Evaluation

For this project, we were asked to design a book. We were to choose a subject and include photographs, and a short piece of writing to conclude our book. I chose to base my book on the size conscious fashion and beauty industry. I incorporated food in my images, which worked well as it gave the model something to interact with.

I conducted my research through a blog, which is fast becoming a popular way for artists, photographers and designers to publicise themselves and their work. It made a change from working in a sketchbook, and I found it quite convenient to be putting straight onto the internet, as I mostly work digitally.

I think that my images were successful; as I used a commercial style of lighting, which gave them quite a glossy, fashion look. This helped to give the effect I was looking for. The feel that I selected the right sort of model, as she was naturally pretty, and was the average size of women in the UK. She took to using the props well, and looked like she was involved in the story. The images were not particularly retouched, which worked well as I wanted them to look naturally beautiful.

When I began working on the book, I was not entirely sure as to what I was going to do about the text. I experimented with using quotes from the model during the shoot, but this didn’t work at all. I also tried using relevant quotes regarding the topic as a whole, but this was also unsuccessful. I then decided to state the calorific value of each food product. I experimented with different sizes, but I wanted to make a statement through doing this. It contrasts with the model looking like she is enjoying the food, and not worrying about the calories along side her. I had a piece of writing at the end of the book, to sum up the theme, and put across my thoughts on the issue. I wanted to make people reconsider their opinion of the book that they have just looked at.

I chose to put together a landscape book, as my images were orientated that way. I would have liked to use the large option, but the cost was becoming very high and I found that the smaller, 10 x 8 inches book worked just as well.

Overall, I am happy with the outcome of my book, and I think I have achieved what I set out to do. The images were successful and professional looking, and the props worked well with the model.

Final Book

These images are from my final book.

I feel that it has been pretty successful, the cover works well with the images, as does the type.

I think that the book have the effect that I intended when I began the project, and I have achieved this buy creating something that looks very polished, and finished. I think the typeface I used, considering the size aswell, has a lot of impact and shows what I want to say in the right way. 

I am happy with my book, although I would have liked to have put a bit more text in at the end. I would also liked to have used more models, but unfortunately, with time limits, and other commitments, I was not able to expand on what I have already done.

Blurb Book is Done!

Finally, after a long evening, I have uploaded all the necessary files, and my book is ready to be ordered. I have used the downloadable templates, as they give the correct InDesign dimensions (although they were actually wrong so I had to change them manually, which slightly defeats the object of downloading them in the first place), and I have changed the various things after considering feedback.

Hand-Made Books

Today we had a workshop on handmade books. This was very interesting as we were taught how to make a book professionally, from scratch. It was a good experience, as the final product did look more personal, and this would be great for a particular style or subject of book, but I do not think that it would be good for my project, because, as I stated in a very early post, I would like it to look quite sleek, and almost like a coffee table book, so the reader has to think about the subject harder.

Layouts

Front Cover Options

My original idea was to have just white text, but after some discussion, I have tried to incorporate some colour, or quirkiness to it, as it was giving more sleek impression, which was not right for this book.

The colours represent the sweetness of the foods used, for example, the skittles in the forth image down. I have tried it out using various orders to experiment. I would still like to use the grey, as it works well with the images inside the book.

The following images are spreads from the book. There will most likely be another spread with a piece of writing to explain the reasoning behind the book, and this will add extra couple of pages.

I have decided to put the number of calories in large text next to the image. I wanted to make a statement, when considering the packaging in which all the food came in. The calories are the last thing that any of the manufacturers want the customers to see, so I have displayed it in this way to create an opposition.

I have used this typeface because I think that it works well with the images, and it is classic and smooth.

Final Images

Blogger won't let me upload my images from the final shoot today.
Will get them up ASAP!!

Have been using the Blurb software to compare it to using InDesign. Haven't made my mind up just yet, but I've found Blurb to be quite constricting in comparison to InDesign, so I will be trying it out a little more this week.

Final Shoot Tomorrow!

All the preparation is done for my final shoot tomorrow. Hopefully, it will all go fine so I won't have to shoot again! I have selected all my food carefully, bought ONE appropriate dress, so no costume overload, and a new(ish) backdrop, so it should all go ok. Hopefully.

Feedback

After the crit today, I have feedback, and improvements to make.

Firstly, the generally consensus was that the longer, thinner images worked better, as they looked more like a peep hole into something that shouldn't be happening. It was also suggested that I shoot with one style of hair, make up and styling for continuity. I will definitely need to use a new/better backdrop as it is impossible to remove them in photoshop, and it is ruining all of my images.

I need to work on a piece of writing for the book, as it won't really make sense without it.

I also need to think about whether I use more than one model, but this is unlikely and I don't think it would give the same message.

I will also consider more carefully what food I shoot with, as all the different types of food I used in the last shoot, gave very different messages of what I was talking about.

Books

I have made a very scruffy mock-up of a potential book, just for demonstration purposes.

The first, second and forth images are the mock-up book, to see how the layout works. 

The third image is slightly different, with the image taking up the whole page, instead of taking up part of the page.

From the preliminary layouts, I prefer the set where the image takes up a while page, as I think this it looks much smarter, and clearer.

2nd Shoot

I have been busy in the studio again, with the 2nd shoot.

These are just a selection of the images because it's taking approximately 5 years to upload each of them. I am fairly happy with them, but I don't think they are suitable for my final book. The backdrop is even worse than the first set of images which is very annoying. I used a black backdrop this time, as I thought this might sort out the problem but it didn't. If I was to re-shoot, I will try a flat white wall instead.

I am happy with the sort of props that I used, but I would like them to be more co-ordinated with the styling, like the last image, as I think it works well.

