Jon Sanchez’s first book is a study on the surfer’s obsession with the wave he captures daily along the coasts of his native Basque Country. The design of this book looks at creating a meditative experience by showcasing mesmerising imagery which highlights a connection with nature. The pages of the book work as a guided stroll across the landscape which capture the viewer’s perspective from out at sea.
Repetition and calmness, following the waves
We looked at the idea of repetition and the endless ebb and flow of the wave. This is shown in the repetition of images and full page spreads which aim to guide the viewer through the pages.
The images are divided into sections which correspond to a different colour such as blue, pastel tones and gold. In this way we build up a rhythm and flow throughout the book.
The two main themes of the book were colour and repetition which we translated on the cover. By repeating images on both front and back and juxtaposing images side by side we created an unexpected composition which evokes feelings of tranquility and calm.
“As a whole, the book can be read like a ‘walk’, or rather a series of ‘walks’: first through its narrative structure, which takes us through different chromatic atmospheres, and then thanks to its visual layout, when, for instance, a photo appears on one page and spreads out onto the next, in tune with the evolutionary movement of the swell.”
David Herman
“This is, indeed, the photographic gaze of a surfer: the obsession with the wave — even stretching over the land when it turns into a sand hill in the midst of the desert —, the trained observation of the rolling waves and their endless recurrence.”
David Herman