One photographer who I admire, and inspires me is, Henri Cartier-Bresson. I wouldn’t try to compare myself with him, but the group shot you see, attracted me immediately enough, to press the button, as a homage to his style. This is a photograph of family members, having a picnic in Kings Park, Perth. Of course, there are no windmills or chess pieces on a chequered board in the park, nor for that matter a crashed jet airliner! I won’t bother to explain where the other elements of the picture came from, or why I selected them. Suffice to say I think the resulting image, is so very surreal and restful. (My other inspirational photographer is Bill Brandt).
The Jump
I might be wrong,…but I think this at Port Augusta SA. There is an old wooden Quay with the rails tracks for the dock operations. I think this at the Wharflands Esplanade, and the old disused jetty on the river, as viewed from the Joy Baluch AM Bridge. Tell me if I’m wrong! There were gang of kids using the jetty as a diving board, well, for jumping off. The kid you see in mid-air was in another photograph of the same scene. The ‘sky’ is some paving, here in Norwich, on New Botolph St.
Saying Goodbye
This is Perth Railway station, and Alison, my sister-in-law, came to see me off on my trip to Melbourne. I bought a ticket on the Indian Pacific Railway, a trip the would take four days (three nights in sleeper cabin) across the Nullarbor mostly. The big hole is a deep open cast mine in Cobar NSW. Why?… because I thought it looked very surreal, and totally non-sequitur! I have blocked off the right hand side the covered platform shelter, and added the clouds for dramatic effect. The windows were reflecting a jumble of views, so I filled them with an innocuous reflection. The clincher for me was the tiny statue, that I saw in a cemetery, here in Norwich, who is affecting a grieving pose.
Untitled No.22
I was drawn to the empty branches against a grey sky, on an autumn walk. It was easy to cut away the sky, to leave a transparent background. I have collaged three branches, one at the top, and two at the bottom, and then meshed them together. I then overlayed a gradated blue sky, replacing the dark silhouette. All that was left to do, was slowly fill the gaps with “greenery’, making sure to keep each shade separate and varied.
The Bigger Sound
Set in the cloisters of Norwich Cathedral, but instead of a lawn; they look suspiciously like Australian clouds. I came across two young Salvation Army guys in front of the City Hall, who were going to, or coming from an event. I asked if i could photograph the Tuba one of them had, in the bright sunshine,..The young woman also a Salvation Army cadet was part of a Remembrance Day parade and was stood to attention. I developed the theme as I went along, to create the title!
GM Flowers
After a few glasses of wine, even the table decoration seems attractive! I was having a pub lunch in Darbys (Swanton Morley) with my sister Janie, and my brother in law John. If one duplicates the flower vase and the simple arrangement, and puts them in a field:; this is what you get! The view is from the Glastonbury Tor, looking down on the Somerset levels. I ramped up the colours, to match the vase.
Drilling Holes In Engines
Here are three photographs of tractor engines. These are the rusty old things that are parked on Cromer beach, for launching and retrieving the fishing boats. So if you can understand that the images are layered, one ontop of the other, I have literally drilled holes through, to reveal the underlying engine. I had a great time doing this, it was like picking the spots off, when you had measles, or pealing dead skin from sunburn!
Around About The Corner
I saw this childrens carousel/roundabout, in a deserted play section in Sloughbottom park. I do not frequent children play areas! this was a wet afternoon when there was no-one in the park. I liked it, so I photographed it, without any thought what to do with the image. The corner of a street, (Colman Rd./Muriel Rd.) which was being prepared to be renovated, had the markings made by engineers, to denote underground pipes and cables. I liked the cracked pavement, double yellow lines, manhole covers etc, so I started with this image. I tried various objects to include in a collage, but as soon as put the roundabout on,…it clicked! I have introduced some fictional coloured markings of my own, and I am very pleased with the result.
A Giddy Way Down To The Beach
The stainless steel railing, can be found running down to the Norwich Yatch Station, from Riverside Rd. I think the brick wall and steps lead down to the river in Norwich, probably near New Mills Yard. I have cut away what would be the grassy areas, to reveal the beach. The coastal landscape beyond, is somewhere in Queensland, near to the Whitsundays islands. Named by Captain Cook, when he discovered a channel between them and the mainland. They should have been called Whitmondays, he got the day wrong! Anyway, another surreal and unplanned picture.
Drum Stack
The rather contorted view of the wooden staircase, which leads down to an observation platform, for a view of the Twelve Apostles. A geological phenomena at the Great Bight, on the south Australian coast. Included in that clash, are a stack of tables. The sympathetically distorted, and arranged cable drums were photographed outside City Electrical Factors on Barker St. I think the picture looks a bit anaemic, but it seems to have a resonance. I worked towards that dynamic composition, which was eventually achieved. I had no clue as to where I was going with this picture. It was a case of throw anything in and let’s see what can occur.