Overview
Overview
Overview
A study of how a collection of family photographs documented the growing-up of two twins.
A study of how a collection of family photographs documented the growing-up of two twins.
A study of how a collection of family photographs documented the growing-up of two twins.
For my dissertation at the National Institute of Design, I had to identify, archive, study, and write about an unpublished, vernacular, Indian photographic collection. I chose the photo albums of my family spanning about 17 years, containing photographs mostly taken by my father.
For my dissertation at the National Institute of Design, I had to identify, archive, study, and write about an unpublished, vernacular, Indian photographic collection. I chose the photo albums of my family spanning about 17 years, containing photographs mostly taken by my father.
For my dissertation at the National Institute of Design, I had to identify, archive, study, and write about an unpublished, vernacular, Indian photographic collection. I chose the photo albums of my family spanning about 17 years, containing photographs mostly taken by my father.
About the collection
About the collection
About the collection
My father bought a Kodak Kroma 35, a 35mm point-and-shoot film-camera, in 1996 and kept on taking snapshots of his family till 2010. The collection consisted of 792 prints arranged in 19 albums, along with 22 sleeves of negatives and a few envelopes from the developers.
My father bought a Kodak Kroma 35, a 35mm point-and-shoot film-camera, in 1996 and kept on taking snapshots of his family till 2010. The collection consisted of 792 prints arranged in 19 albums, along with 22 sleeves of negatives and a few envelopes from the developers.
My father bought a Kodak Kroma 35, a 35mm point-and-shoot film-camera, in 1996 and kept on taking snapshots of his family till 2010. The collection consisted of 792 prints arranged in 19 albums, along with 22 sleeves of negatives and a few envelopes from the developers.
Process
Process
Process
Producing rough scans of the photographs
↓
Organizing and keywording the photographs
↓
Finding a narrative
↓
Selecting and captioning photographs for each chapter
↓
Producing final scans
↓
Designing typography and layout
↓
Printing
Producing rough scans of the photographs
↓
Organizing and keywording the photographs
↓
Finding a narrative
↓
Selecting and captioning photographs for each chapter
↓
Producing final scans
↓
Designing typography and layout
↓
Printing
Producing rough scans of the photographs
↓
Organizing and keywording the photographs
↓
Finding a narrative
↓
Selecting and captioning photographs for each chapter
↓
Producing final scans
↓
Designing typography and layout
↓
Printing
Producing rough scans
Producing rough scans
Producing rough scans
The collection consisted of more than seven hundred photographs. I arranged the albums chronologically and made rough scans of the prints with a digital camera.
The collection consisted of more than seven hundred photographs. I arranged the albums chronologically and made rough scans of the prints with a digital camera.
The collection consisted of more than seven hundred photographs. I arranged the albums chronologically and made rough scans of the prints with a digital camera.
Organizing and keywording the photographs
Organizing and keywording the photographs
Organizing and keywording the photographs
I arranged all those snapshots in an organized folder structure and imported them into a Lightroom catalog. Then I prepared a list of keywords based on people, locations, events etc. and tagged the snapshots.
I arranged all those snapshots in an organized folder structure and imported them into a Lightroom catalog. Then I prepared a list of keywords based on people, locations, events etc. and tagged the snapshots.
I arranged all those snapshots in an organized folder structure and imported them into a Lightroom catalog. Then I prepared a list of keywords based on people, locations, events etc. and tagged the snapshots.
Finding a narrative
Finding a narrative
Finding a narrative
Being one of the main subjects of the photographs myself, I had personal connection with the photographs. So, I had to detach myself and look at the images objectively to find a narrative that the audience can relate to and enjoy.
The central narrative of the book is around how my father documented me and my twin sister growing up. The book also talks about photographic technicalities, approaches and decisions of the photographer, and the other subjects that got documented.
Being one of the main subjects of the photographs myself, I had personal connection with the photographs. So, I had to detach myself and look at the images objectively to find a narrative that the audience can relate to and enjoy.
The central narrative of the book is around how my father documented me and my twin sister growing up. The book also talks about photographic technicalities, approaches and decisions of the photographer, and the other subjects that got documented.
Being one of the main subjects of the photographs myself, I had personal connection with the photographs. So, I had to detach myself and look at the images objectively to find a narrative that the audience can relate to and enjoy.
The central narrative of the book is around how my father documented me and my twin sister growing up. The book also talks about photographic technicalities, approaches and decisions of the photographer, and the other subjects that got documented.
Selecting and captioning photographs for each chapter
Selecting and captioning photographs for each chapter
Selecting and captioning photographs for each chapter
The next step was to select photographs for each chapters and captioning them. The book has 127 photographs from the albums divided into six chapters. There are two more chapters in the end that show with images of the albums, negatives and envelopes.
The next step was to select photographs for each chapters and captioning them. The book has 127 photographs from the albums divided into six chapters. There are two more chapters in the end that show with images of the albums, negatives and envelopes.
The next step was to select photographs for each chapters and captioning them. The book has 127 photographs from the albums divided into six chapters. There are two more chapters in the end that show with images of the albums, negatives and envelopes.
Producing final scans
Producing final scans
Producing final scans
Once the final images were selected, I made high quality scans of the prints with a digital camera. I processed them such that the images in the book are printed at 1:1 ratio, and retain the shadow cast by the prints on the white background. This was because the book was more about the photographic objects rather than about the images in them.
Once the final images were selected, I made high quality scans of the prints with a digital camera. I processed them such that the images in the book are printed at 1:1 ratio, and retain the shadow cast by the prints on the white background. This was because the book was more about the photographic objects rather than about the images in them.
Once the final images were selected, I made high quality scans of the prints with a digital camera. I processed them such that the images in the book are printed at 1:1 ratio, and retain the shadow cast by the prints on the white background. This was because the book was more about the photographic objects rather than about the images in them.
Designing typography and layout
Designing typography and layout
Designing typography and layout
To accommodate both horizontal and vertical images of 6 inches max. length, I decided upon 7.5” × 9.5” pages. Considering it an academic project, I kept the book layout formal.
The whole book was set in Source Sans Pro.
To accommodate both horizontal and vertical images of 6 inches max. length, I decided upon 7.5” × 9.5” pages. Considering it an academic project, I kept the book layout formal.
The whole book was set in Source Sans Pro.
To accommodate both horizontal and vertical images of 6 inches max. length, I decided upon 7.5” × 9.5” pages. Considering it an academic project, I kept the book layout formal.
The whole book was set in Source Sans Pro.
Printing
Printing
Printing
The book was printed on 130gsm natural white uncoated paper. The cover was also printed on the same paper stock with an added matte lamination.
The book was printed on 130gsm natural white uncoated paper. The cover was also printed on the same paper stock with an added matte lamination.
The book was printed on 130gsm natural white uncoated paper. The cover was also printed on the same paper stock with an added matte lamination.
