Here is my online link to my photobook on Blurb: Elephants Never Forgets

Overall, I am happy with how this project turned out, and I am proud of the personal journey it has taken me on. I have learnt about the history of my grandparents and made personal memorabilia of their love. 

I found certain parts of the project challenging, such as when putting my photobook together. When I started, I realised that it would be difficult to make the images flow into a story because they were all so different. I had to make myself insert my own photos, and not just archives because I struggled to create connections. However, after persevering, I found ways in which I could present them and connect the pages to create the personal journey I wanted it to. 

After completing the book, I realised that I was drawn to the archived images, especially the retro look of the worn away images, the yellow tones and saturated colours. It has inspired me to think about working with archives in the future.  

When exploring photographers, it took me a while to find the right ones that would work for me. I was really inspired by Carolle Bénitah, and I created multiple edits based off her. However, when creating my photobook, I decided it didn’t fit, and I chose not to use them. Researching her work was still beneficial for me, and I am still happy with the outcomes from her work. Other artists such as Alec Soth, Nan Goldin and Jessa Fairbrother all inspired me to create and edit in certain ways. Without researching Soth’s work, I wouldn’t not have been inspired to create the dramatic portraits of my gran. Overall, the most inspiring artist for me was Larry Sultan, influencing some of my images and most of my book layout. The way he presents his images in such a variety caught my eye because he managed to create such an interesting book, also presenting archives and new images. The photos of his parents also influenced me to take photos of my gran in posed situations, but still with a serious face. His work got me thinking about lighting and angles too. 

Example of our work compared:

The editing process was helpful for me, and I learnt more about Lightroom Classic. I got to experiment with colour correcting the archived images that were too orange and working out ways to create structure and quality through adding texture and clarity. Some of my images also challenged me, such as the one above, because I wanted to create impactful images, using light to draw emotion. Even with my black and whites I have always been inspired by Ansel Adams ability to create bright whites and dark blacks. I attempted to achieve this in my work because I find it adds more depth and makes an image powerful. 

Mounting my images was the most time consuming. I chose to mount them all similarly, however I met a challenge when some of my images turned out different sizes to what I ordered. However, I managed to find ways around it, and I am happy with the way they are put together to present parts of my gran’s life. 

Overall, I have learnt a lot from this project, understanding that photobooks can include archives to alongside my images, and not just my own photos. I have understood the bookmaking process more too, because this book took me longer to piece together than my previous one. There was a lot of depth to creating it, and I spent more time shaping meanings through the pages. Surprisingly, it felt like an emotional journey, learning about my family’s life, and I am glad I have created this project to present it. 

I took Larry Sultan’s almost note taking pages, and created my own in a scrapbook form. I am happy with how it turned out, because these pages were created by my grandfather, and it looks like he has put this page together.

I wanted to recreate the ‘staged’ but in action shot. I find its almost like environmental photography, because my nan spends so much time in the garden, and I have photographed her in her space, using Sultan’s formal style.

I combined Alec Soth’s style with Sultan’s. I find they have similar styled images and compositions, and I think I have captured the same approach to image taking.

Overall, I am happy with the final result of my photobook. I made sure to create a story from beginning to end, in a vague timeline. I reached my goal of presenting their love and my gran’s loss through the timeline, and including the elephants as a symbol of my grandads love for my gran.

Design: Throughout the book I chose to make a variety of layouts, but keeping patterns, and replicating designs so that the variety was organised. I was inspired by Larry Sultan’s ‘Pictures from Home’, and I think I have turned his style into my own. I also chose to link images through colour and tones, making sure they connected and created a good composition. I linked some images together with objects such as elephants, clothing/ jewellery and scenery too.

I have organised my pages into sections to present how I have linked layouts throughout my book to keep in organised amongst the variety of designs.

Simple pages with writing

Double Page Spread

Full page vs Half Page

Scrapbook

Basic collage

Collage

I began by arranging my archived images with the wording on the back because I find it sets up the story well and describes their important moments. I was unsure how to place them, but I found doing a double page spread with the writing on the side was the best. The large image is impactful, instead of small and lost in the page.

When adding the writing, I chose to whiten the background and darken the writing to make it stand out more and less yellowy. Although this takes away the old look of it, I find it fits in better with the black and white image.

I placed three images on pages to decide which was the best composition, so I could choose which one to use.

I then narrowed it down to two and placed my next image beside them to evaluate further. In the end I decided I preferred the image with her face in, because it has a short depth of field, and her face juxtaposes more with the next image of her hand.

I chose to create some simple pages in the book, using an image and then telling the story with my grans dialogue next to it. This layout is inspired by Larry Sultan’s book. I think the simplicity can become affective when amongst double page spreads and collages and causes a break amongst them.

I created the same double page spread several pages later so show consistency and mark the next milestone in their life.

I then followed the story of what the writing said, placing two images of my gran pregnant. I chose to place them each on a page because it creates an organised composition, with the same tones of yellow and lighting. I also chose to do this because it presents the twins, the images are taken on different sides, as if my gran is showing each twin. This double page can be viewed metaphorically for them.

Again, I followed the story on by using an image of my gran with one of the twins. I used the same structure as the other simple pages with writing, but this time with an archived photo. I want to make sure that even though the layouts are varied, they have a pattern and similar structure throughout.

I inserted the scrapbook collage I made, and followed it with my image of the car to cerate a link between the two.

