Take a look into the process behind the photoessay featured in the December 2024 issue!

For this story, the concept involved bringing together old family photos with current recreations taken by Jerk photographer Abby Johnson. Challenged by the constraints of the photos provided, I started by pulling the elements together and building a base with the content.

With the intention of keeping attention on the comparison, this set of provided photos needed to be simplified. Inspired by a scrapbook, I wanted to incorporate other pieces of paper to cover distractions and add texture to the spreads. This became a consistent theme through all of the pages.

Now came the trial and error: how to put it all together? This part of the layout changed a lot from start to finish, as I layered elements, tested blend modes, and moved objects pixel by pixel to attempt the perfect digital collage.

And finally, do it all over again. Part of the fashion section, the GAWK photoessay is the largest feature in the mag, positioned at the centerfold (so you know it needs to pack a punch). In the end, the spreads draw the reader in with varied texture, unexpected elements, and a strong story, even with little to no words on the page.