Photography
My photography
I use photography to show something about where I’ve been or people whom I’ve met. As well as trying to see the beauty in a scene or situation, I’m also trying to convey ideas and feelings. My photography is about me and what I do, who I meet and where I go. All my photography tries to be contemporary and creative. I’m resistant to being fitted in to a taxonomy by categorisation such as “travel” or “conceptual” or “nature”. All image-making is political simply by the act of selection and hence exclusion but I am not campaigning for any particular point of view, except to try to see the positives and to live life to the full.
I use 645, 35mm and DX formats plus a handy little digital compact that shoots RAW files. I’ve experimented with non-lens photography - do ask!
I first worked in a monochrome/silver wet darkroom at age 7, helping my Father with scientific prints; I’ve used colour negative materials since age 21 and digital since 2005. I use Photoshop (Adobe) and Photopaint (Corel).
Petworth House Park in Sussex. I rather like the expansive park with views to the South Downs beyond: the classic contrast of Nature and Nurture accentuated by the summer colours. The park’s a design by “Capability” Brown. Petworth, the home of the Dukes of Somerset, is more usually famous for its art collection, notably Holbein’s portrait of Henry VIII and many works by JMW Turner.
Victorian railway architecture brings its own elegance to the railway experience. Brighton has long played the part of elegant seaside pleasure town since the Prince Regent established his party pavilion here before even Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837. Brighton railway station was opened in 1840 then expanded in 1882-3, including the fine canopy of glazed ironwork designed by H.E. Wallis.
Beds of tulips flowering for Easter outside Buckingham Palace, London. Lots of colour, even the taxis aren’t black! A glint of sunshine making the gold shine on the Victoria monument. First picture with my new phone’s camera, using the digital negative workflow: I’ve not used graduated filters but a bit of adjustment of the contrast. The small format sensor of the S7 gives a “thick” or “heavy” image quality but there’s lots of detail and colour range, if not subtlety.
Amongst the brilliant white fibre glass hulls snuggle a few old vessels like Antonia. Her wooden hull and canvas canopy with tiny round porthole “eyes”, immediately more human than countless modern boats. The dark eyes of the skull and crossbones pirate flag add to the impression and are also a reminder of the traditional independence of the seas, unlike many a Corsican bandit flag which are so popular in Marseille that they have become another team to belong to, like a football team or fashion brand. perhaps also a reminder of the Barbary coast pirates, whose predations were feared in the long history of Marseille Vieux Port.
