Arctic Allure: A Photographic Journey Through Iceland’s Winter
COVER DESIGN
INTERIOR PAGE LAYOUT
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
CREATIVE DIRECTION
As an outdoor enthusiast and avid photographer, I find immense joy in capturing the outdoor world through my lens. My passion for photography developed during my time studying at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and during my family holidays, as I spent most of my time hiking around the UK.
Having my camera with me always felt natural when I was outside. I’ve always considered myself a black-and-white photo girl, but I also spent the better part of a decade dreaming about the day I could witness and capture the amazing blue ice of Iceland. Something about that translucent cyan color drew me in, and I couldn't shake it off. So, I booked a trip to celebrate 2017 New Year's Eve in Iceland. Yes, 2017. I know it was a long time ago!
If there was ever a time my night owl tendencies came in handy, it was when I landed in Reykjavik. My plane landed at 10 AM but it looked like it was 10 PM, which felt entirely natural to me. I wasted no time. Instead of resting and adjusting to the time difference, I fell in love with the city right away. Thanks to the advice of fellow travelers who had visited Iceland before, I knew it wasn’t a great idea for a tourist like myself to drive in an unfamiliar country during Iceland’s winter months. So, I opted for guided tours and let the professionals show me the beautiful country from a local perspective.
I’ve done a NOLS course and two Outward Bound courses, but my time in Iceland was unparalleled. From hiking glaciers to exploring black sand beaches and braving off-road jeep tours (so glad I wasn’t driving!), my camera was my constant companion, capturing every awe-inspiring moment.
The Challenge
The minute I returned home, I knew I needed to design a photography book that would do justice to the breathtaking experiences and cherished memories I had in Iceland so I could relive them over and over again. However, bringing these digital memories to life proved to be more challenging than I expected. I had hundreds of photos to sift through, and each one held a special meaning.
Of course, this shouldn’t have come as a surprise. I had my camera at every windy turn and could not stop clicking away. It makes sense that I had hundreds of digital photos waiting patiently for me on my Olympus digital camera. And in all honesty, this wasn’t anything new for me. In college, people called us photog majors "clicky-windies" because we were constantly clicking away, capturing one frame at a time.
Rightfully so, this long-awaited trip to Iceland was no different. If there was ever a time to take way too many photos, it was on this trip. Scanning through an exorbitant number of photos, my love-hate relationship with non-film cameras reared its ugly head. The lovely images stayed in my camera for far too long. I printed two out on large-format fine art paper, but that did not tell the whole story of my journey. So, it was time to take a different approach! In my professional opinion, the detail of a photography book helps elevate the story behind the photos that are featured, the same way you select certain typography, matting styles, or frames for a special gallery show. All of these design elements matter and can either improve or hurt your final story.
The Approach
I've had the pleasure of working with many photographers on their photography coffee table books, and I knew I wanted my book to showcase the amazing sights and colors of Iceland. More specifically, I wanted to design this book in a way that really took me back to those specific moments in time, encapsulating the emotions and invoking a powerful sense of nostalgia.
Personally, I am drawn to minimalism and believe design should elevate, not clutter. Although a book on graffiti might be designed differently, with this approach in mind, I sought to create a visual journey that would transport me back to Iceland.
The Design Solution
That fantastic cyan blue that I was so excited to see in real life didn’t disappoint, and I wanted to find a way to feature that prominent color throughout the book and cover art. I decided to showcase several gridded images throughout my trip on the book cover. These images were carefully selected based on their ability to portray the allure of this arctic environment.
On the interior spreads, I wanted to create chapters based on each adventure I went on. To reinforce that striking blue, I flooded the left-hand side of the spread with a cyan color and placed the title page on the right. This added a level of organization to the book that allowed me to relive my experiences in a chronological and meaningful way. It also gave me space to create uncluttered, minimalist layouts that gave each photograph space to stand out. Together, these design choices created a cohesive and visually appealing structure.
The Result
I could not be more pleased with the final results. The final product was more than just a book—it was a tangible connection to my Icelandic adventure, allowing me to relive those moments whenever I turned the pages. Printing photos out is a beautiful way to remember a holiday, but that is only the first step. To give your adventures a true home, I recommend carefully crafting a book for your friends, family, and yourself to see and remember the good times.
