Photographer Justin @Fantl ’s longtime obsession with the Channel Islands gave birth to his latest monograph titled ‘Santa Rosa.’ He’s been visiting the island chain, located off the coast of Santa Barbara, for several years. His meticulous macro and micro investigation of the landscape became an intimate meditation on how time and preservation can impact the land around us.
We designed the book utilizing the photography as a roadmap to reveal the stories hidden underneath.
We’ve designed many of Justin’s printed monographs over the years, but this was one of most meaningful collaborations.
The islands are in a constant state of flux, much of which is natural. I have always been interested in zones where the earth is laid bare. Copies still available at santarosaebook.com link in bio and thank you to everyone for all the support. It means the world to me.
Triptychs originated in the Middle Ages and were often used as church altarpieces. Triptychs can be used to show different elements of the same subject matter. I have used the triptych over the years as an effective way to show a landscape. I find that the use of three
distinct frames offers a a view of a scene that feels more tangible than a single frame often does. There are many landscapes that are difficult to describe with one frame so I used the triptych method in this project to capture the grandeur of some of the spaces I
encountered and how it felt to be in those spaces. For more information about the Santa Rosae project please follow the link in my bio. I also want to thank everyone that has ordered one for the support. It means so much to me! Thank you!!
One of my favorite spreads. This one is purely about visual language. The pairing of images throughout the book is intensely intentional. There are some Easter eggs in there and I am curious to see if anyone picks up the intent. Happy viewing! Link to santarosaebook.com in the bio.
One of the central themes that emerged from this project is the depiction of time passing. There are several spreads that employ the use of a grid to illustrate this idea. Jordan Downs, aka @thesalmontrader wrote in the intro, "Human endeavors come and go, rocks and minerals erode, names change, and entropy will always be time's arrow." I love that phrase, "...entropy will always be time's arrow." There is abundant evidence of relics from the various eras of the islands. Most are in a state of decay and caught between our inaction to remove them and the tendency of nature to break everything down. To find out more please click the link in the bio.
This canyon is located on the western end of Santa Cruz Island. The topography shifts dramatically depending on the aspect and exposure and at times feels disorienting.
Just rolling out some more of the spreads. Santa Rosae is now available at Chaucer's @chaucersbooks and Godmother's @godmothersbooks !!! Also still available on the website... link in bio.
Starting to roll out a few more spreads. There is an aerial section in the book. I thought a survey from the air would provide a unique perspective. I flew a Cessna 172 from SBA on several different flights. Most of the images were shot between 7,000 - 10,000 ft. MSL. The first set of books has shipped! Link in the bio if you are interested in purchasing a copy.
The introduction was written by Jordan S. Downs, aka @thesalmontrader To friends that do not know him I have described Jordan as a walking encyclopedia. His knowledge about California flora, fauna and history is quite amazing. We accompanied each other on many trips to Santa Rosa island and I learned a great deal from him. He would often stop dead in his tracks hearing a particular bird song, or seeing an endemic plant protruding from a rocky outcropping proclaiming not only his genuine excitement but at least one or more facts about whatever it was we were taking in. There was never any question in my mind about who I wanted to write the introduction. So thank you Jordan! Also, thank you to everyone who has purchased a book already. . . it means the world to me! The first round of orders will ship this week!
Some people have asked why the book costs as much as it does. Well, there are few practical reasons for that! The first is that this is a self published project fully funded by my wife and I. I didn’t even anticipate how much money or how long it would take to complete this book. There is just the time spent to create the images. Dozens of multi day trips over 4 years. Then there is the time spent editing, easily hundreds of hours sifting through thousands and thousands of images. Then there are the design costs. Then the post production. Then there are the printing costs which include multiple proofs, more time reviewing the proofs and additional editing and sequencing Then high quality printing and binding by @editiononebooks . The first edition is limited to 200 books so if you do buy one you are getting something that is very unique and special. I hope this insight helps those of you considering a purchase but balking at the price a bit. Here are the specifications of the book.
Santa Rosae || Hardcover
7.50” wide x 9.50” high.
216 pages printed on 118gsm Smooth Uncoated paper.
Cover is Linen Wrap with Inset Image.
Intro by Dr. Jordan S. Downs
One of the most satisfying aspects of completing this project is seeing the spine of Santa Rosae mixed in with my collection of photography books. That little bit of green and gold means so much to me and the work it took to create. Part of that comes down to stellar design. I worked with George McCalman aka @George.McCalman and the team at @mccalmanco almananco to design the book. George and I go way back. He was actually the first person I showed my portfolio to when I completed my MFA. He got me. Somehow he got me and we have collaborated ever since. George has described our process as akin to jazz; I think in the sense that there is a fundamental structure of excellent design but in our process we tend to fly all over the place, riffing off one concept and then the next not really knowing where we are leading each other until eventually landing on what just feels right in the end. So thank you George, thank you for this, and for all of our design jams over the years!
I am pleased to announce my first monograph! After nearly 4 years of shooting and over a year of editing and designing I present Santa Rosae!
The focus is the 4 northern Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara, CA. The history of these islands is incredibly rich and layered. There were any number of directions I could have gone with this project. In the end I let the islands dictate the path and I reacted to how being in a particular space gave me pause and reason to create a photograph. Definitive themes emerged from that process and at its core this book became an honest record of place at a particular moment in time.
To learn more and purchase Santa Rosae please visit / (link also in bio)
