I created my InDesign document first and the settings I used are below;
I created 16 pages for my 16 photographs, just like on my prototype booklet.
I used the square selecting tool selected below to chose the size of my image and where I wanted it.
Next, I went to file and place and selected which image I wanted for this page.
Then, I right clicked on the image I had chosen, once it was placed and went to fitting and selected fit frame proportionally. I did this, so that the fitting would be more accurate and the image would fit perfectly within the selected box.
The result.
I could also go into display mode, so I can view my work in high resolution, so that my images were clear. This helped me be able to experiment and see what I did or didn’t like.
Experimentation
Once I had finished inserting my images, I wanted to experiment with my layout and be more brave with my juxtaposition, so I made an alternative layout, where I could swap my chosen images around in the layout.
I experimented with many different orders of my images. I also decided to get rid of some of my images and include one extra different image. I did this, because I wanted the include my landscape images as a full page spread.
Writing Experimentation
Next, I experimented with my text and typography. I experimented with the size of the writing for my title, as well as experimenting with the different fonts and colours of writing. I also had to layout my writing where I wanted it.
I experimented with lots of different font type, but in the end, I decided on ADD, because I think it best suited my zine, as it was the nicest font, but it was also a font that suited the harbour theme, unlike very posh cursive writing would for example.
Next, I experimented with the size I wanted my title and my name. I chose 30pt for my title, because I think it perfectly filled up the negative space at the top of my image. I chose 18pt for my name, because I wanted it to be slightly smaller than my title, but still stand out.
Then, I experimented with the colouring of my writing. I wasn’t able to use darker colours like black, brown, red for example, because the space where my writing is is very dark, so the writing would not be visible. That is why I have chosen to use white for my writing, because it stands out well and looks the best with my front cover and against the dark background.
Finally, I wanted to experiment with adding writing to my images, to explain my narrative.
I experimented with this, but ultimately decided I didn’t want writing throughout my zine, because I wanted my images to speak for themselves, and I didn’t want the writing to distract from my images.
Final Print Out Booklet
Finally, I printed of my images and folded them using a paper bone, so the pages were folded perfectly. Then, I put my images in order and stapled my booklet pages together.
In my zine that I am creating I have experimented with the layout of my images, and using images, which have relationships, so that I am able to create a narrative (story) portraying St Helier Harbour. I also had to create a visually appealing zine in InDesign.
What is a story?
A story is a narrative about people and events, usually including an interesting plot, is a story. A story can be fictional or true, and it can be written, read aloud, or made up on the spot. Journalists write stories for newspapers, and gossips spread stories that may or may not be true.
There are also picture stories, which are the intentional use of pictures and words assembled into a story. You can also have a picture story, without writing.
STORY:What is your story? Describe in:
3 words- ‘Life at the Harbour.’
A sentence- ‘The different elements of the harbour include, fishing, sailing, salting fish, selling fish and so much more.’
A paragraph- ‘At the harbour there was loads of different elements and workers working together, to keep the harbour life running smoothly. There was fishermen, salesmen, sailors, harbour masters and so many more people working together. They had to work together, so they could capture, salt and sell all different types of seafood, as well as transporting goods.’
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
About my Zine
In my zine, I used my images, which I had taken at the harbour, but I also wanted to experiment with old photos of the harbour from different archives, including the JEP Photographic Archive. I wanted to experiment with the archives, so that I could compare today’s harbour and the harbour from a long time ago and present the similarities and differences between them in my photos. However, in the end I preferred my zine with just the new photos of the archive that I had taken, because I thought they had more of a relationship with each other, and I just wanted to be able to present more of my work. I also experimented with different texts on my zine. I experimented with different titles, until finally deciding on, ‘Life at the Harbour.’ I also experimented with different texts inside my booklet, but I ultimately decided I preferred my zine without the writing, because I didn’t want to take attention away from my images, and I believe that the images speak for themselves. Finally, I experimented with typography, using different sizing, fonts, colours etc. for my title.
I used many differing images in my zine, that weren’t necessarily related, but also were, because of what I was trying to portray with my zine. I used images from all over the harbour and images of all the different aspects, eg the workers, the alive crabs, the seafood being sold, the boats docked, the rowing boats and crew etc. I wanted to include all of these images, so that I could present every possible aspect of the harbour, because a day at the harbour is never the same for everyone and I wanted the portray that. In my work I also didn’t add any text other than my title, because I felt the images speak for themselves, but because I also wanted to leave a level of subjectivity for the audience in my work, so the viewer can interpret my work in their own way.
