OUGD603 - Photography Book - Final Book Spreads

In the production of the final book spreads, the final layout rhythm and pace utilises a combination of ideas from layout developments in order to create a flow which keeps the reader engaged through the interludes of negative space which gives the reader a pause for thoughts, and then is prompted to continue reading with the addition of layouts which use the idea of perspective to give a sense of direction and movement, whilst this movement also reflects the context and themes of the book. It was also thought that this combination of layouts better allowed for different photography sizes and formats to be accommodate for more appropriately and effectively. Another layout used steadily and consistently throughout this final book is based on juxtaposing different images next to each other in order to highlight both their similarities and differences, and so communicating a sense of narrative, something which Akshay attempts to do in his photography to create an emotive experience for the audience. For instance, imagery of supermarkets at night, juxtaposing an image of the whole building with an image of the inside of the building. This is then further juxtaposed on alternate spreads, but using imagery of petrol stations at night, which were found to be photographed in similar ways, and so also highlighting the similarities and differences between the supermarkets and petrol stations at night, which continues this idea of narrative for the reader, getting them more engaged with the themes of the book and meanings behind the photography. Full bleed images have also been used across some entire spreads, reflecting the typical structures of petrol stations, whilst also continuing to create a sense of direction and 'call to action' for the reader to continue.

The backgrounds behind these images used a mixture of colour, switching between black and an off-white colour depending on the spread. It was thought that the use of black highlights some of the images better, whilst also working to convey a sense of night and isolation which reflects the mood of the photography throughout the book. These black backgrounds, however, are occasionally broken up with the use of an off-white colour as a contrast to the black, conveying a sense of light and dark or light through the darkness as featured in much of Akshay's photography. These interludes also allow the reader a pause for thought and gives them a breather from the almost chaotic nature of the rest of the book. The off-white colour has been chosen, since it was thought that white created too much of a contrast which distracted your eyes from the imagery and messages behind these, whilst the off-white conveys a sense of early morning light as it tries to break through the darkness, creating a more subtle contrast with the use of black.

For the first page of the book, a foreword has been added so that readers get an initial sense of what the book is about and the photographer's style of work. This has been structured into a column, utilising the underlying column grid, in order to represent the typical structure and aesthetics of a petrol station sign, paired with one of Akshay's images which highlights this structure. A simple blue line has been pulled through the bottom of this spread, a colour taken directly from the image as to give a subtle link to this, in order to create an initial sense of direction and movement which prompts the reader to start flicking through, whilst its design also links to the streaks of light featured in some of Akshay's photography within the book, created from long exposure methods.