Photobook Project

Book design has been described as "an arcane subject" by Richard Hendel and refers to the need for a context to understand what that means.

Typically, a photobook must contain a sequence of photographs, a title and a description for it to be considered a photobook.

“Montgomery’s photographs capture the reality of Americans in crisis, in all our flawed, tragic, ridiculous glory.” —Patrick Radden Keefe

American mirror is about today's profound social and cultural change in America. It brings to light key issues at hand in a modern America such as police violence, the opioid addiction crisis plaguing the streets or the demonstrations in support of black lives. It also discusses very recent issues such as COVID 19. All of this is done in a black and white style while utilising very intimate and powerful reporting approach. I am drawn to this style of photography as I find such intimate and detailed work fascinating. I appreciate how much detail is found in each photo back to back while also feeling like there is never too much or too little in the frame. Philip Montgomery has a past of covering American politics, culture and society. The experience in this type of photography is evident here.

I like how, in this spread, the text for it is on a separate page in and in the middle with space all around it. I think the intention was to make the text look vulnerable and for the space to be contemplated. I also like how the photo is placed onto the page as it is meant to be a depressing, sad photo so it is given space to breathe and appears more vulnerable than it would if it was full bleed. The photo itself is very powerful in itself as it depicts a harrowing situation of an opioid overdose. The black and white style lends to the depressing nature of the photo as complete desaturation links with numbness/dullness or death. The photo is also taken at eyeline level which helps the viewer put themselves in the shoes of someone who could be there witnessing this tragedy and the people who are genuinely affected by the tragedy as well as those who are paid to deal with things like this.

GROUP RESEARCH PROJECT

As a group we were given a photobook to get primary research from and look deeper into. The book we were given was 'The New Village' by John Spinks 

GROUP PHOTO BOOK PROJECT

As a group, we were tasked with taking photos within a limited range on only a couple of roads. Although we were very limited and closed in, we still managed to take strong photographs.

I think I have some very strong photos which work together well. The colours are very similar from photo to photo which links them together. There is an occasional colour red every few photos which adds to the theme. I think we captured our surroundings well with the first shoot and I am happy with how it turned out.

Though the second shoot was much shorter, I believe we did a good job at picking up anything we missed. I wish the weather was different for these shoots as I didn't like working with the awkward morning sun or the cold weather. I tried not to let conditions affect me, however.

My final 10:

Process of creating individual group photobook

How we sequenced as a group

The photos we didn't use