Published Book: layout

When I had acquired all of the images I needed for my book I began composing each page. I knew that I wanted to use certain images as double page spreads such as the two Velez images and that the rest of the images would be simple page portrait images but I had no idea of in what order; so I complied all 45 final contenders into a folder and began arranging each image to see which worked together and which didn't.

After much deliberationI had my final 30 images, I had decided on the landscape double page spreads and the portrait single pages. I had wanted to go for a relatively simple layout so I would only be having 1 images per page. I did this as it makes the viewer focus on the image, if you fill the page with small images it is distracting. This book was about fine quality and procession and I wanted to showcase this in the best possible way, the project was not about quantity. I would rather show 5 images that really stick in the viewers mind and they really enjoy instead of 30 images that aren't top quality and they forget about by the next day.

This is the exact reason I used slightly under required amount of images. I could only afford the 30 page book so I had the choice of either cramming in the required amount of image or take a more minimal approach, using large double page spreads to showcase the images in the best way and printing large portrait images one to a page giving the images enough space. Clustered books just look mess and ill planned.

Next big decision was the title. I was very unsure on this should be correctly constructed so I went to the library for inspiration. I stared by looking at Annie Leibovitz retrospective but the title wasn't quite what I was looking then I picked up Don McCullin's Sleeping with Ghosts. The title layout was perfect, the pure simplicity of it was exactly what I was looking for. I used the layout and text as a template for my title layout. Title large, Artists name slightly smaller and the description small and lower down the page.

While looking at titles I realised I needed to create a title page for inside the book. This is usually the third page of the book leading you straight into the book but I decided to change this. On my 4th and 5th page I had the perfect image for a title page, the image was a double page spread with all of the subject on the right side, the left side was almost black; this is where I added the title in the same layout as the front cover.

The front cover image was a hard decision to make. I first wanted to add an image that hadn't been used in the book but after looking at different books I realised that this wasn't really the correct practise. I noticed that the front covers were usually a monumental image from the book, maybe the photographers favourite image, the most commercially acceptable, the most eye catching or an image that relates to the title the most. I also had to make the decision in whether to 1 image and a black back cover, two different images images or a double page spread.

I looked over the images and decide to use the image that I feel represents the entire project and this is the image of the Nestle factory (this image is also the centre fold). I think this image is the most eye catching double page spread and really gives you a taster for whats inside. This is why I used it. It is also equally interesting across the entire image which makes it perfect for a wrap around front and back cover.

The double page spreads were constructed so that there was no boarder they stretched from side to side showing the entire image. The portrait images were stretched as far as they could be with out loosing to much of the image, this left them with two white gaps either side of them. I found this really drew from the images and distracted the viewer so I decided to change the background of the entire book to black, this blended 100x better.

The only variation was on page 23 where I used a landscape image on a single page. I wanted to incorporate this image but I had run out of double pages. It works seamlessly regardless.

I have always had trouble putting work into a series, I find it hard to get a flow of images but in this assignment I think I have a well flowing book. every other page is a double page spread apart from 22 & 23. I think the continuos change works really and stops the viewer from getting board.

Overall I think I have constructed the book to a high level and I am excited to see have the book turns out

- I have gotten the book and it has come out as well as I had hoped, the images all work together and fit it on the pages perfectly. The only thing I would maybe change would be the paper, as much as the glossy paper works really with the dark seting and bright lights it picks up a lot too; this disrupts the images at times and makes some of the shops hard to see.

Front & Back cover