I am starting to organize photos made for a photo project I have been engaged in since I started doing photography 2.5 years ago. I am hopeful that I can finally complete it by the end of this year.
I am thinking of doing something like a zine or small photobook format, but primarily as a learning experience and not as something I will be trying to market. My impression is that a lot of time, energy, and thought goes into zines/books, given how professional photobooks are discussed and evaluated, and it occurs to me that I have no idea what I am doing.
Any recomendations on videos, websites, books, etc that deal with basic concepts/theories regarding sequencing, pacing, and all those other fancy words used by artists and critics?
1 Like
I made a small zine for myself over a year ago using Scribus. Most of the videos I found on YouTube were specifically about using Adobe Indesign, but many of the technical concepts apply regardless of the software used.
For the less technical aspects, Ted Forbes often does reviews of user-submitted zines and photo books. He’s generally not very harsh in his critiques but will point out areas where the sequencing could be improved, or even things like how different paper could affect the outcome.
https://www.youtube.com/@theartofphotography
Back in 2017 while I was still a LR user (and still willing to put up with anything Adobe), I created a couple of books in Blurb. I was very satisfied with them, but now that I am no longer a LR user (but a Raw Therapee user), I am not sure I would use them again.
You might also want to look at Lens Work (magazine), as they sometimes have ideas for this type of thing. You might even try to submit a portfolio to them for consideration.
You are right about the time, energy required. I have done several calendars of various trips we’ve taken–Ireland, Spain, Russia, France–and they are a LOT of work, especially when you get into doing composite plates for some of the months.
1 Like
@raublekick I am tenatively planning on using Scribus already, in part because of the plethora of posts here on pixls about it!
Also, I loved Ted’s old videos but had fallen off watching his channel for some time. I only know terms like pacing and sequencing because he used them in talking about stuff from the mailbag. It was never clear to me what he actually meant by those terms though. Obviously for these things to be good (or bad) means there is some criteria upon which such judgements are made. I assume that is informed by some tradition,theory,etc. That is what I am trying to learn atm.
I went back last night to see what I could find and, funny enough, he is teaching courses on exactly this kind of thing. If I were a wealthier individual I would seriously consider taking it.
@Kadsura Thanks for the Lens Work reference. I will see what I can dig up there.