Oil Sands documents the industrial landscape of Alberta as well as the human stories hidden in this area. This book contains photography documenting the process of extraction and industry, it also contains a number of pockets containing photographs and quotes form the people who live and work in the area.

“Oil Sands is a sober book, an example of how straight documentary is using book arts to further its message,” Colin Pantall, Source

The Oil Sands project documents the devastating effects that the extraction of oil can have on a landscape as well as the complicated human relationship with the oil industry.

We chose a large format for the book because the landscapes that are being documented are huge and cover vast areas that are being destroyed. Alan’s aerial photographs also show an incredible amount of detail that the large format full bleed photos help to enhance.

We decided to hide the human stories within the landscapes. Small cards with a photograph on one side and a fact about the Oil Sands on the other can be found throughout the book in pockets, camouflaged within the industrial landscape photographs. We wanted a way of suggesting that the human element of this story is hidden and often not deemed as important as the vast industry in the area. The cover is printed on a textured card to represent the tactile nature of the land. The title has also been printed in a gloss ink that looks very much like oil.

Press:

Source, book review by Colin Pantall, Summer 2019; Photobook Journal, book review by Douglas Stockdale, 26th January 2020

Book fairs:

Photobook Show, Brighton, 2019; K Book Show, Lithuania, 2019; Athens Photobook Festival, 2019; Printed Matter, New York, 2019, LA Art Book Fair, Los Angeles, 2019; Noua Photobook Cafe; Open Eye Gallery Book Fair, Liverpool, 2019; Impressions Gallery Book Fair, Bradford, 2019

Awards:

FIRST PRIZE Winner (LACP) 2019 PhotoBook Journal Competition ‘OIL SANDS’ Los Angeles Center of Photography