Book making

Your first attempt will be messy, sticky and probably a bit of a disappointment - like everyones' first time - except this won't be over as quickly. So have a practice. Make a small book to familiarise yourself with the cutting, scoring, folding and glueing issues that you'll encounter.

Cut your paper to size, and factor-in an extra centimeter to score and fold over (we'll call this bit the 'tang')

Japanese folding book:

The idea is that the tangs allow the pages to be joined, and provide a 'spacer' to help the book sit flat when the photographs are added. The book can be anchored together at one side with ribbon or tape to form a spine, allowing the book to open conventionally. The tapes or ribbons can be released to allow the book to extend as a long 'concertina', showing all the images at once.

PVA 'School' glue is ideal for sticking the book together, but use sparingly.


Conventional book:

This method fixes the spine of the book on one side, but (again) the 'tangs' provide spacers to let the book lie flat when the photographs are added.

For those who didn't grow up with Blue Peter or don't have an adult to help you, Photobox.co.uk will make a book for you from your uploaded images - similar to how flickr works


As with anything cheap, easy and quick, everyone and his dog is likely to start doing it, so remember that hand-made means unique.

Silverprint portfolio boxes and actetate sleeves are easily found through the link on the right.

The work of Art in the age of mechanical reproduction

Please download "The work of Art in the age of mechanical reproduction" by Walter Benjamin

In 1936, Benjamin wrote with alarming foresight of an age where reproductions are more common - and sometimes, more acceptable to us - than the original.

The essay has become a hugely significant piece of writing, for everyone connected with image making. It has taken on even greater importance with the advent of digital imaging and the age of the internet, where the concept of 'the original' becomes clouded.

For instance, I'm writing this blog post on my computer, but it looks exactly the same on yours - and on the computers of anyone else who chooses to look. Is there an original?

Take the time to read through Benjamin's essay - twice


Assignment
Choose an iconic image* that you are familiar with - through a reproduction (*Photograph, drawing, painting, sculpture, maybe even a building, but if you choose a person, please refer to a specific image of them.)

Research contextual biographical details of the work and author. With a minimum of 1000 words in mind, explain through which form of reproduction and in what context you can first recall seeing that image*.

Have you ever seen the original? If you have - did it surprise you, reassure you, or disappoint you? If you haven’t seen it - do you want to?

Do you think that reproduction of your chosen image diminishes the original? (Bad?)
Do you think that the reproduction of your chosen image democratises it and enables more people to see it? (Good?)

Make reference and use quotes from Benjamin's essay (and other texts you may already be aware of) where appropriate.

Conclude with an overview of the different forms the image now takes - through mechanical reproduction. And where is the ‘original’?

Submission: Monday 3rd March - Lecture theatre at 10.00am.


Walter Benjamin leads into ideas about simulation (simulacra) and Hyper-reality - best described by Umberto Eco

Here's a link to a Guardian article about tourists' disappointment with famous landmarks and tourist attractions.

This link will take you to Martin Parr's pictures of modern tourism

A Wee Reminder

Great to see you all in the studios tonight getting to grip with the digi back!

This is just to remind you that the asssignment for Jon and Pauline is to be submitted next Tuesday 12th Feb at 1.15. This is an extra 1hour slot to allow us to crit the shots you have done and ensure that everyone has had a shot of the equipment and can produce a print to the correct spec.

Any one who is not sure should contact Jon or Pauline soon!

Interesting

Robert Capa

Graded unit tutorials Mon 11th Feb Studio 22

1.15pm
Currie Theo
Footit Claire
Macaulay Tertia
Osborne David

1.45pm
King Howard
Irvine Andrew
Connelly Amanda
Jamieson Jennifer

2.15pm
Mason Nicholas
McMaster Jennifer
Miller Ryan
Sangster Natalie

3.00pm
Melrose Ben
Mroczkowska Ania
Munro Louise
Galloway Stuart

3.30pm
Stelzer Kyle
Milligan Barry
Mooney Samantha

Darkroom project

Select a B/W negative to use for all the prints.

Make a 'guide' print to the best of your ability using resin coated paper, processed through the machine in the college darkroom.

Select two different types of silver halide-based photographic paper.

Make a ‘fine print’ using each of the papers, processed by hand through dishes. The college provides Dektol developer. Others are available. You may wish to try an alternative.

Follow the permanent links on the right to Silverprint, Fotospeed, Kentmere, Kodak, Calumet and 7 day shop. Do a deal with your classmates and split the costs.

Keep all your test strips and work prints. Make notes on your observations about the quality and tonality of the print on resin-coated paper compared to the prints on fibre-based paper.

You should see differences in the depth of blacks and the brightness of whites. Tonal separation may be more pronounced. Images may be warm-tone, verging on sepia, or cool tone – appearing almost blue. The possibilities of paper and developer combinations are almost endless. Photographers search for something that they think works best for them.

Present your two ‘fine prints’ window mounted for wall display.

Deadline: Monday 17th March

Graded Unit

Proposal:
Between 500 and 1000 words
Deadline: Mon 25th Feb @ 1.15pm in Room 187
Counts for 15% of marks (late submissions marked out of 8%)

Identification of aims and objectives:
Introduction (2 marks)
Aims and objectives (3 marks)

Selection and justification of techniques/equipment/format
(4 marks)

Strategic planning:
Presentation format (1 mark)
Timescale (2 marks)

Identification of research required (3 marks)

Total = 15

Research, development and production
70% of marks

Evaluative report
15% of marks

FINAL DEADLINE: Monday 12th MAY

CTS - Monday lecture programme

Lecture Theatre 10.00am

4th Feb: The Medium is the Message
11th Feb: The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
18th Feb: Group activity
25th Feb: Faking it - Fashion photography
3rd Mar: Group activity
10th Mar: Mass Communications and Consumerism