My book

Final book


I was thrilled to see my book once I had ordered it and it had arrived from the site Photo box. Because I had not used the website Blurb, which to me seemed to look a bit more of a professional website, I was slightly anxious to what the quality of the book would be like. I chose to use Photobox as is was more within my budget of what I was prepared to spend. 

When the book arrived however, the quality exceeded my expectations and to say this is my first experience of ever making a professional book I was extremely happy with the out come. 


The Cover

To make the presentation of the book even more professional I also purchased an A4 sized presentation box. This will not only help protect my book but I feel it really does add to the presentation of the book.

 I chose a hardback cover for my book as after creating several hand made moquettes myself, I want to step my work up a level and create a much more professional sturdy book. I chose to remain simple with the front cover. I felt black looked more striking than another plain colour such as white. I also didn't think there was any particular colour other than something dark like black that would really tie in with the book and the story within it. I think however, If I were to make the book again, I would defiantly use an image on the front cover. With this concept in mind however I do believe it would take a great deal of through and consideration in choosing what single image I could place on the front and where the placement of it should be / what size it would be. I do feel however, the plain cover works well with the intriguing title of ''One hand over the eye" as without an image on the front cover, the viewer should hopefully be left wanting to know more. 

Introduction pages

To keep in theme with the black cover and to keep the book quite simplified I chose to use black paper on this first coloured sheet page. Like the cover of the book, I didn't want to use any random colour that wouldn't be fitting with the book. There was not really any colour I felt I would suit the book or the narrative of the images other than black. I feel the use of black continues to create a clean, professional and smart feel to the book. 

When looking at several other books, images were presented among the introductory pages, mostly along side the text or the title. Something which created a slight challenge for me was the fact that 'Photobox' did not allow this page to be completely blank. The site required an image to be on the first page of the book. I tried several ways to try and get around this but ended up having to use an image here. I think if I were to make the book again I would have the image presented much smaller with space around it as I feel the large image here as the very first page of the book is slightly miss-leading in that the viewer is led to believe the images start straight away, you do not turn the page expect to then see titles and writing. 

I do think however, that the choice of image is a good choice an very suitable in being an introductory image to the book. The image sets the scene and gives the viewer a good idea of what to expect next. It still however, creates some mystery, and makes the reader want to read further, as the image presents total carnage, and to someone who who's nothing about Sedgefield Ball Game and has not had chance to read the next couple of pages which explain the game, will be left wondering what is happening here in the image. 

Because I had used an image on the previous page, as appose to using another image and placing it here next to the title page, I chose to leave the page blank. For the layout of the text on this page I deffinately took inspiration from the book I researched called Home and Abroad by Martin Parr. 

I wanted to make it clear beneath the title and my name that the narrative within the book was not just down to me, but down the help and inspiration I gained from the Sedgefield resident Kenny Moyle. 

I was really happy with the page following the title page. I think the use of newspaper next to the writing really helps add context and explain more about the history of this unique tradition. I chose to present the writing in columns as appose to lines that would fill the full length of the page, because I felt the wiring looked tidier and more professional in this way.

As can be seen, with the layout of my images I experimented between smaller images an larger images. I really like both of these pages which can be seen above and below. I feel these pages are examples of two of my favourite layouts. I chose to present this rather unique image of a male stood on the roof of a bus stop as quite small and surrounded by space. When viewing the double page the viewer is therefore drawn into that one particular area as appose to looking across the two images. 

I chose to present this larger image as across two double pages. I got the inspiration for this from a Paul Graham book. I really do think the use of space on this page again works well, with the placement of the image being slightly situated away from the right hand side edge of the page. This is one of my strongest images in my opinion and the fact the individual is giving the camera eye contact encouraged me to want to present the image big to create more of an impact for the viewer. I feel when looking at this image you can almost feel as the viewer that you are actually in that situation yourself, looking into the eyes of the player. 

Some of the images I used in my book are from when I photographed the ball game in 2014. This was not something I was originally going to do until I was encouraged by my tutor and peers. There is only about 4 images used in the book which are from 2014, but the reason I used them is because they are such strong images and each one of them portray Sedgefield ball game extremely well. None of these images of course would be the images I use to hand in as part of final selection of exhibition images which I will hand in as part of this project. This is also one reason why I could not chose to call my book 'Sedgefield Ball game 2016'.