I was on the west coast of America with Sue where we witnessed 9/11 on T.V. as it happened. Like the world, we were stunned. This picture didn’t start out with the subject or title in mind. The Super Sabre jet, tail fin of the De Havilland Meteor, and the propellers were garnered from my visit to the aircraft museum in Flixton. The ‘buildings’ are at Earlham Cemetary in Norwich (not intended, but apt). The chimney has been doubled (without thinking about twin..) and the pyramidal roof enlarged. There were a LOT of images introduced to this collage at the beginning, but I eventually whittled them down. The title became apparent when I realised what I had unwittingly created.
Subject: Coastal
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Painting Perspectives
One of my favourite places to go, have a couple of drinks and watch the world go by is Cromer Pier. One day I noticed an artist with his portable easel/tripod stand, painting a canvas. I asked if I could take a couple of photos of him as he painted, looking into the sun. He will be surprised to find that he is on one of two student accommodation blocks at the UEA. Even more so, to have St.Johns RC cathedral in Norwich, on the skyline. In the original photograph of the artist, I kept the shadow as a guide, for when I created a new shadow in the computer.
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Ethereal
I was walking through the Victoria Shopping Arcade on King St. in Yarmouth. I noticed the dress making mannequin, although it looked more decorative than practicable. I asked the shop owner if I could photograph it. I cut away the background in the computer, as you can see and duplicated and sized it. The one problem was a big price tag (£20) attached to the right shoulder. (Note to self; take it off next time!). I had to copy the left shoulder from another shot, reverse it and then juggle it on, the best I could. Can you tell?..DON’T say anything! The mannequins are standing on a geological feature in North West Tasmania. It is a tessellated ‘pavement’ at Eaglehawk Neck. No shadows and no reflections, hence the title.
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Untitled No.58.2
There is a pedestrian passage running from St.Stephens St. to Malthouse Lane. I liked the perspective it presented, so I took a photograph. In reality it is quite narrow, so I’ve stretched it wider. Instead of the normal view of St.Stephens at the end (boring), I replaced it with the column of a flyover, seen from the Undercliff Walk on Marina Way in Brighton. I have, of course, tilted the image to give the picture its dynamic. Behind that is the blue facade of flats above the Silver Slipper arcade on Marine Parade in Yarmouth. I added some more windows. The focal point is an antique French shower unit, that I saw in the window of Stiffkey Bathrooms on St.Giles St. Lastly, I enlarged the manhole cover and moved it to the left, to balance the picture.
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Potboiler
This picture became a bit of a long process, to come to its final conclusion. The ‘sky’ was a lime green wall, falling into disrepair, at a car wash station on the Sprowston Road. The water tower (?) is in the Lion Wood Local Nature Reserve, just off Telegraph lane. The other two structures are part of Earlham Crematorium. There is a tall oblong tower that sits between the apex and the chimney, that I eventually removed. I came across the ceremonial complex and was struck by the different shapes, in the bright sunshine. The spheres and cubes were introduced later. I was thinking of Cezannes quote about nature comprising of a cylinder, sphere and cone when I started this image. A lot of adding and subtracting, and then cutting through the objects was employed before I settled for the end result. Truly, a potboiler!
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Key To The Gate
These three elements were photographed individually, on the same day. There was no plan, but they fell in together quite well. The arched front door belongs to the old Bethel Hospital, founded 1713 by Mary Chapman, which has become residential flats. I liked the way the early morning sun lit the edifice. I cut away the door, to reveal the front cover of my doorbell, which is connected to the button outside. It was made by Friesland of Stockport…for you doorbell buffs, out there. I found the padlock lying in the road, so I propped it up and photographed it, as you do! These three objects, as I said, seemed perfect for each other.
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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!
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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.
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Elevation
If you walk round the back of Gentlemans Walk, by the market, there is a little passageway called Weavers lane. There at the back of a building is a spiral fire escape. I have used that as a stencil to cut through to the underlying images. Those are a montage of the entrance hall/staircase in the main building, of the Art School. I was experimenting as I created the picture, with no objective plan.
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Gon’ Fishin’
There is a railway station in East Dereham, which is the site of a heritage organisation, called the Mid Norfolk Railway. They run trips in old steam trains and rolling stock, and a yard for repairs and reconstruction. Hence the cranes which run on the rails, and used to move the engines and carriages. Notice the green water tank and station building in the background. The beach is at Great Yarmouth. The two came together by pure luck. I did tilt the crane shot a bit, to have the hook dipping into the sea. I think the picture has balance and symmetry.