settings to create optical illusions through my images. I really like this double exposure effect for my photos and I think it helps improve their meaning behind it.
Edits:
Experimenting with colour has helped me when doing the editing process of my images and how these different colours can reflect different moods and emotions in a piece of work through the characters.
Romanticism and The Sublime.
I really enjoyed researching and learning more about the history behind Romanticism and The Sublime, however I slightly struggled with the concept of creating photos to convey the concept of these eras in photography and art.
Romanticism– An artistic and intellectual movement which originated in Europe. Artists have been painting the landscape since ancient times. Wall paintings of landscapes were also created by the Greeks and the Romans. After the Roman Empire, people temporarily stopped appreciating pure landscapes and the landscapes were seen only as a setting for religion. This carried on until around the 16th century, then artists began to truly appreciate landscape as an important subject. Landscape first became popular in The Netherlands and people began to use it for painting, this worked perfectly for middle class protestants seeking art for their homes and wanting unique pieces of artwork.
The sublime– A combination of the internal/emotional and the external/natural world. It explores how humans allow our emotions to overwhelm our rationality as we experience the wonder of creation. It can also be described as the quality of greatness in multiple ways such as physically, morally, intellectually, metaphysically, aesthetically, spiritually and artistically. The term especially refers to a ‘greatness beyond all possibility’ of calculation, measurement, or imitation.’
My Mood Board.
Femininity and Masculinity.
Overall, I believe my favourite subject we have studied in photography was Femininity and Masculinity. This is due to the fact It is a fascinating topic for me and I really enjoyed researching different artists and photographers who dedicate their career to these themes and topics amongst gender and identity. For example:
Cindy Sherman:
This photographer takes the topic of Feminism and how women are domesticated. Her work on ‘Untitled Film Stills‘ particularly influenced me to attempt to replicate some of her photos for myself. These images encapsulate the images of femininity that, through the media culture of movies, had a hold on America’s collective imagination at the time.
My Mood Board.
Edits:
Femininity and masculinity, self-expression, gender stereotypes and identity is a subject I would like to revolve my personal study around. Due to the fact I have learnt lots about Cindy Sherman, Identity politics and culture wars. I believe this will help me to convey my ideas and portray the message I am attempting to create. I really enjoyed using historical context to produce a photoshoot that looks like its from the past.
The origin of photography originated in 1822 where Nicéphore Niepce created a photography technique named heliography. Since this phenomenon, multiple interpretations of photography have also been discovered. Such as the process of the Daguerreotype created by Louis Daguerre, is created after capturing the image exposing it to mercury vapor which brings the visible image to life. There was also another significant photographic process in history named the Calotype created by Henry Fox Talbert. The Calotypes is a negative-positive process which is also known as the ‘paper negatives’, created by using different light sensitive chemicals and salts such as silver nitrate and silver chloride. These Calotypes differed from the Daguerreotypes due to people in the photos looking ‘on the edge of being present’ and seen as looking not quite alive due to a low sharpness and graininess, this caused a loss of fine detail. Whereas Daguerreotypes being very detailed and clear, making them stand out amongst other images. I believe that Daguerreotypes represent ‘mirrors’ in a multitude of ways. This is due to the fact the images produced by Louis Daguerre are very reflective and change when exposed to different angles of view. This is very well symbolized through the sharply defined one-of-a-kind photographs on silver-coated copper plates. They are also usually packaged behind glass and kept in protective cases like a mirror is. I also believe Calotypes signify windows as these images were mainly popular due to the fact they captured a moment in time, this relates to windows as whilst looking through a window you are witnessing a moment in time that will never occur again. Like the camera viewfinder, windows frame our view of the world. We see through them and light enters the window so that we can see beyond. This idea is supported through the quote “The photograph is seen either as a mirror- a romantic expression of the photographers sensibility as it projects itself onto the things and sights of this world; or as a window- through which the exterior world is explored in all its presence and reality” 1 I believe there is a direct contrast within the concept of windows and mirrors due to the fact tableau focuses more on picturesque or dramatic effect and appear absorbed whereas documentary photography focuses more on straightforward and accurate representationthrough reality not fantasy.
