This is the roof of Brighton Railway Station. I took quite a few shots, and settled for this one. I had previously taken some photographs of the magnifying glass, held at different angles, in my bedroom against the net curtains, and on the windowsill (where else?). As usual I connected the two aspects after experimenting with a few ideas. The view through the lens is of course, a copy of that part of the image behind the magnifyers frame, distorted and blurred. Then it came down to arranging the looking glasses in a concerted and compositional interaction (eh?). I dunno I’m going to revisit this picture and do something that will make it more brazen ..do you know what I mean?….no Mike.. shut the fuck up!
Sunbeams
I took some photographs through the fence, which was cordening off the new marketplace in Yarmouth. I have visited the site before and created two pictures (Fantastic Two and Fantastic Two Two). The building is still being constructed, hence the barrier to keep the public out. I liked the way the sun was streaming down through the skylight roof, and the shadows being presented. The support beams accentuated the busy composition and angles being splayed around. I eventually used two photos from different positions, and layered one on top of the other. I cut away diagonal strips to reveal the bottom layer, following the direction of the sunlight. I applied a shadow filter to give the image some drama. The title naturally followed. I love this picture…it’s so beautiful, I think it’s sumptuous.
Hung With Intent
The picture started with a photo I took of a Funfair Swing Ride at the Royal Norfolk Show. I was going to substitute the people on the chained swings with something else (?). Then I placed the ride in a big marquee tent at the show. I liked the roof of the exhibition tent, which had sheep and goats being penned/displayed. The next stage was to perversely replace the riders with coat hangers ..are you keeping up so far?, this is where I got lost! I photographed a collection of different coat hangers. I decided to dispose of the funfair ride, and populate the magnificent tent with the coat hangers. I had to find and photograph MORE coat hangers zzzzzzzzz…..The picture took a long time to create, but I was pleased with the result.
Cromer Pier
This is a view of Cromer Pier from the cliffs at Overstrand, near the eastern edge of the golf links. The sky, is of the tyre tracks on the beach, of an amphibious vehicle that takes the paying public on a trip along the Hunstanton coastline. The so called Wash Monsters are run by Searle Sea Tours. I have turned the photo upside down and coloured it blue. I also applied a filter to soften the image. The couple in the bottom right hand corner were photographed from the cliff top at Cromer. They were below Tucker St., and I thought they might like a different view to observe.
Soliloquy
I was cleaning my walk-in shower cubicle, so I pulled the PVC curtain out of the way and bunched it up into the recess, between the sink and the medicine cabinet. I have used this scenario before, with ‘Two Bridges, One Sink’. The cabinet is an old metrological box for outdoor weather measurements. I stretched and distorted it a bit to convey movement and stress. On top of the box is a porcelain jewellery container that used to belong to Sue, of a contemplating Pierrot (famous French clown). I reduced his actual size, to make him look more vulnerable in the stormy environment with the dark clouds and rough sea (Brighton Beach), as he makes his plaintive soliloquy. The curtains add to the effect, suggesting strong winds. For me, this illustrates the last fourteen years since Sue passed away. X
Heavy Metal Secured
Walking along the quay at Blakeney, I noticed the cleats, spaced regularly along the edge of the dock, which had the ropes securing the boats in the water. I liked the different way the ties were secured around the metal posts. The heavy chain links were on the quay at Great Yarmouth. The picture was developed, as I introduced and arranged the subjects. I extended the ropes, because of course, their lengths are limited by the photo frame. I duplicated a couple of lines also.
Triptych Bridge
I noticed the whitewashed windows of a closed down pub on Redwell St. I liked the arbitrary way the wash was applied (on the inside). You can see the reflection of a block of offices opposite. There are three photos collaged together, hence Tripytch. The bridge is Lady Julian Bridge, which was silhouetted at the time, and was being decorated with a string of electric lights, for some later event. Notice the stepladder. I turned the lights on in the computer, and copied and strung some more off the structure.
Untitled No.43
Gone are the days of tin openers! I have a number of cans in my larder, and I noticed that the ring pull tops are of a different design – not as universal as one might think. That was my starting point. Looking to find a background or sympathetic situation, I came across a photo I took of my metallic kitchen sink, that I had rejected for a previous collage. I had smeared cooking oil in the basin to create water globules. To emulate the theme, I photographed the tops of the cans separately, following the same process, and then reduced their opacity to reveal the sink and slightly overlapping the cans.
Street Dance
This is the meeting of Muspole St., St.Andrews Hill, London St., Bedford St. and Whitefriars Bridge, behind the law courts. Confused? I am too. I like the way the triangular tops of the industrial building (the old St.George’s Works complex), reflect the coloured cobble stones, and the cut paving slabs. Also, the round windows, mirroring the knobs on top of the railings. But best of all, the railing posts, dancing across the street!
Self Portrait
I pretended to take a photo of Simon (the Chef), but he hid behind the book he was reading. Interestingly he presented the text pages, and not the front and back covers, as one might expect. I asked him to hold that pose, and rushed to get my camera for the real shot. He refused to recreate the pose, so I asked him to photograph me, assuming the same attitude. He can cook, but he can’t take a photo (ha ha). The result was blurred and out of focus. So… I got my mother to photograph me a couple of days later. I experimented with some scenarios, until I happily settled for a warehouse I photographed in Australia. I included a photo I had of some sparks (isolated) that were being given off by an industrial grinder. I thought that it gave the picture some magic and movement.