India in my eyes – Barbara Macklowe

This seemed like an obvious book to look at for my project due to obvious reasons. I wanted to start at this point, although I don’t really want to be taking images like this of typical Indian culture. I want to get into detail and zoom in to the image. However this is a great starting point to begin research with.

What I like about this image is the colour of the models eyes. The way that she is staring right down the lens of the camera, creating an intense, powerful looking image. The way she is covering her face also makes the image intense, all you can see is her eyes. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes –

“The eyes shout what the lips fear to say”

The eyes are the main factor in this image and if the face wasn't covered in this way I don’t think it would be as strong. I also like the lighting. It isn't too intense but still is enough it make the eyes piercing and bright. 

These are what I expect typical images of Indian culture to look like and something that I will try and avoid. It may be a good place to start but I really want to get closer and get detail in the clothes and jewellery of the women. There dress and style is so rich in colour and full of detail it would be a shame not to capture this.   

Natural images like this are the type and style of what I want to be capturing to put into my book. I want to look at objects, colour and composition. I want to look at where people have been not so much the people themselves. This image is a perfect example of that. It has everything that I want to capture and is a great reference for me to keep in mind when wandering the streets of Goa in search of some images. I like how the photographer has got up close to the shoes and composed the image so that they are in the bottom corner rather than taking up the full frame. This allows for colour and texture to be added due to the rustic door frame and the tiled walls. 

What i take from this: 

• Subtle natural lighting seems to be a running factor in these images and something that I want to take and use in mine. I don’t want any harsh flashes – only if absolutely necessary – I want the colour to speak for itself and the way that the sun hits an object or a person and creates shadows and shades. 
• It’s all about composition. Don’t just think of what I can get from the image, but also the surroundings and what I can incorporate into the frame to strengthen the image.  

Project Proposal

The path that I have decided to take for this project is the ‘journey’ aspect of the brief. I think that this is a perfect option for me to take as I am going to be traveling whilst this project is underway. This gives me the opportunity to document my journey to India and be able to capture images with the purpose of creating a book out of them. Not only is this convenient but it also gives me the chance to create a book that will be unique to my experience and help me in exploring new styles and working conditions.

I have decided to take a digital approach to my work. I think that this is the best and safest option as I will know instantly if my image have worked out and will be able to reshoot. I also want to use colour for my work as the bright and vibrant colours of Indian culture will best be projected using this format. My aim for this project is to capture the culture of India and produce images that show the styles, experiences, colour and life of Goa, the area of India that I will be visiting. I want to create a documentary book of my journey, this may include my travel to the country as well as what I see and experience while there.  Books that have been in particular interest to me are ‘images of India – Sophie Baker’ and ‘India in my eyes – Barbara Macklowe’. The reason being is that I don’t know what to expect so this gives me an idea of images that I might be witnessing while there and the look/feel of images that I might produce. Photographers that I will look at will be Amandine Guisez Gallienne, Gavin Gough and Tessa Bunney the reason I have chosen these are that I like the styles that they have used in their work and want to take influence of what they have done to explore and expand on in my own work. 

Notes:-

Things to note so far:

1. Reversible dust cover offers a great way to advertise your work and show more than one image. Also can make a ‘panic cover’ for any controversial projects that I might want to be doing ‘ey ey’
2. Having an image over 2 pages is something I DON’T want to do, only in the exception that it increases the impact of my image – like the boys on the motor bike in skins & punks. 
3. Really need to think about the size of my book. Bigger isn't always better. Need to think where I want it to be presented and how I want it to be used. A big book would be good for presenting work (almost like a portfolio) but not really good for carrying around with me. 
4. No uneven boarders! Especially if I am to put an image over 2 pages. 
5. Really consider what layout works for each image. I want my images to be strong and powerful not just a running theme through the book.

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Book Layout Research - My Own Book

As part of my final major project in collage I had to produce a book showing my final project as well as final prints to display in an exhibition. I found this a really good learning curve and one that I am really happy to have experience due to the fact we have to now do it again. I know it may not be the best of books but its mine, and I’m proud of it.

I’m going to look back at it now and see what layouts I have decided to use and try and see if I can get any ideas or dos and don’ts from what I have produced so that I can go into this project better informed due to previous attempts.  

