It is finally here. My first printed photo book. It feels strange yet satisfying to hold your own piece of work, something you have put real time and effort into creating. There are feelings of pride but also sadness – having this book in my hands means the project has undeniably come to a close.
I will never tire of speaking about Variety Village. The people I met there, their way of life and their smiles have left a huge impression on me. This book is my way of paying tribute to the amazing people of Variety Village, its members and staff. Thanks to Linda and Erin – the communications team – my stay in the Village was made as comfortable as possible. A special thank you goes to my mentor, Loren Wolk, who has encouraged and inspired me every step of the way.
Getting this book printed wasn’t all smooth sailing and unfortunately, there were a number of issues with the quality of prints at Pikto. That and the book being several days late added some unnecessary sourness to an otherwise happy wrap-up.
This project was in all honestly a massive challenge to myself and it forced me to step out of my comfort zone time and again. In the end, I am satisfied with the results. Once again, allow me to extend my thanks to everyone who has made this project possible. I enjoyed every bit of it.