What is a Zine
A zine is short for a magazine and it is a small self-published piece of original work, which can be presented as a booklet or magazine, with appropriate text 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. Photo zines emerged from punk, DIY movements, and underground culture as an alternative way for photographers to showcase their work.
Experimenting with the Archives
Old photos of the harbour
For my zine, I want to experiment with archives of the old harbour and compare them to images I have taken of the harbour in present time. I want to experiment with this, because I think comparing and presenting the differences and similarities between present and past time harbours. This would enable me to create a narrative of the progression of the harbour.
JEP Archive
I also want to experiment with the JEP archives, because they contain images that famous Jersey photographers have taken during their life and time in Jersey. I could also compare my images to these images, and I could also edit my images into black and white, so they are the same as the archives, or I could leave them in colour to create a juxtaposition between my images and really present the differences in the old time harbour images and the new harbour images.
Final Selections
Before starting my zine on InDesign, I printed out 19 images, which were my best images, that also had a relationship with each other. I experimented with the layout and order of my images on the table and finally narrowed my 19 images down to 16 images and chose m final order and layout.
Next, I made a 16 page booklet with 4 pages of plain white paper and folded them all in half. Then, I stuck my images in the booklet in my chosen order, using masking tape. This allowed me to easily experiment with my images and see what my zine would physically look like, before creating it, so that I saved time and it was easier to create my zine.
Mood Board of Selected Images Before Experimentation
I firstly designed a small blueprint of my zine on paper. I chose where my photos would go and which photo would go with another and etcetera and started placing them on InDesign in the places they are mean to be.
I finished putting all photos where they needed to go and started to work on the font of the title.
The font used in my title gives almost a pirate vibe. I thought this was fitting for my zine because not only is it about the harbour itself, it shows a story of the boats and reminds viewers to not only look at the physical side of it but the emotional side that the lives that these people lived.
I matched the theme of the front cover and back cover to show a similarity through the zine too just for some almost comfort.
I created two virtual galleries to display the final images I used within my two zines using ArtSteps. My second gallery however shows a smaller amount of images as some of my images were shared between the two zines:
These were the photos that i thought would create a good story line and show the real life of working around the sea, i collected these photos from the 3 photoshoots i had done, although the maritime photoshoot didn’t help me with this zine it did help me collect ideas for this zine. I did the basic editing on these photos adjusting the levels and curves and maybe making each photo slightly brighter to grab the attention of the naked eye. The idea for the front cover and back cover was to have a simple photo so i could add a good title however the front cover did take up the whole page and i had to add the title at the bottom which did add a cool effect as i added a while outline on the letters. I also added the title on the back cover along with my name to help identify its my work, i really like the back cover as its still related to the topic but is more subtle.
Final Outcome
This was the final outcome for my zine, i really liked how it turned out as at the beginning I didn’t have a vision in mind, When collecting my photos together I tried to put the colours that matched the best together. Also when considering putting certain pictures together I tried to mix what side each photo look best on, which did have an impact. As my photoshoots didn’t go too well I didn’t have many pictures that I liked and wanted to use therefore made some of the pictures take over the whole page. This made these pictures show a great importance. I also tried to get a picture of the surroundings and then next to it a picture of a person doing their job to show what surroundings each person could be in, although this could not be the case for every page for example the last page with the man opening his truck wouldn’t be near some stairs leading the the sea but I thought that the colours and concept of these photos look good together.
Evaluation:
Overall the St Helier topic was quite off putting at the beginning as I didn’t have much interest in it, though after the photoshoot i started to use my imagination to create ideas of what to take pictures, also when creating my zine I started to develop certain story lines, although this topic still hasn’t grown on me it still is interesting to see what people who work around the see do, when doing my first photoshoot I just took pictures of what looked interesting and didn’t have a specific idea or reason for taking what I took. For my second photoshoot, I started observing more of what was around me and what could be a good representation of the sea. I started having more ideas of what the St Helier harbour was and how it had changed throughout the years when given photos and information about when and why it was created. Throughout my research I found it quite difficult to get the right information to look at and this made the topic even more repetitive and dull. I had managed to find some details about the harbour but not much which was quite irritating and made it hard for me when it came to the photoshoots and I didn’t have anything specific to look for. I would say the best photoshoot I had done would have been the maritime museum as it has many funky items inside that explained a lot and helped with my research. There were many examples of what a boat sounded like and what each sound represented and meant, there were interactive activities which helped all of us to engage with the topic and the idea of why we are researching all these things about the harbour. I did like making the zine for this project as I did manage to capture some good pictures to use, I had captured a good set of images that worked well with each other, whether it was the colours or the representation of the images. Although I didn’t quite enjoy this topic it was still a good topic to explore and gain some knowledge on. I did find it hard to capture some good quality images as the harbour isn’t something that I have great interest in, I feel like if I were to do this again I would try and get some inspiration on photoshoots such as using different angles to portray different meanings and find different textures to capture that represent the harbour. I did manage to capture some good quality images but a plan would have helped out more in which direction I was going with these images.
