97 Comments
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Pamela Leavey's avatar

Susanne, This Leporello is an absolute work of art. I was spellbound watching your video. Stunning work. I am blown away!

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Pamela, your feedback really moved me. Thank you so much. It means a lot to me. ❤️

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Pamela Leavey's avatar

Susanne, I really am awed by your book.

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thank you, Pamela!

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perfectlight's avatar

absolutely beautiful!

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thank you, friend!

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Neil Harman's avatar

Beautiful work

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thank you, Neil!

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Trish Hamilton's avatar

Brilliant! The idea, the images… all of it! Love how you sequenced your images, with the poem between.

I had totally forgotten about leporellos. During my apprenticeship at a portrait studio, we used them all the time! Long time ago in the 1900’s 😏 (1980’s to be honest)

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thank you, Trish! I didn‘t know they were a thing in the 80s! I think, Leporellos are great when you have a small series of photographers you want to present together.

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Doug Morse's avatar

Very nice! Pardon me while I steal it!

I have had similar interest in books. I made one photo album from scratch including making the stitching frame. Great fun but a lot of time. Especially the casing in.

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

It is a lot of work, but very rewarding when it turns out how you imagined it.

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Alon's avatar

Beautifully done and told, Susanne. I love how the tree triptych photograph unfolds in your hands. Wonderful work.

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thanks a lot! Happy you like it. I loved making it.

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Dom Francisco's avatar

Bloody gorgeous. Do you have any plans for another?

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thank you, Brian! Ideas are brewing at the moment…

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Ernest J. Schweit's avatar

This is a very cool and artful way of presenting photography. Thanks for sharing it. I’d love to know how to do it myself. Is there a link to a video or some other instructional material you could share?

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thank you for your feedback, Ernest. I work intuitively a lot. I start, make mistakes, do it again. I don’t have any videos or tutorials I can share, but I am sure YouTube is a good source for infos on how to make your own. Concertina book or accordion fold tutorial should be words I would search for.

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My daily diary... 🌻's avatar

This is a masterpiece... I love it so much... Love the vintage mood and the paper folding... Bellissimo 😍

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Aw, thank you! Thank you for your feedback! I loved creating it!

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Ineska Klauber's avatar

Absolutely stunning work of art, Susanne! Perhaps you can teach a class for those interested in making Leporellos! ❣️

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thanks so much for your feedback, Ineska! I am sure you can find tutorials for that on YT. I just wouldn’t have the time to do that.

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Glen’s Pictures and Posts's avatar

What a beautiful and inspiring story-with-pictures. A joy to read and look at.

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thank you so much! I am glad you like it!

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Cheryl's avatar

A very tasteful production, the perfect piece of music to accompany your beautiful Leporello of trees.

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thank you, Cheryl!

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Damian Ward's avatar

That looks fantastic, well done. I really like the driftwood tie to seal the book.

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thank you, Damian! Glad to hear you like it!

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Daniel Seurer's avatar

I enjoy the inspiration here. I too make these L:eporello, though I have called them accordian fold books. Hand made books are now my main medium for displaying my prints. Short 6-8 hand made prints, platinum/palladium works well. I have just started making the prints on Japanese mulberry paper and the effect is marvelous. You so inspired me, so back to work on my next book.

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

That is next on my idea list: making handmade prints. I think 6-10 photographs works just perfectly for the accordion fold / Leporello / concertina books.

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Daniel Seurer's avatar

You won’t regret doing it!

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Trish's avatar

So beautiful 🙏 I'm so glad I saw this first thing in the morning, like a happy little creative charge to the day. Such a wonderful project. Thank you

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Thank you, Trish! I hope you have a wonderful, creative day!

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Xavi Buendia's avatar

This is amazing Susanne! How long it took you from ideation to the final process?

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Great question, Xavi! This one came together right after I looked at the photographs. I knew I wanted the Leporello because I liked the concept and historical connection. The black paper, because 1. I still had it from the window zine, 2. because the photos looked better on it than on white paper, and 3. because I had these old cabinet cards in mind. I wanted hardcover fronts and backs, sturdy enough they won’t bend, but look good. I had made these monoprints before and for me they add the perfect touch. The latch came last. First, I wanted to use ribbon, but then the idea with the pieces of driftwood came to me.

I made a “dummy” first to figure out all the details and the mistakes one can make during the creation and then made the final six pieces. From idea to the first finished (and satisfying) Leporello, it probably took me a week. But that does not include making the final six.

But I have to say - that was fast. It usually takes much longer. Especially the sequencing of images (which wasn’t really needed here).

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Xavi Buendia's avatar

Wow! You're a book virtuoso.

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Haha! Thanks, Xavi!

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