I had a catch-up meeting with the bookbinder based in North Uist, Corinna Krause from Sollas Books (https://www.sollasbooks.com/), who is producing the handmade Artist’s book for my PhD. I have done a lot of thinking about the rationale, format, paper surfaces and covers over the past few weeks since I submitted the second draft of my thesis. I have previously posted as follows:
https://www.wildreflections.photography/uncategorised/meeting-with-bookbinder-25-october-2022
https://www.wildreflections.photography/uncategorised/thinking-about-the-presentation-of-my-practice
This is a summary of my thinking to date produced here as an aide memoire:
Title
Meditations on Being
Reflections on Being
Ode to Loch Cill Chriosd
Rationale
- A quiet and modest presentation that reflects my photography style and voice
- A simple, authentic, and reflective presentation
- The format allows the viewer to dwell in, and with, the image
- Being often resides in the small details of my images hence the large format
- The concertina format was dismissed because my work is about individual images rather than a series
Size and Scale
- Either A2 portrait (42 x 59cm)
- Or 41×51.25 which leaves less white space around the image – providing the viewer with a boundary in which to dwell
- Images need to be offset to account for the stitching
Surfaces
- German Etching (310gsm)
- William Turner (310gsm)
- Photo Rag (308gsm)
Notes: Bookbinder is able to produce a “deckled edge” – send samples of potential papers for her to consider and experiment on
Bookbinder can work with A2 cut down to the reduced size as necessary
Binding/Cover
- Stitched Coptic bound book (five hole)
- Image printed onto paper or canvas for cover
- Leather cover – not sure whether this is an option
Structure
- Title page
- My introduction to my work
- 3 parts to the book: Reeds, Trees, Water lilies
- 25-30 images
- Flow – quiet and no surprises
Timescale
- This will depend on the intended submission date
- Printing mid to late May (2 copies of each print)
- 12/15 June – workshop and completion of one book (if possible)
- The second book is to be delivered thereafter
Actions
- send sample photographic papers to the bookbinder
- source canvas printer
- provide canvas prints with plenty of spares – dimensions of material need to provide for turn in (43cm wide x 53.25cm high)
- provide tissue paper if canvas chosen
- provide completed canvas print to the bookbinder in May
I have a meeting with my supervisors next week when I will be able to discuss my plans along with considering some of the printed images.