Do you remember the picture of a large bay window, the first paper negative ever to be made – that we watched in the film Fixing the Shadows – episode one of the first major television series devoted to the medium of photography, The Genius of Photography.
‘Fixing the Shadows’ from BBC Genius of Photography, Episode 1.
In the summer of 1835 William Henry Fox Talbot experimented with various chemicals to develop paper coatings suitable for use in a camera. He placed small wooden cameras that his wife called “mousetraps” all over his estate. The earliest surviving paper negative dates from August 1835, a small recording of the bay window of Lacock Abbey (left). In 1978, the German photographer Floris Neusüss visited Lacock Abbey to make photograms of the same window. He returned again in 2010 for the Shadow Catchers exhibition at the V&A to create a life-sized version of Talbot’s window (below right).
Henry Fox TalbotFloris Neusüss
That 1978 photogram was the start of our adventures in creating photograms of large objects in the places where we found them […] we took our equipment to Lacock Abbey and made a photogram of a fixed subject. This particular subject was for us not just a window in a building but an iconic window, a window on photography, opened by Talbot. The window is doubly important, because to be able to invent the photograph, Talbot first used photograms to test the light sensitivity of chemicals. His discovery became a window on the world. I wonder what percentage of our understanding of the planet we live on now comes from photographs? — Floris Neusüss
The idea of photographs functioning like windows makes total sense. 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. Photographs present us with a view of something. However, it might also be possible to think of photographs as mirrors, reflecting our particular view of the world, one we have shaped with our personalities, our subconscious motivations, so that it represents how our minds work as well as our eyes. The photograph’s glossy surface reflects as much as it frames. Of course, some photographs might be both mirrors and windows.
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.
Photo-historian, Gerry Badger who was part of the editorial team producing the television series The Genius of Photography wrote in the introduction of the book of the same name that John Szarkowski’s distinction of photographs as ‘mirrors’ or ‘windows’ is useful, but only to a point, ‘because most photographs are both mirrors and windows.’ (Badger 2007:8)
The exhibitionMirrors and Windows, anexhibition of American photography since 1960, opened at The Museum of Modern Art, New York (MoMa) in July of 1978. The curator John Szarkowski’s attempted to categorise photographers whose work largely reflected the subjectivity of the artist in comparison with those whose work largely sought to see outside themselves. Szarkowski wrote in the catalogue essay that accompanied the exhibition:
“The two creative motives that have been contrasted here are not discrete. Ultimately each of the pictures in this book is part of a single, complex, plastic tradition. Since the early days of that tradition, an interior debate has contested issues parallel to those illustrated here. The prejudices and inclinations expressed by the pictures in this book suggest positions that are familiar from older disputes. In terms of the best photography of a half-century ago, one might say that Alfred Stieglitz is the patron of the first half of this book and Eugène Atget of the second. In either case, what artist could want a more distinguished sponsor? The distance between them is to be measured not in terms of the relative force or originality of their work, but in terms of their conceptions of what a photograph is: is it a mirror, reflecting a portrait of the artist who made it, or a window, through which one might better know the world?” — John Szarkowski, 1978
MIRRORS AND WINDOWS has been organized 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.
Take a look at the images below. Think about whether, in your opinion, they are mirrors or windows.
You could draw a horizontal line with the word ‘Mirror’ at one end and ‘Window’ at the other. You could add a list of words that help to describe what these words suggest.
Now, try placing each of these images somewhere on this spectrum. Annotate the images to explain your decisions.
Garry Winogrand – Los Angeles, 1969 Gelatin-silver printBill Brandt – Nude, East Sussex, 1968Nan Goldin – Nan and Brian in bed, NYC. 1983 CibachromeRobert Heinecken – Figure Sections/(Multiple Solution Puzzle), 1966Bernd + Hilla Becher – Lime Kilns, Kalköfen, Harlingen, 1968Richard Hamilton – Just what is it that makes today’s homes so different, so appealing? Collage 1956Eugene Atget – Street Musicians, 1898William Eggleston – from Memphis, Tennessee, Dye transfer print, early 1970sRobert Rauschenberg – Windward, Oil and silkscreen ink on canvas, 1963Richard Long – A line made by walking, England 1967
HOMEWORK: Independent Study TASK 1: 1000 word mini-essay Essay question: How can photographs be both ‘mirrors’ and ‘windows’ of the world? DEADLINE: Wed 23 OCT
Follow these instructions:
Read two texts above (John Szarkowski’s introduction and review by Jed Pearl) and select 3 quotes form each that is relevant to your essay.
