The central object is the frame of an old pub sign, of which used to be the Brittania pub on Golding Place. The free standing sign post, minus the swing board, has two strip light fixtures, which illuminated the sign (are you following so far?). I have joined them end to end, and cut away the resulting silhouette, to reveal the detail of a riveted iron bridge stanchion. This is set against some paving groundwork at St.Anne’s Wharf….(did you understand that?).
Mending Windows
I came across the silhouetted access platforms (Cherry Pickers) on the South Denes Rd. in Great Yarmouth. They were parked in a yard, sticking up above a brick wall. I thought that they looked quite stunning, grouped together as they were, I HAD to photograph them. I took a few shots from different angles, and after selecting the photos I wanted, it took a very long time to isolate (cut them out) them from their backgrounds. I needed a landscape to pin them on. I sorted through a lot of images, trying to find an unusual setting that also provided a narrative. The view I chose, is of the Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool. It is near the Pier Head, on Mann Island. I liked the few half opened windows, on a sheer wall of glass. I did invent a few more open windows, for artistic license. I think the window in the top left hand corner, unifies the composition.
Stand And Fight
Working in the kitchen at Wiveton Hall Cafe, there is a suspended frame from which various culinary utensils are hung for storage, I just had to photograph it. Sitting outside the Pear Tree Inn, Unthank Rd. having a drink, I noticed the legs and wheels of some supermarket trolleys outside the store opposite. I thought they too, were worth a photo. The two items came together by experimenting, chance and readjusting. The landscape it stands in, is a view from the kitchen window. I was lucky to be presented with the dramatic skyline at the time; the dark clouds and the band of blue sky on the horizon; very surreal! This concoction looks as if it’s had enough and is preparing to fight back…my situation at the time?
Norwich 22.1.21
Walking along Queens Rd. one bright sunny lockdown day (Ref: the title), I came across two views of Norwich city centre. One was at the top end of the bus station entrance, and the other at the top of All Saints Green. I took some photographs, and when I got home, I montaged, designed and rendered the picture on the same day. I thought I would turn the blue sky red. It looked very dramatic, so I gave the buildings a reddish hue to compliment the light, and applied a filter for effect.
Nature And Decay
This picture is made from three different photos, and was created without any plan (as usual). It wasn’t until halfway through the process, that I realised the implications, hence the title. The ‘sky’ is a close-up of a metal panel, that is part of an old gate which was left in neglect. I liked the peeling paint and rust. I have included such features in past work, e.g. ‘Potboiler’ and ‘Wear And (S)tail. The tree is at All Saints Church in Swanton Morley, and the Crocuses were sprouting up on a grass bank, on the Dereham Rd. near Cadge Rd.
Chef Simon
Here is Simon, in a static caravan, looking at an I-pad. It was late evening and very cold, hence the glow of a vertical, one bar electrical heater. He is a chef, working at Wiveton Hall, on the North Norfolk coast, and sleeps overnight in the caravan on site. I cut away the windows behind him and replaced them with another photo I took years ago. I immediately thought of this photograph when considering the background, it was purely instinctive. It is a shot through a Motel window of a sunrise over the Nullabor in Australia. I was about to drive down the longest straight road (90 miles) in Oz; the Eyre Highway.
All Points Of The Compass
There is a third river crossing bridge being constructed from Southtown Rd./Cromwell Rd. to the Fishwarf on the Yarmouth side of the river. These cranes were being used in the operation. I have of course, isolated them from the original sky in the photo. The stairwell is on the side of the Coastguard building, on the South Pier at the entrance to the harbour. If you look down from the Jetty Cliff in Cromer, to the Promenade in front of the pier, there is a compass motiv decorating the paving stones, with the curved steps (see ‘Tied-Up Sweep’), which is the backdrop. I created the ‘glass ball’ in the computer from scratch to complete the composition. The suspension bridge is now complete and operational, 2024.
Basso Ensemble
While I was creating this picture, the phrase ‘Basso Profondo’ kept cropping up in my mind. The phrase, as a title, was inappropriate for the image, but I preferred ‘Basso Ensemble’ . The double bass was in the shop window of Cooke’s Pianos on St. Benedict’s St. (no longer there). I took a couple of photos, but settled on a side view, to avoid the shadow and reflection I was casting. Later at home, I noticed the sun streaming across the coffee table and remembered a speculative shot I took of the wine glass the year previously. With those two images together, I was looking to fill the top part of the frame. I thought some clouds….but found the clock tower. It is in Eaton Park, by the model boating lake. Yes the dial is back to front! I had to reverse the image, to accommodate the light direction.
The Prow, The Table, And The Angel
Here I am once again on Cromer Pier with a glass of wine (alcoholic, definitely!), before continuing to Wiveton Hall on a Sunday afternoon. This is a favoured spot, sheltered from the wind and warmed by the sun. The table casts a wonderful shadow on the planking. As usual, I worked through possible marriage/narratives to fit the scene. I eventually came across the prow of a boat I had photographed years ago. It was being scraped down to be repainted. The angel is a feature on a college building in Cambridge. This is one of a pair who face away from each other, under the eaves on the corner of the building.
Tread And Wear
Looking at my shoe rack one day, I noticed a couple of shoes were upturned. One was worn down very significantly, and sorting through all the other pairs, it became apparent that there was evidence of a personal signature, like a fingerprint. I photographed all of the shoes and realised it was of course, how I walked. Weight (the amount of wear exerted), Gait (what part of the shoe makes contact with the ground), and State Of Mind (whether I’m trudging along, or have a spring in my step). This picture was created in 2010, I remembered it recently so I re-visited and edited the original. The underside of John Wayne’s boots would be interesting to examine!!