Paragraph 1
Mijanou and friends from Beverly Hills High School spending their Senior Beach Day at Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles.1
This image is a mirror due to the framework and people posing that have been used to produce it. This photo demonstrates a girl who is not especially rich, but her friends are. The girl is dealing with the pressures of the world and struggling with keeping up with it all. However, due to her beauty, she is able to enter the popular, higher-class group of people. However, she believes in substance over beauty and did not want to be included only for her looks and instead for her personality. This photo creates a mirror in the image as the main character in the photograph is seeking more than what the eye can see. This also demonstrates tableau photography as the models are arranged in a certain way to create a dramatic effect on the viewer, simply by posing and displaying in a potential stage-like setting. The photographer Laura Greenfield photographs acclaimed chroniclers of youth culture. These photographs reveal insight into the daily lives and rituals of women. Her photos range from extreme to more genuine photographs. She photographs girls of all ages from pre-schoolers to post-grads, with a multitude of different jobs. The thing I admire most about Lauren Greenfield’s work, is her exploration of the peer pressure, exploitation and sexualization which women experience, and how it may affect their emotions of self-worth, these themes can also be reflected through tableau photography. This topic she explores is clearly demonstrated through her photographs due to the specific scenes she chooses which show the hardships women face throughout life. I chose this photograph especially as it portrays a mirror metaphorically as it is reflecting the females place and feelings in the group as she is displaying how young people grow up quickly under the influence of Hollywood. A quote from John states “the difference between the thing that is shown in a photograph or the subject of the photograph and the photograph is the actuality in the acceptance of fact by the photographer”2 this quote particularly inspires me as it reinforces the idea that the photograph might be more important than the thing itself and how every person interprets a photograph differently. This relates to a photo being a window as the image will act metaphorically as a window for the viewer to look through and create an opinion on it immediately.
Paragraph 2
Bandits’ Roost, 59 1/2 Mulberry Street- Artist Jacob Riis.3
This image demonstrates a ‘Window’ due to the fact it demonstrates an objective expression of darkness, sombre and danger rooted in a sense of realism. The slum in which it was photographed is named ‘The Bend’ which is known well for being filled with abuse and murder being a casual everyday occurrence. After viewing this photo, the viewer automatically feels a sense of uncomfortable and uneasy feelings as the ‘gang’ portrayed in the photo looks eerily at the camera leaning on curbs and stairs, having a not-so-welcome atmosphere. The photo also includes a woman with her child, leaning out the window, this makes the photograph even more sinister and unsettling as the idea of innocent and helpless people may face the idea of being killed due to it being a common occurrence in this area. This creates a ‘Window’ or documentary style photograph as the viewer can easily see through the photograph a sense of poverty and desperation for safety and security whilst also revealing the terror and the sorrowful lifestyle of urban immigrants facing the Mulberry Street ‘bandits’. John Szarkowski’s words “A window is a device that invites the outside world in”4, explain how windows serve as both literal and metaphorical frames in photography. This also explores how windows connect the interior world with the exterior world. This idea of ‘Windows’ through photography explores photography allowing observation and interaction with the outside environment through a picture. This relates to Bandits’ Roost as the camera lens with a slight vignette style, accompanied with the harsh light and ‘haphazard’ compositions convey the chaos of living in poverty.”
Conclusion.
In conclusion, both of my chosen images represent the way photographs can be both ‘mirrors’ and ‘windows’ of the world as they represent human experiences and viewpoint of the world and how they are affected by issues. John Szarkowski’s theory of photography as a reflection of the Photographer’s Inner world and being a window onto the world overall, continues to create an impact and shape multiples opinions on understanding the variety of ways in which photography can engage with both the world and the self. Although Pearl might highlight the limitations of Szarkowski’s approach, he also highlights how the rise of digital photography has changed images as photos can be manipulated, layered and changed due to how images are created and consumed in the modern day. Although both of my chosen images demonstrate the ideology of ‘windows’ and ‘mirrors’ effectively, I believe the second photograph, (Bandits’ Roost, 59 1/2 Mulberry Street- Artist Jacob Riis) which portrays a well- known neighborhood famous for poverty, crime, and overcrowding, is a stronger demonstration of the metaphorical term ‘window’. The photograph demonstrates a powerful statement about the need for urban reform. This use of displaying the harshest of conditions serves as a tool for social justice, by documenting these conditions as an advocate for change. Although the first image ( Mijanou and Friends- Laura Greenfield) also demonstrates a powerful message of women’s’ lives and how they differ from men’s, I believe Bandits’ Roost conveys a more ‘real’ message as It captures a moment of social reality without any sense staging or preparation compared to tableau photography, I like how it is an example of pure documentary realism.
3 images that are documenting reality – ‘windows of the world’
3 images that are staging reality – ‘mirrors of the world’.
