I thought of the idea last thing one night, and did it the next day. It is the landscape that makes the image. Once again somewhere in Tasmania. The clock is on my wall, but I changed the surround, because it is chrome and was reflecting me and the room. The reflection on the the glass is a beach scene, just west of Cromer. I wrote tempus fugit on the clockface.
Song
Going through my library of photos I came upon some commissioned images for a musician, who didn’t use the finished product, i.e. for a C.D. cover. Here was a lovely picture of a Rickenbacker 4003 Bass guitar, (mirror-imaged, for effect) lying on the floor. The landscape was of a half dried up lake in Western Australia, and yes it was that colour. The birds were flying above me, on the coast in Norfolk, so I’ve multiplied them to cover the sky. The fire is of an oil barrel bonfire, at a fireworks party, thanks Bruce.
Escape
I was struck by the shadows cast by the fire escape on this industrial building, during my road trip in Australia. The poem was written at a different time, and was pure serendipity…
The original photo showed a blue sky at the top. I thought I’d fill that space with a shot of a bush fire near the town of Esperance…it fits quite well, in more than one sense.
Numbers.
This is one of a series of graphic works I did, as an exercise that interested me. I started with the electric wire and plug board, lying on the floor as you see it, and then arranged the text accordingly. I made the thickness and colour of the numbers edge, the same as the flex. What is the connection between the numbers and the plug board and wires?….errr ..none! I did enjoy composing and arranging the numbers , and cannot remember why I chose green.
Triathletes Looking At Their Future.
I was asked by Simon Edye to photograph a triathlon event at Whitlingham Lane. In this picture there are three sets of competitors collaged together, the quicker athletes wearing the blue caps, went in the first wave. They are waiting to start the swimming section of the race, and discussing amongst themselves the route they will take. After a lot of experimenting with backgrounds, I loved the stretched caravan park, on a hill at East Runton, west of Cromer.
Rolls No.1
After doing some house decorating work, there were three off-cuts of wallpaper left over. I liked the way they were being lit by the light from the window in the room. I photographed them at a few angles, duplicated and sized the rolls. The floorboard was from a photo commission I undertook.
Props And Trails.
There is a wind farm just off the Great Yarmouth beach, called Scroby Sands. I have concentrated five or six seperate shots to realise the vista. The beach is at Cromer, and the vapour trails were drawn with a Wacom tablet pen. If you notice the sky, it’s gradated from right to left, to accentuate the light direction.
Not Full.
The landscape was an flooded field, from the river which had burst its banks. I did a ‘stitch’ panaromic photo collage. The glasses were photographed in the back garden (what’s new?), cut out and made transparent. The optical distortion in the glasses, shadows and highlight spots, were all conceived in the computer, and it took a VERY long time to achieve! Is your glass half empty, or half full?
Matches.
All the matchbox labels are fictitious, I designed them myself, and then ‘stuck’ them over the original graphic. I photographed a few different boxes in various angles and arranged the match sticks randomly. I even burnt a couple of boxes. The background is a velvet curtain liner Sue was sewing, spread out on the kitchen table. Then came the hard job of composing and arranging the matchboxes, so most of the labels could be seen. Quite a few matchboxes never made the end picture,
Extraordinary.
The chest of drawers are upstairs in the bedroom by the window. I liked the way the light was striking it. The picture is set downstairs in the back room. The tank was being exhibited at an air show in Suffolk along with other military hardware. The glass of Champagne with the strawberry came from Australia, thanks Claire. If you can see it, I have written on the wall; INCREDIBLY EXTRAORDINARY, which is my comment on the scene.