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.
Essay plan 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.
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 the notion 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.
TASK 2: Photo-assignment A creative response to documentary (realism/ factual/ public/ candid) and tableaux (romanticism/ fiction/ private/ staged) photography DEADLINE: Fri 25 Oct
RECORDING > Based on the theme of ‘OBSERVE, SEEK, CHALLENGE’ – and with relevance to your Personal Study – produce 3 images that are documenting reality – ‘windows of the world’and another 3 images that are staging reality – ‘mirrors of the world’.
PLANNING > Produce a blog post where you plan and sketch out a few ideas in relation to the photo-assignment. You may use some of the images or artists references we looked at earlier in the week as inspiration and put together a mood-board, that will act as inspiration for your shoot.
In the next lesson tomorrow (Wednesday) you will be given a camera to make initial responses. 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.
DEVELOPING >In post-production you can incorporate different editing techniques…monochrome/ colour adjustments…montage/ composite…juxtaposition/ triptychs/ grids etc…using Lightroom, Photoshop, AI technology if appropriate to your intentions. The focus here is on creativity, imagination and experimentation. Add images to your essay as photographic responses to Szarkowski’s thesis and evaluate.
GUIDELINES: ESSAY WRITING
Marking Criteria
Literary Sources:
Read key texts that will provide you with knowledge and understanding
It demonstrates evidence of reading and will enable you to draw upon different points of view – not only your own.
Select relevant quotes and make notes when you’re reading…key words, concepts, passages including page number
Write down author’s name, date it was published, title, publisher, place of publication so you can list source in a bibliography
Bibliography:
List all the literary sources that you have read and arrange in alphabetical order. For example: Szarkowski, J. (1978), Mirrors and Windows: American Photography Since 1960. Museum of Modern Art: New York
Quotation and Referencing:
Why should you reference?
To add academic support for your work
To support or disprove your argument
To show evidence of reading
To help readers locate your sources
To show respect for other people’s work
To avoid plagiarism
To achieve higher marks
What should you reference?
Anything that is based on a piece of information or idea that is not entirely your own.
That includes, direct quotes, paraphrasing or summarising of an idea, theory or concept, definitions, images, tables, graphs, maps or anything else obtained from a source
How should you reference?
Use Harvard System of Referencing…see Powerpoint: harvard system of referencing for further details on how to use it.
This is the front cover of my zine. I really like this photo as it is compositionally and contextually interesting. This makes it perfect for a noticeable front cover. I also wanted to have a straightforward title that could directly link to what the images inside display; the fishing industry of St Helier Harbour.
This is the first page of my zine when you open it up. I have put this here as it is an overview shot of the harbour, featuring many fisherman boats at the Old French Harbour.
For this page, I wanted to display an archive image with one that I have taken. I have chosen these images as they are the closest match out of all my photos and I have made them the same size on the page.
This is the next page of my zine and I wanted it to display the fisherman at St Helier Harbour as part of the fishing industry. I have made the image on the right larger as it will be the first you see when you turn the page and I personally prefer the image as the one on the left has a blurred background. This is also why I have made it smaller.
Both images on this page display men working on their boats, one of them pressure washing and the other welding. I have made the image on the left a full page to draw the viewers’ attention to it as when they turn the page over they will initially gaze to the right.
On the right is a fisherman, Will, doing his job and on the left is where he works. I have made the image on the right larger so that it matches the layouts of the rest of the pages.
This page displays stationary boats. There is juxtaposition between these 2 images as one is the seabed and the other is on land.
This is my last pages of my zine. I have made these also a double page, similar to the front pages so that there is balance within the zine. I have aligned this image so that the page splits between the 2 boats.
This is the back cover of my zine. I have photoshopped my name onto the number plate as the original number plate had the same amount of letters. I also used this photo as it features a seagull with open wings in negative space which makes the image more interesting, whilst also engaging the viewer.
Evaluation
Overall, I think that my zine well presents the narrative I was going for and is cohesive and well thought out. I have started off the zine by displaying an overview of the harbour with an archive image to demonstrate how it has changed over time. This then links to the fisherman within their work environments, the harbour. Finally, the zine comes to an end displaying fishing boats tethered in different locations. My zine also holds a continued theme of black and white images throughout which helps keep the cohesiveness and remove any distractions caused by bright colours.