A window is a resource that offers you a view into someone else’s experience. A sliding door allows the viewer to enter the story and become a part of the world. A mirror is a story that reflects your own culture and helps you build your identity.
Documentary– Windows
Realism-A way of thinking and acting based on facts and what is possible, rather than on hopes for things that are unlikely to happen.
Factual-Something that is factual is concerned with facts or contains facts, rather than giving theories or personal interpretations.
Public– Public means relating to all the people in a country or community
Candid-. free from reservation, disguise, or subterfuge; straightforward.
Ewen Spencer
Ewan Spencer’s work is primarily of youth and subcultures which I find fascinating and appropriate for my age group. His work started as he photographed shows from their first UK tour onwards, including candid backstage photographs. He has now mostly moved to capturing the ‘grime’ music scene in London. I like how how much these photos are rich in detail and almost make the viewer feel like they are there at the scene. Although I would like my photos to differ slightly as they display the mayhem and emotions that you feel in that scene by using a longer exposure to show more blurry and hazy pictures which make the viewer feel more 1st person as if they are there amongst all the people.
Tableaux– Mirrors
Romanticism– Romantics celebrated the spontaneity, imagination, and the purity of nature. Along with these elements it also incorporated a deep feeling of emotion as an authentic source of experience which put new emphasis on emotions such as apprehension, horror and terror, and awe.
Fiction– A fiction isa deliberately fabricated account of something. It can also be a literary work based on imagination rather than on fact, like a novel or short story.
Staged– Contrived for a desired impression. It was a staged, rather than spontaneous, demonstration of affection. Something that has been ‘set up’ manually to create a certain message.
Sarah Jones
I have been particularly drawn to the work of Sarah Jones due to the fact she focuses on topics such as art history, as psychoanalysis, adolescence, and the Victorian period. This interests me as It is easy to replicate myself around the topic of adolescence, loneliness and confusing surrounding he topic of ‘growing up‘. Jones enjoys photography for its capability to scrutinize something, freezing a moment to look more closely at it. Her work is also Jones’ images are narrative in nature, and she is interested in how a narrative is constructed. I also would like to take into consideration, the format in which Sarah Jones photographs. By using the square format of a standard 150 x 150 cm, this makes this photos unique as they are a specific shape and size.
I also like this aspect to her photography and I think I would enjoy attempting to replicate these photographs. I would put them into this black and white format.
Editing Practice.
In Adobe Lightroom, I have experimented with black and white editing, whilst having a beige/yellow tint to it, In case I decide this is the approach I would like to take when editing my photos. This has helped me to develop my skills when editing. However, I think the photoshoot I may go with is the Sarah Jones work on adolescence and identity as I feel this is easier to convey a story through my work.
Be creative and use this opportunity to experiment with ideas or approaches to image-making that you might want to extend further in your Personal Study. The expectation is that you make a set of images during the lesson using the school environment (inside or outside) creatively. The photographic studio is also available where you can explore different ideas using different lighting techniques…Rembrandt lighting…Butterfly lighting…Chiaroscuro…reflected light…coloured gels etc.
Photoshoot 1 Planning–
I would like my two female models to pose in similar poses and I would like to do a photoshoot that gives a feeling of darkness and miserableness as this is the feeling I feel Sarah Jones’ work conveys. For this I am choosing my two friends to pose in settings such as bedrooms, living rooms and bathrooms around my house. I want my photos to differ from Sarah’s work slightly and I want them to be less bright and eye-catching, and more deep and meaningful through lighting.
I have chosen to have a blue tint to my photos as sadness has been associated with blue since the 1600s around the world. blue represents sadness or melancholy, which is why I’ve chosen it to further portray my narrative and tell my story about isolation and loneliness.
For Example, In Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ The main colour of blue helps to show the intention of the picture of as the meaning can be derived from the large cypress tree which is a symbol of graveyards, mourning, and death. This helps to encapsulate the essence of human emotion and creativity. Van Gogh used the different blues in the sky to show his emotion. I found this information from the quote ‘The vibrant blues are a common colour during his bouts of mental illness.’
For this photoshoot I decided to do a Sarah Jones inspired photoshoot. This is because, due to the fact she conveys the idea of ‘tableaux’ photography through her work, it perfectly shows the message I am trying to show.