I like the cover of my book because I feel like it expresses what I was trying to do with my final project. I wanted to be able to show portraits but not only that try and express emotion through my images, showing how people feel and how they express or repress their feelings. So the use of a double exposed image seemed appropriate at the time to try and show the 2 sides of people’s personality and feelings. I didn't want the text/title to be overpowering, yet I still wanted it to be noticeable on the page.   

Another thing I purposely did for the cover of my book is used the unedited image. This was a film shot that I then went and spot cleaned in Photoshop. However I chose not to use the edited one because I wanted the book to have a grunge, rough feel to it. I didn't want it to be crisp and clean on the outside. I don’t think the images inside needed that cleanness. They are rather dark and grainy and I think that this is reflected in the cover.

Page layouts in my book:

Throughout my book I chose on each different page to put 2 images of the same model. The reason for this was to try and create some kind of narrative that expressed different emotions/expressions felt by the same model. This was a really important factor to my book that I carried throughout. 

These two pages are laid out in the same style. The reason behind this is I think that if I used 2 full pages side by side it would have been too overwhelming and packed full of tone, texture and detail that would have been too much to take in.  The strongest of each pair I decided to frame. The reason for this is I think that the image could stand alone and still be strong. It made an impact and the model really connected with the viewer without having it to be a full page image. Whereas the other image, although having a lot of detail wasn’t in my view as strong of an image so I thought that by creating these as full page layouts they wouldn't be in the shadow of the other image on the opposite page. I really like this layout and I think that it works well. This is something that I will consider using in my next book.

Looking back at my book I think a factor that I like is that I have chosen a framing style for each image and what works best for that image rather than what looks good with the rest of the book. By concentrating on the look of the individual image I have been able to create a book that makes each image look strong and make an impact. I think that this is more important than having a running layout theme throughout the book. 

Book Layout Research - Paolo Roversi

One of my favorite books, maybe just because I love the photographer, but still I want to look at Paolo sets out his images on the page. I really find this photographer inspiring and is someone’s work that I really look up to. I think that this is a great place to get started with this project as I always find something new that sparks a new lease of life in my work when looking at his. 

Something I noticed in the book that I haven’t really seen before is having a blank page that is black. I have seen them white, but this is something different. I’m not too sure if I like it or not. With the dark nature of the image itself on the white page I think that having a full black page on the opposite side really takes away from the impact that the image on the other page has. Maybe if the image was strong and full of detail it would be able to hold its own but in these examples I think that the black page is just too intense.

Image over two pages: 

This is a bit of a bug bare that I have. It really irritates me when photographers place an image over two pages like this. For a number of reasons. The fact that the photographer has chosen to do this in this case has really ruined the image for me. The model appears distorted and you lose so much detail. It effects the framing and the style of the image. But a main concern of mine (trivial as it may be) is the fact that you really have to bend the book to be able to see the image fully and get an image that isn't as distorted. Why? Why do this to me? Don’t the creators of these books know this is how you lose pages? It irritates me so much!!

While I’m on a rant I would like to point out another issue I have. I understand that this is a square format image, I get that, but why have one small side then a big gap on the other page? The image is already distorted may as well even it out and make it look nice on the page. Unless it’s a landscape image in a book of this shape I just don’t think it should be done. I don’t like the unevenness of the framing.  

Book Layout Research - Terry's World (Book Cover)

The front cover of a book can really tell you a lot of what to expect inside the book. I think that this makes the biggest impact and can really psyche someone up and get excited to look inside.

This book cover by Terry Richardson for ‘Terry’s World’ is an interesting one. The reason I say this is because it has a dust cover on it that is reversible. And really there are 3 different ways of presenting the 1 book. Below shows the different stages and ways that you can see the book visually. 

When first picking up the ‘Terry’s World’ book this is what it looks like. It appears just a normal picture of terry and isn't really that controversial. I think that this is appropriate as it is in the typical style of the photographer. Terry also has a recognizable face, as the book is named his world I think that it is appropriate to have his picture on it. This gives me the expectation that this is going to almost be a biography of images expressing his world and what he does. Like a peak into his life. 

However when you open the cover up to reveal the rest of the image, what will appear on the back of the book it’s slightly more controversial. This now gives you a true sense of what to expect throughout the book, and to be fair after looking through the book the cover to me is actually rather tame.  It is though true to the photographers style and I don’t think viewers would expect anything less. 

