When it comes to my publication, I really wanted to exaggerate the tactlessness and personal touch it has. In order to do this, I went outside my usual style and decided to make it appear less minimal and more hand-made and personal, mixing digital format with film, and my own work and the boys personal images and items. I also believe that my target audience of young creatives would prefer a more tactile aesthetic for this project, as it suits the theme more and represents ‘being boy’.
The front cover features photographs taken by Samir and Theo, and I chose this as they are eye-catching and bold, perhaps encouraging an audience to pick up my publication and read more about it. Additionally, I really feel like the images best represent this project, showing that it is authentic and true, without any direction or adjusting.
To begin, I split the publication into two parts- part one with Samir & Theo, and part two with Matt & Jake. I did this because I wanted to keep the boys friendships separate because they both are, with their own unique qualities and quirks. I included all of the shoots, including the tests, as they show the friendships in a humorous and positive light, and demonstrate just how much the boys love and admire each other.
The publication includes quotes and messages from the boys, mainly focussing on the future and their relationship with each other. I wrote each quote phonetically, so that a reader gets a feel for the individuals personality- this also makes the publication appear friendly and endearing.
My main aim for this publication was to attract a creative audience and inspire them to meet new people and document interesting things, whether thats a person or a thing. A part of me also finds the topic of boyhood incredibly interesting, especially as a female, as I believe there is so much pressure on young boys to conform to societies expectations on what it takes to be a ‘man’.
Additionally, this publication includes mini-books inside, featuring Al who I came across half way through my project, and some film shots by Samir and Theo. These little add ons make the publication interesting and less tedious throughout.
Within the publication I also included my own sketches and drawings which i made throughout this project, Whilst I did not want to exaggerate this or remove the focus on the images, I believed it to be imperative as It shows my own thought process, and my own view on societies expectations, as a female.
At the end the publication with a thank you note and a few disposable images that were taken towards the end of the project. I include myself within these images to exaggerate the relationship that was formed throughout the process, as the boys decided to use their last snapshot on myself. I found this very touching, as it really showed that we bonded throughout the project, and they felt like I impacted enough to be a part of their personal diary.
