The Sound Of Waves
In March, I spent ten days by the sea in Lanzarote.
Hearing the sound of the sea most of the time, walking along the shore, swimming in tidal pools, watching weather roll in from the hillside above.
When I travel, I take a smaller camera than my day-to-day Canon, with a fixed 50mm lens. I like travelling light, it frees me to photograph in a different way than I do in my working life.
Last weekend, I drove the small roads to Norfolk with my partner, Lucy, to spend the weekend close to the sea. Early morning swims before breakfast, walks with local friends along the beach, playing frisbee, chips on the sand. Small moments full of quiet joys.
Kallitype printing at Photofusion
I’ve been a participant on the LCN (London Creative Network) during the last year with Photofusion and have been lucky enough to benefit from workshops and training at Photofusion in Brixton.
In February, I attended a half day workshop on Kallitype and Platinum printing processes, which covered the historical context of the process, technical composition of the chemical process, and the opportunity to learn how to print from a digital contact negative.
The Kallitype process uses Ferric Oxalate and Silver Nitrate, carefully measured and then used to coat cotton based paper with a light sensitive solution. Learning from our extremely knowledgable and patient tutor, Paul Ellis, it was easy to see how refinement of the techniques can allow each part of the process to contribute to the creative expression of the final print. I spent some time considering how the brush marks of the solution on the paper could be used to frame the image well, and Paul showed us how to use test prints to judge the correct exposure time.
As my work is usually shot digitally and delivered to clients entirely online, photographic printing represents a slowing down of process and thought, an opportunity to consider and learn more about the craft of printing. I absolutely loved being back in a dark room again, and methodically carrying out each step of the process - it felt almost meditative.
Test print - showing 5minute and 10minute exposures
Final image - 4 minute exposure, and printed toned using a gold toner
Last week I visited Salter’s Hall in the City of London, as part of a tour held for the London Festival of Architecture.
Lovely to see the inside of this fine brutalist building, designed by Basil Spence (1976), with interiors by David Hicks, and more recently refurbished and extended by dMKF architects (2016).
The ash panelled banqueting hall is just gorgeous, beautiful details. David Hicks said of the carpet’s colours ‘they don’t clash, they vibrate’.
The exterior of the beautiful Maggie’s Centre at St. Barts Hospital, London, by Stephen Holl Architects (completed 2017).
Last month I was in Dublin for work, so took the chance of a free couple of hours in the evening to wander along the River Liffey and check out the Samuel Beckett bridge (2009), designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. It was nice taking the time to watch the lights coming on as dusk fell, and how your experience of the bridge changes from day to night.
A beautiful architectural model, in paper and card, made by Grain London.
The house is one of a pair, designed by John Pawson. I photographed the model a little while ago at Grain’s workshop. Such a pleasure to photograph such detailed craftsmanship.
A few of weeks back, I did some aerial photography with a client for a site in the City of London. Lots of fun to photograph the city at different times of day from a helicopter.
Flying in and out, some beautiful soft light in the landscape.
On a beautiful sunny Wednesday a couple of weeks ago, one of my favourite things happened - I was already out with my camera gear and suddenly found myself with an hour free.
A chance to wander through the city, check out some new buildings and construction sites, and just enjoy the light playing across surfaces.
It seemed like it was a perfect afternoon for window cleaning too.
At 80 Fenchurch, one of the window cleaning team told me they are out every day, using one of three cradles or abseiling. I asked if the curved concave facade is problematic, and he told me the crew have to constantly manoeuvre themselves closer to clean.
HD5K
On Thursday evening, I joined the team from Hayes Davidson to photograph the first HD5K - a 5k run through Hyde Park to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, a cause close to everyone's hearts at Hayes Davidson. Runners from top architects and design practices had perfect weather and most of the HD team was helping out on the course, great team effort!
Match-funding from the Alan Davidson Foundation meant that over £52k was raised.
I am in awe of the precision skills involved in architectural model-making.
I accompanied Laurence Day from Grain London to visit one of their beautiful models in the client's marketing suite.
Really lovely to see how the design of the model and presentation case perfectly complemented the interior design and styling.
Back in January, I shot some photos of three of the team from Hayes Davidson, who were training hard in the wintery early mornings for a big six-day 1500km bike ride with 150 other professionals from the property industry, from London to Cannes to attend the MIPIM property fair. The annual sponsored bike ride is in aid of some great charities.
A site I've worked on for the last three years. Great to see huge panels of glazing being craned into place. I even got a wave from two workers monitoring the progress.
Damson Wassailing.
Crook Morris from Kendal, Cumbria, wassail their tree in the damson orchard each January.
Banging drums and shouting to drive away any lingering evil spirits, everyone processed up to the tree. Traditional wassail songs from around the country were sung, before warm damson beer and cake were passed around. Finally, the beer was poured on the tree to "libate the roots", toasted bread hung from it's branches, and hopefully all will bring a better harvest.
Thames Sailing Barge Marjorie on the sand near Southend Pier, having a paint touch-up ahead of the race the following day (August 2017).
A visit to document a project on Oxford Street, London. The site is in a very busy location, with works going on from basement to roof as Paragon strip, open up and rebuild the interiors. All the materials - from steel girders down to bags of cement - are being delivered through the small aperture at the centre of this shot. Impressive!
Thames Barrier, Annual Test Closure 10th September 2017
The Colne River, at Brightlingsea.
Over the last year I shot the timelapse sequences for this short film by Hayes Davidson, showing what the future skyline of London might be like. Hayes Davidson art directed and rendered the sequences with proposed buildings that we may one day see.
Some nice little image with sliders too.
http://www.hayesdavidson.com/londonfastforward
