I just looove bookbinding

Those who have been following here might remember that I enrolled in a bookbinding course at Enmore earlier this year with Rosemarie Jeffers-Palmer from Amazing Paper http://www.amazingpaper.com.au/


Rosemarie runs a beginners course on behalf of the Sydney Community College but she also has her own bookbinding business.

I loved it so much I came back for seconds.  My only regret is that I will be a way a bit later in the year so will have to wait until 2013 before I get my next dose of tuition.

In the meantime, as well as learning about bookbinding, bookrepairs and book design I have been experimenting with some of my own designs using my photographic images.

My very first fledgling prototypes are ready to take in to Rosemarie for this week's class and await her critique??  Compared to the beautiful work I see in her studio/workshop, mine are a pale comparison, however, they are so much better than my early attempts.  And I do love the "create" part of the process.  I also love that I think I can enjoy some of my images as covers on my handmade books for gifts for family and friends.  I might eventually sell some at our market stall.  Just need to get the technique perfected.

Here below are a couple of my first attempts.  My designs are using an almost square format.  I like it more than A5 and A6, although I have a couple in that sze in the making.   These "almost square" designs vary,  but are approximately 5.5sq".  (or roughly 14-14cms) square.

For these books I have used a Japanese stab binding, linen thread, beautiful Canson Montvale Aquarelle paper for covers and cartridge paper (about 100gsm) for text pages.  I'm attempting to use a "re use, source local, offcut) model.  Not perfect, but I'm certainly watching my footprint.


This first book features an image from a Turkish Bazaar.  (front and back)

This Black and White cover book (below) features one of my maple images from my tree at home.

Recovery Mode

In the process of recovering from a small health problem and being forced to stay home and remain quiet for a few days I've discovered the joy of reorganising and re editing some older images.  Some not that old, but they were images I'd had a bit of a go at when I first took them and put them aside for a rainy day.

I'm also in the process of slowly moving to Lightroom 4.  Still not entirely happy with the metadata that I can bring in as I upgrade.  I'm keeping versions of LR3 so if (when) they sort it out over at Adobe or when I discover "how"?? I can have another go.

One of the things that always intrigues me when I open an image that I haven't looked at for some time, is the way I see it with new eyes and often I think the 2nd edit is much better.  I always have to be disciplined when I'm in the middle of a major block of time editing work.  I can make an absolute idiot of myself, good judgement right out the door??

Why is it that when completely ensconced in your own world, you can lose all perspective.  My little rule (that is quite often broken) is to not upload anything immediately - and if.... no ...  when I do, to make sure that I head right over to that site the very next day and rescue myself.   The readout on my computer actions these past few days would make interesting analysis as I've pretty much ripped everything I have uploaded off again and started all over.  I think that's one of the things I love the most about the digital world of photography.  Nothing has to be definite and most things can be dressed up with a new look for a new idea.  The trick for me, of course, is to make sure I publish all the versions and don't just write over each one as there is a wonderful treasure trove of my days and my life hidden away midst my photography.

So now for a snippet of what I have found - just a small look.


This gorgeous fellow (below) was in Turkey, not for from Van when our mini bus spotted a wedding party being followed by their friends and family along a main road.  Cars everywhere, horns blaring, red scarves being waved by young people leaning out car windows.

These guys (below) were also in Turkey in a very historic town, Sunliurfa.  We'd been enjoying some street photography in the local meeting place and this snap was taken when these fellows were inspecting the image on my friend's camera.

A tiny village (below) close to the city of Van in Eastern Turkey.  This youth was busy in the workshop.  I've processed this a few different ways and it looks good as a B&W but when I used a different process with a blue tone and stronger contrast I got a completely different impression.

And finally, a pic from western NSW (below).  The old woolshed @ Kinchega, near Menindee bathed in late afternoon light.

Crazy

Sydney and much of the coast was hit hard yesterday with high winds, rain, branches and leaves everywhere.  I had to drive to the city in the early evening.  Crazy?  However, because of the severe weather warnings, people actually stayed off the roads so I had the "crazy" good trip into town. Who would have believed it?

Don't know why I thought about putting my old camera in with the lensbaby on??  Good idea!  The bookbinding class I have been attending @ Amazing Paper, http://www.amazingpaper.com.au/ was called off because others couldn't get there.

Good fortune occasionally shines in bad weather.  I was then able to spend a great hour wandering the back streets of Redfern, lensbaby in hand, dodging the weather, umbrellas flying across the street, looking at a sort of ghost town environment as traffic on usually busy streets stayed away.

This guy ran out of a terrace with his dog lead in one hand and his scooter in the other.  Caught a couple of fun shots as he set sail down the street on his scooter and dog running behind.

Edited in Nik - do so love Nik Silver!!

Enjoy!