front & back cover -

For the front cover of my photobook, I chose an eye-catching image of a bold sunset, where the sky is painted with hues of blues and oranges. The intense contrast of these colours creates a visual tension that immediately draws the viewer in and captures their eyes towards the book, my goal was to do this to create a strong feeling of curiosity to drag the viewer in and get them to open it. The largely dramatic tones not only represent and show the beauty of the moment but it also set the tone for the journey the viewer is about to go on when flipping through the pages. which is where they will experience a full full range of emotions and grasp the stories captured throughout the pages.

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Evaluation & Overview -

For my final evaluation of the photobook layout, I am very happy with how it turned out, for the pages I designed each page to represent a new day and a new story, with every image giving off different emotions and feelings that go hand in hand with the theme of personal growth and discovery and how the photos made me feel in the moment. Starting on the very first page, my photobook takes the reader on a journey of what connections within union look like to me and the variety of ways the simple word ‘UNION’ can be put into so many different moments and relationships within our daily lives.

In the photobook, the transition from one image to the next shows a different connection sharing a quote or phrase about what each of them represent. with each photograph capturing a specific moment. whether that being the simple colours of a sunset blending together to show that union and bond or even the relationship of how a sunset brings both humanity and nature together creating memories as the two combine. or even as a third example of the mum and daughter I have in one of the images which represents the unique and special bond between them but also with the representation of the union of colours within the sunset too. I created a layout that would showcase a different storyline for each double page spread as I wanted each page to feel unique.

The overall layout of my photobook creates a different view of connections on each page as I wanted to show that there are many different ways to represent the word ‘UNION’ in our every day lives, also giving the viewer a real deep sense of feeling like they should perhaps take more time to truly focus on the connections we have in front of us daily. when it comes to the sunsets I wanted the reader to feel as though they are part of a journey, hopefully giving them the same feelings I felt while in the moment of these sunsets but just through an image.

Mock-up 1

Mock-up 2

Mock-up 3

Mock-up 4

Evaluation -

Within my virtual galleries, I have considered a variety of key elements that contribute and play a role into the overall feel and effect of my book. The themes of each of the galleries are based around the whole theme of ‘UNION’ as our overall theme for the exam project and they are a nice way of representing my images and different stories behind each image, and the photographs were taken to represent a new form of union within each set of images. Each image was chosen for its representation of our theme and how they each individually signify a different form of being united and together they tell a story about unions as a whole and how there are so many types of Union within the world. The virtual Galleries were created using photoshop using the templates we were provided with in the image transfer folder. I made sure to include features such as my extra page spreads that I used in the photobook as they were a key feature to the explanation of my images. In comparison to a real gallery, I feel like the virtual format allowed for me to be overly creative with how I presented my images but also had some down sides as I feel like I needed to have more technical skills in order to make the galleries as best as I could. However, overall I believe the gallery successfully showcases my best images and does a good job at communicating and representing the theme of ‘UNION’ to the audience.

Green flagged images -

I feel these were my best images from the photoshoots overall as they had the best definition and told the best story in a clear way. They are all different with a variety of different moods and locations which was my intention when selecting these images as I wanted each page of my photo-book to hold a different story.

EDIT 1 -

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EDIT 2 –

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EDIT 3 –

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EDIT 4 –

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EDIT 5 –

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EDIT 6 –

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EDIT 7 –

for this edit I used one of my background images and decided to write a nice quote. The quote highlights how the image makes me feel at peace even when I’m stressed, going for a walk in a location like this calms me down instantly so I used words to create that effect for the viewers too.

EDIT 8 –

Evaluation –

When I saw this in real life I felt almost taken back by the surroundings, the brightness of the sky and the pink and purple hues made me feel so overwhelmed with awe it was almost hypnotising hence why I used the phrase “Pink Skies Hypnotize” again representing how I felt when I was there.

EDIT 9 –

EDIT 10 –

Evaluation –

For this image I decided to use a heavy blur on the background and have the lyrics to one of my favourite songs over the top of it as not only does this song remind me of the moments when I am stood under the sunsets but the lyrics almost tell a story, as if sunsets are able to speak to people just through the sole beauty of them and how they draw people in its as if they can speak to peoples minds.

