What started as an idea for the beginnings of a picture, ended up as something completely different (what’s new? every picture I do is a journey of exploration; coming up with something I find exciting and inspiring ). The loose stack of empty cardboard boxes was photographed in a garden centre a couple of years ago. I thought they looked quite sculptural/abstract. I added a derelict office block and some road markings. These were superceeded by the coil of rope and the dumped armchairs (see ‘Striking’). Walking along the seafront at Cromer, I was drawn to the sea defence wall which embraces the entrance to the pier. That was the last piece in the composition. I reduced the size of the armchairs, turned the cardboard collection upside down and inside out (?) and enlarged the coiled rope. I eventually applied some filters – hence the number 3 in the title. The Flotsam title was the original working name I gave the picture….I kept it.