Book

Had book binding session down at Vernon St on Friday. 

Loved it. 

Nice to do something handcrafted for a change. Somehow I managed not to glue all the pages together which was a bonus, but did in the first instance mess up - folded the pages not quite in half so some of the photos bleed onto the opposite page! But, all in all, really pleased, loved the process and happy with the results, "it looks like an actual book!!"

Still without my own digital camera and the one I'm (very kindly) being lent does not like dim light conditions or macro much, so don't have any decent photos to post up. I'll blog it later when the books are returned and pop some half decent ones up now.

Oh my

"Well I wouldn't like to murder it...

but stroke it's tail...

without getting bitten...

but I didn't think that was an option - so I didn't"

A certain someone's excited ramblings regarding a close encounter with a fox.

Nuff Said. 

Today was a huge relief, presentation done, 500 word synopsis (waay over that however...) bibliography, and hand out... handed in. Andd the book is printed! Ended up maunually feeding the paper as computer tech man advised, which meant people wouldn't accidentally print on me special glossy paper! Got the scanned in quotes looking a lot better using grayscale in photoshop rather than CMYK as with all the other tiff images. 

I decided to illustrate the quotes into speech bubbles rather than photo collaged letters as I just loved all the illustration stuff at The Baltic and Scandinavian exhibition in Newcastle. I also thought it might be a bit too much photo imagery, and detract from the full bleed images themselves.

The book should be bound on Friday and then I'll post up some photos, but what I've basically gone for is one or a couple of these illustrated quotes and then a photo on the opposite page.

I've also had to narrow my choices of photos down and with the landscape images I grouped them in twos, with some kind of relation between them. Such as 'GAS' with 'a s l e e p' and two images of graffiti and two street signs.

The printing process definitely alters the colours, but nothing too drastic was lost in the process and with the 'Wash n' Go' image the colours are saturated which worked well to give a moodier feel!

Looking forward to the book binding workshop and seeing the finished article. In the meantime its sketchbook, sketchbook, sketchbook.

By the By

Sorting through images for the book and came across this one. I was walking along near the ring road when I saw this and had to take a photo. Never seen inside a pedestrian crossing..button? before. Was surprised how un-technical it is. A lightbulb, piece of mirror, piece of paper with 'WAIT' and some wires...

Frustrating morning. My own fault mind. Hand made a book, as a mock-up, and bound the two stitched sections separately, made a hardback cover, all very nice, then only to realise I'd made it with 48 sides rather than 24...!

Newcastle

Trip to Newcastle, 23rd-24th. About time I did a blog then! 

I LOVED Newcastle. Totally surprised, as, no offence to the Geordies, I'd always imagined it to be an industrial...well, dive! The architecture blew me away, kept saying repeatedly how it looked like New York to me. And then after walking and exploring more decided it was Bath mixed with New York. Had a great vibe, and was a tiny bit grotty, which I quite like. On arriving, a few of us followed Ash (always follow a local!) to Side Cafe, a great little place with a mini art exhibition, a cinema screen and lounge, and most importantly, delicious food. Never had pomegranate in a salad before! 

After The Baltic we went and found the 'Lighten Up' exhibition in the tower. Which worked perfectly, the recycled materials made for beautiful lights, illuminating the dirty yet stunning tower. Apparently the tower is rarely open, so it was quite a privilege to be visiting at the time.

Spotted this on the way to Side Cafe.

In the tower, Lighten Up exhibition.

Ok, this post is doing my head in. Cannot get the images to do what I want them to. This image is from the glass elevator in the Baltic, shows the Sage and Brooklyn Bridge. (No idea what the bridge is actually called..)

Hang on, I got it to do something then... 

The image above is from the Scandinavian illustrators exhibition. This was one of my favourites. Really liked the laid back feel to the venue and how you had to go up in an elevator to the 4th floor to get there! One particular illustrator who stood out for me was Emmi. (See Emmi.co.uk)

The image used on the adverts above and below some illustrations I particularly liked. You could buy them for £35 unmounted on acetate.. tempting..

The view from the Brooklyn Bridge on the last afternoon before leaving. Really glad we found out how to get on it eventually. Loved watching the view change as you walked past and saw more layers of buildings and being just above the roof terraces.

Reflection of the quayside in the Sage.

And to end a projection of a horse, through the projector, ey, didnt see that one coming! And apologies to those with vertigo..

Decisions

Following a tutorial, I've formed the idea for my book, as part of the Reportage brief. I found during the photography walks I was drawn to typography - from the old street signs to notes written on the pavement. I had also been keeping a record of what people had said to me whilst I've been walking, such as one retired couple I've seen twice now, walking their dog and both times have smiled and said 'good morning'. 

The book will be mainly photographic, and following a group crit, I've decided the quotes will be made up from type I've photographed around the city. 

Holly told me about this video from Moondog. It fits really well with my idea, only its numerical rather than typographical. 

Enjoy!

Black & White Photography

Contact sheet, highlighted the most promising images to develop.

Accidental double exposure, interesting effect though.

The first image was underexposed, but the paper revealed some gold..dust? underneath the image which I thought was bizarre. 

The first image is an exposure test, using 4 seconds as the increment.

Poor photo, but I find black and white photography most effective on people, and some bold buildings.

Victorian Quarter

Repeated reflections in window panes and lamp outside Vernon St building.

Chapeltown

Exploring Chapeltown as part of Reportage brief. Really interesting place, will hopefully go back again as I didn't leave myself enough time to fully discover and document the area. Camera was playing up, hence a few out of focus shots!