EXTRA PARTS –

These extra parts I decided to add as I found they gave a really interesting feature to my photobook, each one placed alongside one of my images giving a little bit of background information as to what the images represent without it being laid out as a big story I used as minimal words as possible to represent the images using phrases, quotes, bible scripture and even just lone words.

Here are the first few pages which I have tried in a layout so far:

I am trying to create a scene where as people flick through the photobook they are able to feel the same if not similar raw emotions that I feel when looking at a sunset in real life.

I am going for a style where each page tells a different story, a whole unique way of union among the sunsets and showcasing how there are many things that sunsets bring together. whether that be the union of mother and daughter, the union of a girl and her moped or even the union of a boy and nature. each turn of a page creates a different form of union all linked within the theme however each having different meanings.

I began creating a story slide beside each image to almost give a brief understanding of each form of union and how they all combine. Some have a simple quote to do with the image next to it while others have a short description like phrase. I tried to make the photos and wording both inspiring and raw. The true meaning to connections.

Deconstruct the narrative, concept and design of the book and apply theory above when considering -

Book in hand: how does it feel? Smell, sniff the paper –

Holding Genesis feels like holding a piece of the Earth itself. The book is fairly heavy, solid and full of raw beauty within the images. The thick, textured pages have a subtle, woody scent, like freshly printed paper. As you flip through, the black and white landscapes almost feel alive, with every detail standing out in the matte finish. It makes it feel like more than just a book, it’s an experience that pulls you into the untouched, breath taking world of nature with each turn of the page.

Paper and ink: use of different paper/ textures/ colour or B&W or both -

Genesis uses thick, matte paper that adds a tactile weight to the book. The black and white images stand out with depth and detail, enhanced by the subtle texture of the paper. The lack of colour lets the raw beauty of the landscapes speak for itself, creating a timeless, immersive experience.

Format, size and orientation: portraiture/ landscape/ square/ A5, A4, A3 / number of pages -

Genesis is a large format photobook, with an A3 size that showcases the stunning black-and-white images in landscape orientation. The expansive layout allows the breath taking landscapes to be displayed in all their glory, with plenty of room for detail. It has 528 pages.

Binding, soft/hard cover. image wrap/dust jacket. saddle stitch/swiss binding/ Japanese stab-binding/leperello –

Genesis has a hardcover with an image wrap, showcasing a striking landscape. It uses Swiss binding, allowing the book to open flat, and has no dust jacket, letting the cover image shine.

Cover: linen/ card. graphic/ printed image. embossed/ debossed. letterpress/ silkscreen/hot-stamping –

The cover of Genesis is made of linen with a printed image, featuring a sleek, minimalist design.

Title: literal or poetic / relevant or intriguing –

The title Genesis is both literal and poetic. It references the beginning or origin of life and nature, while also invoking a sense of awe and creation, perfectly aligning with the book’s exploration of untouched landscapes and the beauty of the Earth. It’s both relevant to the theme and intriguing, drawing readers into a journey of discovery.

Narrative: what is the story/ subject-matter. How is it told? -

Genesis tells the story of Earth’s most untouched and wild places, capturing pristine landscapes, indigenous cultures, and wildlife in their purest forms. Through stunning black-and-white photography, Sebastião Salgado showcases the planet’s natural beauty, documenting everything from icy polar regions to vast deserts. The narrative is told through his powerful images, which speak for themselves, immersing the viewer in the rawness and stillness of these environments. The photos invite contemplation and reflection, making nature the central storyteller.

Structure and architecture: how design/ repeating motifs/ or specific features develops a concept or construct a narrative -

Genesis is structured by geographic regions, each showcasing different landscapes. The black-and-white photography and repeating motifs of dramatic light and shadow create a cohesive narrative, highlighting nature’s raw beauty. The design flows naturally, emphasizing Earth’s untouched spaces and building a visual journey of its origins.

Design and layout: image size on pages/ single page, double-spread/ images/ grid, fold- outs/ inserts –

Genesis features full-page and double spread images, with a clean layout that lets the photographs shine. There are no fold outs or inserts, just powerful imagery and minimal text.

1. Research a photo-book and describe the story it is communicating  with reference to subject-matter, genre and approach to image-making.

