The Narrative of my photo book “Liminal space”

The aim for my photo book narrative is going to begin with the front cover presenting a dark environment which shows half of a tunnel on one side and the other half as the back cover, this dark and confusion of the front cover, which includes spray paint on some of the cave walls which attract people eyes and want to know more. I want to start the book with including areas which aren’t easily or at all accessible to people, as a good way of showing people the liminal space where people have once been.

*Front cover in production*

This is where the story line concept will begin, in a dark, cold, ominous cave, which will begin with a broken old rail road which leads you into the darkness. This is supposed to cause confusion, and for people to become more interested in what other pictures there are, which will lead people further into the book.

There will be a common theme of emptiness, but also familiarity within the images because I want to lead the images from abandonment and emptiness to a close familiarity with places that people use a lot but are as if people had just disappeared, where caves are common in jersey along with abandoned areas, however little people know about it.

I aim for my images to convey a sense of interest to people but also an uncomfortable and familiar effect. Which links even closer to “liminal space”, as its emotional effect on people is to present uncertainty and also a slight sense of nostalgia or familiarity within anxiety. Like a cluster of emotion sparking off at different or the same time.

My story line will be a never ending one where there is no real beginning or end in the environments / areas I am capturing, rather it will show the places we pass by and don’t think about again till we see it, like the hidden past. Images like these sculptures I have made will be very familiar because of its shapes but also have never been seen before by people.

Lastly, the images of a vacant office will be shown, as a way of representing where commonly most people, (especially in jersey) will be placed for a big majority of their life.

I find the concept of liminal space interesting because of its ability to be everywhere, but for it to FEEL more like a liminal space, you have to adjust the environment, or the image of the environment. It also interests me how liminal space is seen through emotional transitions, and can be represented within or because of the image.

The overall aim for this type of layout is to present the reverse of decay within liminal space, and how we seek nostalgia to go into the past, This is why the narrative starts in a cave, because it is a very old area which has been there for a long time untouched, and then slowly go to abandoned areas which are slightly less older environments, to then an office which is where people are most of their middle aged life, and gradually to a play area where people would visit as a kid.

PHOTOSHOOT SIX:

Plan:

In this shoot I am again referencing Cindy Sherman. I am wanting to get images of a model in the shower to show the vulnerability of women which tends to be portrayed a lot through the male gaze. I am planning on making the bathroom as dark as possible with one light shining from a high position onto the model.

Contact Sheet:

Editing Process:

Evaluation:

I believe that this went well, I like how there was steam on the mirror as it creates a sense of mystery. The images are similar to Cindy Sherman however not the same. I like how my images show the vulnerability and beauty of being a girl.

Editing Shoot 5

This was my favourite shoot as I managed to get a range of different shots.

Basic edits

Action shots:

When editing these images I had to adjust the white balance as my images had a blue tint to them.

Environmental Portraits:

I put a few of my images in black and white such as the one above to make a comparison to the work of Thomas Lodin.

Headshots:

Closeup shots/ Abstract:

I decided to crop this image to really focus in on the board.

Landscapes:

As it was sunset some of the images were quite dark so when editing them, I wanted to make them lighter.

Final images

Best images

Editing Shoot 4

There were a few images that I like from this shoot but wanted to edit a few of them as they’re different to the portraits and action shots I have taken. I may decide to use these images as close up shots in my book as this is what W. Eugene Smith did when creating his ‘Country Doctor’ project

I cropped this image to remove the objects from the background that I didn’t want in the photo.
I cropped this image top make the focus of the image the medals as there was too much empty space.

I also wanted to experiment with this image and put it in to black and with.

I also took some close up images of one of my sisters surf boards and experimented with editing them.

Best images

PHOTOSHOOT FIVE:

Plan:

For this shoot I plan on taking photos in the water to recreate some of Nancy Honey’s images. I also plan on taking some images with my own interpretation to create some variances too. I will be using natural lighting, and plan to do it on a sunny day so it is bright.

Contact Sheet:

Editing Process:

PHOTO SHOP EDITING:

To remove some of the dirt from the bottom of the pool I used photoshops Spot Healing Brush Tool:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Evaluation:

I t6hink this photoshoot came out really well and I am very happy with the final results. By the model wearing a sheer dress, it creates texture to the images as well as the reflection of the water on the bottom of the pool.

Photoshoot Four:

Plan:

For this photo shoot I plan on going to an urban area with tall buildings to re-create Cindy Shermans untitled film stills. I plan on taking the photos from a low angle to get the upper half of the models bo

Contact Sheet:

Photo Book analysis

White Wall by Ole Christiansen

‘White Wall’ presents street photography by Ole Christiansen. Unlike many such series of quick snapshots, however, Ole Christiansen’s images are highly orchestrated and graphically framed. All of them were taken at a specific location in the city, where a white wall is the theatrical backdrop against which passers-by perform their one-second acts as marionettes.

Random situations from everyday life unfold while people pass by and through the photographer’s selection, everyday surreal coincidences and photographically blessed crucial moments are isolated. The result become a masterful frieze, a flood of people on their way from one place to another, without purpose or explanations

Final order of images

This is my configuration of pages that I plan to put in the book. I have chosen this order because the locations get progressively further from Jersey and also simultaneously seem to become more and more vibrant. I put a plane image between each country as well, to create the effect that the reader is travelling with me. I plan to put a page between each country also, where I can add a simple title for each, using stamped letters.

I will use similar stamps to these to write the names of each country. This will create uniformity and simplicity, to ensure the attention is on the images.

Case study 2 – Ray Metzker

Ray Metzker (1931-2014) was an American photographer, known for his abstract black and white photographs. His work primarily focused on urban landscapes, industrial scenes, and abstract compositions. Metzker’s unique photographic process involved physically manipulating his negatives to create Busnel and Polaroid prints, resulting in varied textures and tones . These experimental techniques, along with his unconventional subject matter, distinguished Metzker’s work from many other photographers of the time. He was an influential figure in the development of abstract photography in the second half of the 20th century.

Personally i am a fan of metzker and I am deeply inspired by the captivating and evocative work of his. Known for his unique ability to capture the depth and intensity of the urban environment, his images resonate with me because of their dramatic feel and striking deep shadows. The contrast between the bright highlights and the rich, dark shadows creates a sense of mystery and tension that captivates the viewer’s attention. Metzker’s mastery of light and shadows brings out the hidden beauty and character of his subjects, and his work continues to influence my own photography in countless ways.

Work by Ray Metzker.

My work inspired by Ray Metzker

photoshoot 5 plan

For my fifth photoshoot, I am also going to be off island for some of it. Again I a going to try and take advantage of this and am going to look out for anything that I think will fit with my project. I am also going to take some images over here focusing on houses and looking for road signs etc.

inspiration: