Monica and the Portrait

Monica and I became friends in 1988. This photograph was taken in Winton one weekday during one of our conversations about the art of photography.

I seem to remember wanting to be able to approach a customer about taking his picture. At that time, I was cautious about how others might react too being asked and how they might feel about seeing the resulting pictures. 

My mother would say she hated every picture of herself she had ever seen. Her feelings about her own photograph made me want to create pictures that the people in them liked. 

A photograph made by someone else is perhaps never what we see ourself. The mirror gives us a mirror image and without the influence and persuasion of a photographer, the sitter will feel more content with the mirror or the 'selfie'. 

Implausibly Green

Last Summer, my son and I took a walk from Winchcombe towards Sudley Castle. I took a photograph of the light coming through the weeds at the side of this farm field. I was struck by the ruggedness of iron work against the green growth and the implausibly green colour that the camera has recorded. 

The green in these pictures has been embellished by the characteristics of my Panasonic camera's CCD. Such vibrant almost lime greens come from sunlight on chlorophyl green leaves.

These views reminds me of my grandparents house in Stratton on The Fosse and the views across local fields we saw as we travelled to their house from Coleford. The hyperreal green in these images somehow brings back, in some dream state, the memories of these views.

Lechampton Hill May 2020

 My son and I began walking together some time back. This walk on Cleeve Hill offers views across the surrounding landscape with its rolling green hills.

Before climbing from the old quarry car park, we are faced with this rock face. Dramatic scars of quarrying remind us of a relatively recent history. 

Amidst rolling hills, green land is under our feet is as we tread within the steps of earlier settlers.