Citysheep Leather Journal

In analog photography, many of us find a conscious counterpoint to the fast-paced digital world. It’s a process of deceleration, of focusing on the essentials. Every shot is a well-considered decision.

It’s similar with handwriting. Keeping a notebook, jotting down thoughts, ideas, and plans with a pen on paper, has an almost meditative quality. It organizes thoughts and fosters creativity in a way a keyboard rarely can.

For such an analog process, one also desires a suitable tool. A notebook that you enjoy using, whose feel inspires you, and that becomes a loyal companion over the years.

In search of such a companion, I came across the Leather Journal from Citysheep. The olive green variant immediately appealed to me, and my curiosity was piqued as to whether this product could live up to the claim of being more than just a simple cover for paper.

It’s about the feeling, the quality, and the connection one builds with an object that is meant to house one’s creative traces.

As soon as you open the package, that typical, unmistakable scent of real leather wafts up. It’s a fragrance that, for me, is inseparably linked to quality and craftsmanship and awakens a certain anticipation for the first touch.

The leather of the journal in olive green is Italian, vegetable-tanned full-grain leather. The surface feels very smooth and supple. It’s a joy to run your fingers over it and feel the fine texture of the natural material.

The color itself is subtle and earthy, a tone that blends unobtrusively into natural surroundings and fits well with the aesthetic that many photographers appreciate.

In terms of thickness, the leather could be a touch thicker for my personal taste to provide an even more substantial feel in the hand. On the other hand, the chosen thickness contributes to the flexibility and light weight of the journal.

I chose the A5 size, which with its dimensions of 16 cm by 23 cm offers a good compromise between sufficient writing space and portability. It fits easily into my camera bag.

The functionality of the Citysheep Journal is as simple as it is effective. It is a refillable system based on internal rubber bands.

Inside the leather cover, there is a rubber band. You simply open a booklet in the middle and slide it under the rubber band. The booklet then sits securely and firmly in the cover, but can also be replaced just as quickly and easily if needed. It is also possible to store multiple notebooks/booklets in the cover.

This system offers high flexibility. You are not tied to a specific paper type or ruling, but can combine the booklets as you wish. Compatibility with common notebook brands like Moleskine or Leuchtturm1917 makes replenishing inserts very easy.

For example, you can use one booklet with lined paper for classic notes and a second with blank paper for sketches or drawings.

My chosen version also includes a pocket on the left inner side and a pen loop. The pocket is practical for loose papers, business cards, or a passport, underscoring its character as a travel journal.

The pen loop is made of leather and holds a pen securely in place. However, it should be noted that the loop is designed for pens with an average diameter. A very thick fountain pen might reach its limits here.

For a photographer, a notebook is far more than just a place for appointments or shopping lists. It’s a logbook, a repository of ideas, a companion on every outing and every trip. The journal thus becomes an integral part of the creative process.

An aspect that plays a special role in a leather product is its ability to age. The beauty of this natural material is that it develops an individual patina over time. Every scratch, every pressure mark, every color change from the sun or contact with hands tells a story.

So, in a few years, my cover will look completely different from that of another buyer who purchases the same product today. It will bear the marks of my travels and my work, thus becoming a deeply personal item. This journal is not a static product; it lives and evolves with its owner. It becomes a silent witness to one’s own photographic journey.

After several weeks of use, a positive conclusion can be drawn. The Citysheep Leather Journal in olive green is a high-quality product. It combines an attractive aesthetic with good functionality and proves to be a practical everyday companion for creative people.

The quality of the Italian leather is palpable, and the feel is very pleasant. You can tell that this is a product where the makers value quality and craftsmanship.

The flexibility of the refillable system is a clear plus. A notebook can be quickly exchanged and replaced with another book.

It is not a loud or extravagant product, but impresses with its simple elegance and reliability. It supports the conscious and decelerated approach that leads many of us to analog photography and transfers this feeling to the act of writing.

The prospect of the leather developing a unique patina over the years adds an extra, personal value to the journal. It is a tool that invites use and promises to be a loyal and very personal storage for thoughts, plans, and memories for a long time.

You can buy the journal directly in the Citysheep online shop.