I then moved on from the simplistic layout to a collage, like Sultan’s. At first, I was only going to use archived images, but I realised that I could incorporate my new ones too. I chose to do this because the images all link in a way. My nans necklace in my image connects to her glamour in some of the archives, showing that she still feels the need to dress up, possibly in my grandfather’s legacy. The white flower is a hawthorn bush, which my grandfather loved, and it links to the other flower image, creating a semantic field of nature. My grandfather spent a lot of time photographing nature in his free time. Final the elephant toys link to the archive above it and carries the theme of elephants through the book; linking to the title. I made sure to choose images with a similar tone and lighting, such as light blues, beige yellows and green. 

Here I attempted to subtly show the change in my gran, by placing a new image before an old image where they are both looking in the same direction. However, in the new image, she is looking up more, which I think can present the loss of my grandad, as if she is looking up to him, not at him anymore.

Next, I moved onto his boat company, using the scrapbook pages I made.

I chose to add a double page spread because I hadn’t a full used one yet, and I think it reminds the viewer that my grandad is the centre of this story. It also fills the page and creates a break, like the simple pages. I then followed this with two images of my gran modelling on his boat design, and a story she told me about it. This is a similar layout to other pages, keeping the consistency and organisation. 

Later in the book, I moved onto presenting his loss. I showed a more recent image (around 2003) where he is wearing his tie, juxtaposed with my nan holding it. This shows he is no longer here to wear it and shows the change in time. There are colour similarities too, such as the greens, blues and whites, making a further link. 

I created another collage, because it creates patterns, and gives me the ability to insert more photos. I placed mostly new images, apart from one of my grandads. I chose to put it in because it links with the images from Beauport due to the cliffs. It also is like a memory of him amongst the loss. I made sure to keep the top and bottom left images in line to keep a basic organisation.

Another double page spread because I decided I needed more than one full one. I also like the detail, as a close up instead of a portrait.

These three images really present how people change but places don’t. I retook the image of my gran in the same place to juxtapose the image of my grandfather there. There is a strong link between the images.

I chose to add the description for elephants at the end, to create a summary of their love, and to show why the name of the book is called ‘Elephants Never Forget’.

Opening page vs closing page:

I chose to put these at the beginning and end to give the book a start and finish. They are both taken in the same seat, one with my grandad, and one without. I find it sums up the meanings and my intention behind the book and describes his loss. I also like how my gran is still smiling at the end, emphasising how she has adapted to the change and still feels he is with her at heart.

Originally, I had them both and full double page spreads, but I didn’t like the way her face was on the fold f the page, meaning you wouldn’t be able to see the image properly. Overall, I prefer the image at the side because it creates a nice composition, one beginning on the left and ending on the right. Like how a story is read, left to right, but in a visual format. 

For the themes seek and observe I have decided to explore into my family’s past. I have chosen to focus on my grandmother and grandfather’s relationship and life, and how it has changed over time. They moved to Jersey around 1974 after having my mum and her twin sister. They lived here ever since, until my grandfather passed away in 2005. My gran still lives in the same house they were living in at the time. I want to present the loss, but also the happiness they had as a couple. I will photograph my gran now and juxtapose it with archived images to show the change. I’m going to photograph objects that mean a lot such as wedding rings, old treasures and memorabilia.

Here are some of my images and their meanings so far:

This is one of my best images from the shoot. It sets up the scene of where my gran spends most of her time, and emphasises her as a main subject. This could suggest that there is no one else here with her.

This image has a main focal point which is her engagement and wedding rings. I like this images because she is playing a solo game, however she still has my grandad with her through her rings.

This is a key image that displays the story. It is a basic idea, but I really like the composition, and the way it shows a connection between them still. I could place this near an archived image of them both, which shows the change. Using archived images is my way of seeking into their past.

When composing this photo I wanted to make it clear that there was only one person using the bed, and I only lit up my grandfathers side to use light for the meaning. My grandfathers portrait is on the neat side, and my grans side is untidy. I think there can be a lot of emotion created from this image because it leads the story on, and somewhat shows loneliness. The loss of my grandfather is definitely emphasised.

This is an image of an elephant my grandfather bought my gran. One of their favourite things was elephants, and they would buy each other elephant gifts if on holidays.

This boot has been on the stairs for many years, and I asked my gran about it. She said they bought it on a cruise, inspired by the nickname their friends husband had named their wife. I don’t know if I will include all of these images of objects, but they do hold a story of my grandparents. For my photobook I may put quotes from voice recordings of my gran about these stories.

This is a hawthorn tree, which grows outside my gran’s house. My grandfather was intrigued by it and enjoyed watching it blossom in the spring.

“When the hawthorn opposite the house came into blossom, Pops used to always get very excited because he would say, “springs here!”, and looked forward to the better weather coming. It was like the end of winter for him. And the bush has just bloomed the other day.” – my gran

I have used AI in some of my work to remove objects, or replace backgrounds.

In this image I needed this angle, however I didn’t like the hose in the background.

It gave me two options that weren’t right:

The final option worked, and it made the image look better overall. I found the hose distracted from the subject and threw the colours off.

I retook images of my grandfathers scrapbook because I need clear photo to edit with. I experimented with flash and no flash to workout which gave the sharpest result. These are the selection of the best images.

For non shiny surfaces, flash gave the best result.

Final selection of images – basic edits for photoshop edits

Photoshop edits

I want to make around 3-4 scrapbook pages because it tells the story of my grandad’s life, giving the viewer context. HIs work was also a key role in their life to providing them and influencing them to move to Jersey.

I will (roughly) make 2 on his garages, and 2 on his boat company.

When editing writing, I crop the section that I am going to use. I then remove the saturation, increase the brightness and contrast so that the background is whiter and the pen is as dark as it can go. Then I posturize it, which removes most of the background. I then re-adjust the brightness and contrast and it leaves just the writing.