I found this genre of photography slightly challenging as my models were unsure what poses to demonstrate and how we could produce the message we wanted to show through a few simple pictures. To create my first message I had my models wear pyjamas which are long sleeve and have matching patterns. This is to…
1. Create a feeling of innocence and adolescence/ childhood through the two girls wearing matching sets of patterns which children and young people may wear.
2. Create the feeling of the ‘older times’ from a period of time from the past. After researching nightwear from different era’s, I decided long sleeve matching pattern pyjamas was an effective outfit choice, to show the girls are possibly related but are matching and familiar with one another.
I wanted to pay attention to the fact Sarah Jones’ practice is rooted in art history, and she draws influence from topics such as psychoanalysis, adolescence, and the Victorian period. Due to these facts, I wanted to make my photos of two teenagers (to tie into adolescence) and I also anted my models to have blank expressions on their faces. Due to the fact Sarah’s work ties a lot around ‘psychological theory and therapy that treats mental conditions’ I felt these blank expressions would create an eerie and morbid feel to my photos. I also decided to use a cool tone to edit my photos to create a ‘cold’ and dismal look to my photos, to express the emotion of loneliness and identity confusion.
Definition of Psychoanalysis^^
My Top 4 Images.
My Image.
Sarah Jones’ Image.
This image is my favourite images due to the fact my model on the left is looking straight into the camera with the look of fear, concern and a desperation for help. My other model is sat with a slouched position which shows she is possibly younger or confused with her feelings. I like how they are sat in two different positions as this causes different dimensions in the photo. To improve on this photo, I would like it to be lighter and for the photos to have less of a dark, grainy look to them. However, I would like to play this to my advantage and make these images dark and dismal to convey the models mood through the colours of the photo. Although Sarah’s photographs have a more bright approach with eye-catching colours and colourful objects. I wanted a more tonal background.
My Image.
Sarah Jones’ Images.
These two images are very similar to each other and demonstrate my models feelings and how they are the same but are portrayed differently. This demonstrates tableaux photography as I am attempting to tell a story through my photographs which tie mainly around the themes of feminism and adolescence. My model on the left is showing emotions of conflict and distress through their body language of sitting slouched in a positions as they seek comfort and help. Whereas my model on the right looks like she is attempting to either ‘clear their head’ or think about how to handle a certain situation or feeling that is currently occurring.
My Image.
Sarah Jones’ Images.
My Image.
Jeff Walls’ Image.
I chose for this photo to represent another photographers work named Jeff Wall. I decided to do this one photograph as I particularly like this photograph and how it relates to Tableau photography. I feel that the viewer feels almost immediately connected with this image. This photographer uses Narrative to help the audience understand the concept he is trying to portray in his work. I like this photo as the model is under the table in a position which shows psychological stress and also shows it has been created in a ‘scene’ as they pose in order to show their emotions. This photo shows the true effect of psychological problems and effects they may have on a person and how it alters their day-to-day life.
Overall, I enjoyed this photoshoot and helped me gain knowledge in how I can set up a scene to tell a story through a single photo and attempt ‘Mirrors’ or ‘Tableau photography in my own way, whilst taking inspiration from other photographers and how they can influence my work. I would next like to create a ‘Windows’ or ‘Documentary’ photoshoot, which I feel may be more challenging for me as I feel I will find it more difficult to express candid photography as I prefer a narrative setup where my photos are planned out and specific.
I created my first virtual gallery using an empty gallery image from online. I then imported it into Adobe Photoshop. I then imported 5 images that I felt were relevant to each other and would look effective on a wall together. I decided this was the best arrangement for my photos and I carefully put them in a good order and add a drop shadow and changed the ‘skew’ and ‘perspective’ necessary to make it look 3D.
For this virtual gallery I attempted to put 7 images in one virtual gallery. This was possibly a less effective idea as the wall looks very cramped and too ‘busy’ in my opinion. I then tried two different arrangement in order to see which one looks best. However, next time I would do two separate empty gallery images to import m images, this will make these virtual galleries more high quality and effectively convey the message I am trying to create.
For my zine I am creating a collection of photos of St Helier and Jersey Maritime Museum. I will create this photobook on Adobe InDesign.
Mood board and Ideas.
Here are some examples of Zines previous students have produced that I would like my images to be inspired by. I really like the dark theme which displays the construction and mechanical aspect of Jersey harbours.
My Images Ideas.
These are my selection of images I am going to choose from when creating my zine.
3rd St Aubin’s Harbour Photoshoot.
After arranging images I may want to use, I went and did one more small photoshoot in St Aubin’s harbour to gather more images I may want to use. I decided to attempt to get more close up and in depth images of boats at St Aubin’s harbour.
These are my favourite images out of the photoshoot I took at St Aubins harbour. I will use 3 or 4 of these to use in my Zine.
Design and layout.
I would like my zine’s images to fit the page. I want to include double and single page spreads with no more than one image to a page. I also want this image to completely fill the page with no white gaps as I personally don’t like how it makes the image look. I am attempting to do a 16 page Zine which consists of around 3 double page spreads and the rest being single page spreads.
Narrative and visual concept.
I have printed the photos I would like to use in my Zine and created them into an arrangement that I like. This helps me to visually sort each image into the right place I can also experiment which images to add and not include in my final product. I printed 4 images to an A4 piece of paper in colour to give me a rough overview of what they will look like. I have rearranged them into different orders to see which arrangement looks best.
Format size and orientation.
These are the settings I have used for my Zine, my page size is A5.
Image and text
I have come up with the title of this is because I think it perfectly displays the concept of my Zine in a few words.
Research zines and newspaper designs.
Whilst researching Zines online. I came across a particularly interesting interpretation from the Royal Photographic Society. I also found out that this project was used to encourage the public to go outside and take photographs in order to produce their own Zine. The Zines had to fit with their ‘definition of Landscape which was “Landscape photography is defined as the photographic portrayal of all elements of the land, sea and sky whether natural or built or influenced by human endeavour. “
People were allowed to photograph things such as
Mountains
Hills
Bodies of water
Coasts
Forests
By researching different Zines and organisations I have gained knowledge and understandings on different styles. I particularly like the Zines on landscapes. I also like how these images slightly related to mine and have helped give me inspiration.
Final Layout.
Final Images.
Originally I wanted my front cover to be this image…
However, I decided I could most likely find a stronger and more suitable image for my front cover. So after searching Lightroom I found an image…
I also wanted my front cover to relate to my final page this is so that when the book is being looked at , then the final page is seen and the book is closed, the front page is relevant and similar. For example:
Front cover.Final page.
These two images are both relevant to sailors, employees and fishing. The statue is celebrating sailors and workers, whilst the final page gives a sort-of sense that the sailors have gone to work or finished their work for the day, leaving their boots behind. I felt this would be a good metaphor for the last page.
A spoken or written account of connected events; a story that you write or tell to someone, usually in great detail. This may be fictional or real, it also usually involves characters, a plot, conflict and eventually a resolution to the problem. These narratives typically covey a ‘deeper meaning’ to something.
What is a Zine?
A zine is a small booklet of photographs created by someone or a group of people, they are created using a photocopier or a printer and help to convey self expression, community, creative freedom and encourage a do-it-yourself dynamic. They also help to allow individuals to share their unique perspectives and connect with other people.
What is a Story?
A story is a similar to a narrative in the sense that they both have a plot, setting and characters etc. They also are used to entertain people and covey deeper messages. Stories can help people to share ideas, experiences and emotions and connecting with other perspectives. Storytelling enriches lives and provides a way to understand the world.
What is MY Story?
– 3 words
Unseen, dedication and diligence.
– A sentence
The unrequited effort that is put in to produce food and to keep our Island beautiful.
-A paragraph
My Zine reflects a story of a mixture of the outcome from the effort put in to keep our harbours clean, tidy and charming for citizens and tourists to enjoy. I also wanted to display the hidden work and labour of hundreds of people which is concealed and goes unnoticed. I displayed this element in my zine by showing the not-so-noticed parts such as the equipment, people and uniform. I chose for there to be a mixture throughout of outcomes of the work put in, mixed with industrial side to the harbours of Jersey. I wanted to incorporate close up’s of production materials such as oars, buckets, buoys, boats etc. In a way to attempt to make them look just as interesting and amusing as the amazing sea views.
Mood Board:
This was my mood board of ideas and photos I found of Jersey harbours that I used for inspiration and ideas when taking my own photos.
This was my mood board of photos I took of Jersey harbours that I used in my Zine chose for my final product.
Typography:
I chose the title ‘Mariners’ as I thought It described the people and their work that is done everyday perfectly.
I also then used the words ‘Fair Winds and Following Seas’ as It is another way of saying ‘Good Luck’, I thought this was a wholesome reference which conveyed the peaceful and tranquil community well.
I also used a nice and simple font called Cambria Math. This keeps things easy to read and used a white colour to make it eye-catching and also easy to read as It does not blend in with the background.