"Genesis" by Sebastião Salgado –

What is the book about? -

“Genesis” is a breath taking photographic journey by Sebastião Salgado that explores the last truly wild and untouched places on Earth. Over the course of eight years, Salgado travelled to remote regions across the globe, from the frozen landscapes of Antarctica to the dense jungles of the Amazon, the vast African deserts, and the towering peaks of the Himalayas. His black and white images capture the raw beauty of nature, untouched by modern civilization, as well as the indigenous communities and wildlife that live in perfect harmony with their environments.

This book is a visual celebration of Earth’s purest landscapes, where time seems to stand still. Salgado’s dramatic use of light and shadow brings out the depth, texture, and emotion in every scene, making even the simplest landscape feel powerful and alive. More than just a collection of stunning photographs, Genesis is a call to appreciate and protect the natural world before it disappears. Through his lens, Salgado reminds us that there are still places on this planet that remain as they were thousands of years ago, sacred, untouched, and awe-inspiring.

How does the book relate to the theme of 'UNION'? -

Sebastião Salgado’s Genesis perfectly connects to the theme of union in multiple ways, especially when looking at how nature, people, and light all come together in harmony.

One of the biggest ways Genesis reflects union is through its deep connection between humanity and nature. Salgado captures untouched landscapes and indigenous communities who live in perfect sync with their environment. These images show how humans and the Earth are not separate but part of a greater whole, existing together in a delicate balance. This idea of unity is especially powerful in today’s world, where modern society often feels disconnected from nature. His work reminds us that true harmony comes from respecting and preserving the natural world.

Another way Genesis ties into the theme of union is through the way he captures the merging of natural elements such as light meeting land, rivers weaving through mountains, and clouds blending into vast skies. His use of black and white photography enhances the contrast and connection between these elements, making them feel inseparable. Just like in a sunset where colours blend seamlessly, his images show how every part of the Earth is interconnected, forming one breath taking, unified landscape.

Overall, Genesis is about the unity of the past, present, and future. Its a reminder that these untouched places have existed for thousands of years and that it’s our responsibility to protect them. It’s a tribute to the way nature and people can exist in harmony, making it a perfect visual representation of union.

Egypt Sunset photos

Contact sheet -

Evaluation of this shoot -

My recent photoshoot in Egypt was a very interesting one as I explored a whole new culture outside of Jersey and had many new experiences, During this shoot I took my time to try and capture both the beautiful sunsets I was encountering daily and stunning landscapes, culture and surroundings of the country. The locations I chose to take photographs of gave off a real feel to the surroundings as I was aiming to create a sense of awe towards the natural beauty but also the differences in the culture of such a different country to where I am from. However, for me one of the challenges I had to face was working with the Egyptian sun as it was very bright and sometimes gave off to much of a glare in the lens, which is why I had to consider carefully when I was planning my shoots. The weather was unpredictable at times, but I embraced it, using the natural light to my advantage, and just worked around what was the best times for me to take photographs to get the best results.

As for the technical side of things within this photoshoot, I used a combination of natural (the sky, lamps etc) and artificial lighting (My phone flash) to create the right mood for each shot. I used my iPhone 12 pro camera for the shoot in Egypt as I wasn’t able to take my canon camera with me. Some challenges came up, like the unpredictable winds which were quite large on some days or getting the right moment while people were walking around. The results were very good and I feel I really captured a lot of the specific area in which I went in Egypt while also making sure each image was telling its own story and view of Egypt.

Contact sheet -

Photoshoot 3 was all about capturing daily moments where the sunset was peaking through and making an appearance. I didn’t have a lot of structure with this photoshoot as I took them spontaneously on different days and at different times. I made sure to always have my phone readily available to me so that I could capture these images purely in the moment and not have to plan my day around a shoot.

I feel these shoots turned out great as I ended up with a huge variety of different coloured sunsets and all had different backgrounds as I made sure to take them in a new location each time. I also feel each of the photos I took have a story of their own, whether its something as simple as the connection between two people, or purely the colours of the sky.

Beach shoot –

This was a short and very minimal photoshoot where I used my little sister as a model with a sunset in the background. These photos were taken down at St Ouens beach during sunset hours. My aim was to arrive at the beach at a time where the sun was set enough to capture silhouettes of her as she walked along the beach.