I also still need to consider whether I want to use one model or a number of models, female and male.

What to do now

Now I have done my test shoot, and decided on the styling of the images, I must now do my real shoot. Once I have done this, I can look at the final format of the book, and what will suit my photos best. I will also start writing the piece that will go at the end of my book.

I also plan to design my book from scratch using InDesign, but I will have a look at the Blurb software, as this may actually be able to give me a better finish to my final piece.

Styling

Having done my test shoot, I have been looking at ways in which to style my model. Hair wise, I would like something quite glamorous. This is an example that I will work with:

I think that this works well, as the shots will only show the shoulders, upwards and hair like this will give good height to the image.

As I said before, the images will only be shoulders up so I have looked at these dresses as examples. They have enough detail so that they will add a touch of personality to the photographs.

Test Shoot

The above images are from my test shoot. I have worked out the basic lighting techniques, and I think that it's been quite successful. One of the issues I had, which has effected the photographs, is the backdrop, which was creased which has shown up in the dim lighting.

As you can see from the first image, I used two lights to come from each side, and another to give a slight gradient on the background.

Styling wise, I would like to use an asymmetric dress, a bit like the one in the last photograph, but more decorative, possibly quite a bright colour to contrast with the dark background. I would also like to have very polished hair and make up to complete the styling.

Test Shoot

I was hoping to put some images from my test shoot up today, but unfortunately, I don't have any. After a very long day of several bulbs and lights blowing up, I will have to conduct the test shoot another day. Damn.

Elisabeth Hoff: Lips

In the lead up the this project, I have looked at Elisabeth Hoff's series, Lips. This is not strictly relevant to the subject I am approaching, but I have considered just focusing just on single part of the face. This takes away the aspect of personality from the subject. I also like the use of props, as this adds a touch of interest back into it. I may not necessarily use this idea but it has been quite important when I was putting my idea together.

Recent Articles

These are just three of the most recent articles regarding the issue I am focusing on. 

The first one is about a girl told to lose a stone before she was allowed on the catwalk, even when she weighs just eight stone already.

The second article is about a young girl that suffered from anorexia, because she had ambitions to enter beauty pageants, but she is now gaining weight so that she can be more successful.

The third article is about Miss England. This is not strictly about the fashion industry, nor is the one above, but she talks about overcoming body confidence issues, and is now on her way to the Miss World pageant. 

Robbie Cooper: Immersion

Robbie Cooper

The first artist I will be looking at is Robbie Cooper (www.robbiecooper.org), particularly the lighting technique he used for 'Immersion'. It is a good example of classic lighting for advertising, and it is also a very intense way to light a photograph. The photographs in his 'Immersion' collection are very polished and present his idea very clearly. I think that it works as he is trying to put forward a serious subject, which is the effect video gaming has on children, and the lighting provides the subject with the clear attention that it needs. 

Robbie Cooper's main body of work tackles a social issue, much like the book I am intending to put together. He also has a blog running alongside the project, which is also like the piece of writing I wish to put at the end of the book. It has been successful in this case, so I would hope that it will work in book form.

Blurb

For this project, the final outcome will be a book. There are a number of websites that will produce books that you have designed yourself, but not all of them offer everything to fit your requirements. Blurb.com is probably the most popular, and has a lot of variety, but I will also be looking at lulu.com as this offers a cheaper service, but has less options, particularly for hardback books.

The book I have in mind requires a large landscape format, although this may be reconsidered after shooting, etc. Lulu.com doesn't offer this option as hardback (although it does as paperback), Blurb does, at about £35, although all this will need to be considered when I start to put the images and final book together.

Putting books together is becoming more and more popular, and artists, (particularly photographers), are using this to promote themselves and their work; a task which is becoming increasingly difficult these days. This is why websites like this have become so popular, it is a way to produce a book, tailor-made to your specific requirements, or as close as you can get.


To put a book together you must consider several things, for example, the number of pages. To create a book that works, the number of pages must be divisible by four, a book cannot physically be put together without this, so I need to make sure that there are enough images and enough text to take up this many pages. I plan to have eight, or twelve images in my final book, so I will need to come up with a strong layout for my final book to make sure it works.


Self-Published Books

The above examples are all self-published books, made using Blurb. The have been entered into the 'Photography Book Now' competition that they are running, and I think they these three in particular are great examples of photography books. They are quirky, and interesting and very topical, which are three elements that a book requires if it is to be successful within their target audience.

These are the sizes of the books available on Blurb. I will have to consider what orientation my images will be before deciding on what type of book I will be using.

Initial Ideas

For my book, I have decided to tackle an issue that I find compelling. It is also quite a personal issue, as for many females (or males), and it may have been somewhat repeated, but I am hoping to attack it at a different angle. I do not want to expose the fashion and beauty industry as size obsessed, that has been made clear, and it makes what it is. I would like to somewhat satirise it, and make it ironic. My idea is to produce a glossy, coffee table book, which at first glance will look like a set of beauty images, and, combined with a piece of writing about the issue, it will become clear as to what I am trying to do.

I would like to get one, or a set of perfectly produced models, and have them tucking in to sweets, chocolate, burgers, chips, cakes, and whatever I can get my hands on, and photograph them having fun with it. I am also considering adding quotes underneath the photographs, to show what they are really saying, and whether it contradicts they're expression, as they do their job, modelling. This will be paired with a piece of writing, from my point of view, from the models point of view (possibly an interview), and various other people who may feel effected by the media's projection of perfection.

This week I'm planning to do some tests, and work on the lighting to see what will be the best way to get my message across.

Hannah.

Alright everybody,

My first post on my first blog, have been putting some ideas together, look forward to sharing them with everybody!

See ya x