Rediscovering the beauty of a book
Being a photographer that loves to look at other people’s images. This lockdown has given me time to rediscover several photographers work again.
My photographic idols and inspirations have such vast back catalogues that discovering images I’ve not seen by them is fascinating. Not only in a way of just looking but to try and gain an understanding of their mindset in creating them.
The thought process for setting out to create an image is different for us all. Mine starts off with a theme – storyline. I find this works for me as when you have a story to tell you to need several elements, a location for it, characters to be involved, a time of day, weather conditions if your location is outside. There are many details that need including and these are not always the most obvious things to your viewer but are all the details that add up to the final result.
When I look at images I take all these points into account making the viewing experience of an image more interesting, for me anyway. I’ve bought several books while being at home and some real bargains are floating around on the internet which is always pleasing to a Yorkshireman.
Marc Lagrange has always been a go-to photographer of mine and his book Senza Parole is a beautiful book and to find a brand new copy for under £40 was a steal. If you’re lucky enough to own a signed copy they are selling for around £2000.
When you turn the pages of a book like this and the fresh smell of the ink and the texture on the pages from the print combined with the images for me just add to the whole experience. There is nothing better in my opinion than seeing an image in print rather than the modern way of on a glass panel. This has also added to my list of things to do in that I must produce my own book.
Book one for my time in lockdown is
Senza Parole by Marc Lagrange. Look it up it’s well worth it.