This shoot represented the theme of ‘UNION’ as it shows the union between the various blend of colours in the sunset. All the different hues and shades of yellows, oranges and blues. These colours give me a sense of peace and comfort, tranquillity filling the air, knowing in these moments I can be free and relax without any worries whatsoever.

The second way it represents ‘UNION’ is the connection between nature and mankind. My sister walking along the beach brings two things together in union as she spends her time out in the nature taking it all in and enjoying being in her surroundings.

Another connection I want to mention is how both the sunset and my sister bring me Joy, comfort and peace. spending time with my sister makes me feel at ease in the same way that being surrounded by a sunset in nature also makes me feel.

I took these images using an iPhone 12 pro camera and had my sister taking a natural walk along the beach. There was no direction involved when taking these images it was all raw and natural.

Contact sheet -

Analysis –

For my first sunset photoshoot, I aimed to capture union through the merging colours and silhouettes, exploring how light and shadow interact to create a sense of connection. During the shoot which I took over a weeks worth of days, I focused on capturing the different colours in the most detailed way possible, to really represent the bonding and combination of different hues, colours and how they all nicely blend together to create the full sunset shown in my images. One of my main challenges I faced was not being able to control the intensity of the sunset, some days were more vibrant and colourful than others where on some days there wasn’t a wide range of colours in the sky so I had no choice but to work with what I was given. I adapted to this by taking images no matter what the sunset looked like that day to give a realistic view of daily life showing that even though not every day has an amazing sunset there is still a very visible representation of unity in our every day lives. In reviewing my images from this first shoot, I found that I was able to capture a variety of different forms of unity even just within one weeks worth of sunsets. While I also noticed that I could perhaps have taken more for each day and should have spent a bit more time trying to really capture the sunsets to the best of my ability and not being so rushed. Moving forward for the next shoots, I plan to put more time into planning perhaps a specific location in which I want to be to capture the sunset so that I create a variety of different scenes to better convey the theme of ‘UNION’ in the most natural way.

Best 3 images from photoshoot 1 -

I took this image while on the way back from a quick one day trip I had to take to London. This image captures a plane in flight against the backdrop of a sunset, viewed from a plane window. The composition of this image naturally conveys the theme of ‘UNION’ in multiple ways. Firstly through the seamless blending of warm and cool tones in the sky which symbolize harmony and togetherness. The presence of the plane reinforces the idea of the connection between places, people and moments, as air travel physically unites distant locations. The window acts as a subtle barrier yet also serves as a framing device, which emphasizes the perspective of the viewer which was me, being both an observer and a participant within the journey. The contrast between the light colours of the sunset and the almost dark silhouette of the wing of the Plane highlights the balance between movement and stillness, again reinforcing the idea that union is not just about physical closeness but also about the relationships between elements within a shared space. I would say that this image successfully reflects the theme of ‘UNION’ capturing a fleeting yet meaningful moment where nature and human presence align effortlessly hence why I feel this is one of my strongest images from this shoot.

This image features a sunset with the front of my moped positioned in the foreground on the right side, creating a visual contrast between nature and a man-made object. The composition represents the theme of ‘UNION’ by blending the organic beauty of the sunset with the mechanical presence of my moped, which also symbolizes the connection between human movement and the natural world. The positioning of my moped almost suggests a journey, either one that has just begun or one about to begin, highlighting the relationship between travel, freedom and the passing of time. The warm hues of the sunset merging with the darker silhouette of my moped create a sense of balance, reinforcing the idea that union is not always about similarity but about coexistence and contrast. This image captures a natural yet meaningful moment where two very opposite and different elements being transportation and nature exist peacefully within the same frame.

Thirdly, this image captures an almost silhouette of me walking along the beach towards the sea, carrying my bougie board ready to catch some waves with the sunset in the background, embodying the theme of union through movement, nature and self-reflection. The composition creates a sense of connection between the individual and the vast, open horizon, symbolizing the relationship between humans and the natural world. The warm merging of colours in the sunset contrast with the darker silhouette, emphasizing the balance between light and shadow, presence and absence. The act of walking towards the water suggests a journey whether that be physically or symbolically representing the unity between past, present and future. The image also reflects the natural union as it captures a simple yet meaningful moment where an individual becomes part of the landscape, merging with the elements in a way that feels effortless and natural.