What I find most interesting about the cover for this book (I’m not sure if it is every one of these copy’s but mine sure does) when you take the dust cover off, there is an alternative cover. The idea being that you can look intellectual, as though you are reading about a Chinese philosopher. It’s sold as a ‘panic cover’. This is amazing, I think that this really shows that they photographer knows you might be shocked or offended by the images but secretly gain pleasure or enjoy looking at them so offers embarrass free way to view them. This humorous take on the cover really made me laugh and I think that it sums up the tongue and cheek feel of Terry’s work!!

Obviously I won’t be needing anything like this for my book cover as it won’t be anything that will need a ‘panic cover’ but the idea of having a reversible dust cover so that you could change the image to whatever you prefer is something that I really like. 

This is what the book looks like without any cover on. Plain and simple, the text is clear and you know what the books name is, doesn't really give much else away though. If you just had this you may be in for a shock!!! 

Book Layout Research - Skins & Punks

So yet again in typical Rose form I see something with the word ‘skinhead’ or ‘punk’ on it and I instantly want to have a look! Normally it most probably wouldn't be relevant for what I was doing and would normally cause me a distraction. However I have found use for it as I am going to use it as ideas on layout. 

A book with a cover like this is one that would draw me to it instantly. The way that the photographer has chosen an image full of colour and also a big indication of what is expected throughout the book. I also really like the way that the name of the photographer and also the book title is right in the center of the page. It’s clear but still has a grunge feel to it that I would expect from a book about the punk/skinhead subculture. The image and use of text complement each other and the theme of the book. 

Presenting images with a boarder gives the viewer chance to look at the image and not be overwhelmed by colour, detail and content. It negative space helps the image to stand off the page. It also allows for the name, date and other details that might be necessary or wanted to be placed under the image. Another reason I think that a boarder helps is you can position landscape or portrait images on the page without having to crop the image. I like how on this page you can see a landscape and portrait image on adjacent pages. 

This is an amazing choice of layout!!! The content of the image paired with the way that the photographer has chosen to present the image on the page really strengthens the image. The picture of 2 lads on a motorbike seems to appear to run across the page and run into the other side and off the book. It has a flowing motion what I really like. Sometimes I don’t like presenting an image over 2 pages because I feel you lose detail in the image but due to the simplicity and the nature of the image I think that this works really well and is the perfect way to present this image. 

Something I would never really do (personally) is place a colour image next to a black and white one. I know they are technically on different pages but when the book is open they are next to one another. I think that this can really distract you from the image. It makes it too busy I personally think and could take a bit of a tacky approach making the images look less classic. There is just something about this that doesn't sit well with me and I think that this will be something that I will be looking to avoid in the creation of my book. 

Book Layout Research - Nan Goldin

So new project! We all had an introduction lecture to the topic were we were asked to bring in a book of our choice, I did but when I got there Jamie had a lot better options to choose from. I just picked a book at random to basically have a look at the layout and how the photographer has placed the images on the page, use of text / font. I wanted to see if it had any order/narrative to the layout. I also wanted to see how they laid the images out, if they had more than one image to a page etc.

The book that I ended up with was this by Nan Goldin and I couldn't have chosen a better one! The reason I liked this book was because I felt like the front cover give you a good sense of what to expect from the book. I knew what I was getting myself into. Often covers can be miss leading and this can lead to disappointment and being left underwhelmed. I don’t think that this was the case in this instance. The title is clear and works well with the use of image. It’s not too in your face, however it isn't lost on the page. 

What I find most interesting about this book is the way that the photographer has chosen to set the images out throughout the book. I feel like images that are strong are set out on their own. There is no image on the opposite page, I feel like this helps the image make an impact and really draws your attention into the image. This to me is attribute that I would like to consider in my own book. I want it to be about making my images as strong as possible and to make the biggest impact, not about cramming as many images into a book as possible. 

On the other hand I think that laying similar images side by side also strengthens the image. It creates a narrative that the reader can engage in. a recurring theme through the book that I noticed was that of opposite images that were almost exact in set up. The difference being say for example the couple sat on the bench (in the image above) on one image they are sat far away from each other, but on the opposite page the couple on the bench couldn't be closer. I found this to reoccur thought the book. This was a really interesting factor that I picked up on straight away.