Contradictions

The project that this herd of nomadic photographic cats has been working on is changing gear. We are about to open a new show in May to coincide with the Photoeast festival. We tried to get space within this inaugural international festival but alas we were not gifted inclusion.

Being entrepreneurs of a certain age group we looked for a plan B  and that is what is happening.

The show will be at the Beyond the Image gallery at Thornham Magna. Thornham Magna is half way up the A140 on that linear transport network linking Ipswich to Norwich. It used to be on the list of major trunk roads and motorways managed by the Highways Agency (renamed Highways England) but it got de-trunked – (yes that does happen to reduce costs and transfer responsibility away from the central Agency) and is now under the stewardship of Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils. Why mention this at all? Well the Photoeast festival although centered  on Ipswich Wet Dock this year (one of the prime points of focus for our collaborative effort), is based around that other linear transport network being the East Suffolk railway line. There will be all sorts of stuff going on along that route including participation by one of our group members Bill Jackson at Halesworth Cut. Check out the Photoeast site for his details, and the details of his theme – it involves people and their dogs and should prove very popular.

Talking of popular, Thornham Magna is a very popular destination with quite a wide demographic. It was once favoured by Henry VIII no less as a place to go hunting.

Make a note in your diaries for this event though. Three very different contemporary viewpoints from three independent photographers. We open on a public holiday weekend so get this in your diary and we will love to see you there and talk about our work.

 

 

 

Hehir today gone tomorrow

I’ve been a tad croaky of late but I forced myself out to grab some shots of our docklands project with the last rays of sunshine on 31st December 2015.

It was hard to comprehend that three of us were up on the top of building to the left of the image for 12 hours during the second day of the Ipswich Maritime Festival in August.  There will not be a festival this year but at some point we will scale the heights again for some significant event or other as we add more images to the pot to edit from.

Is anyone else out there taking part in photoeast? We have asked for a slot but we await news on that front. Somehow I think the event is all topped and tailed. Whatever happens it ought to be a good blast for contemporary photography in Suffolk.

In the meantime keep alert and making images.

Reworking old work

The weather has been against me of late with all the best large format weather being sacrificed to painting our refurbished sash windows. That was a job I was not expecting to have to do this autumn but it is just as well that I got on as we have nothing but rain since.

I have been re-working some images as a result of new scans and here is one from Melton – it is in the Edgelands exhibition but I believe this is a far better image having re-scanned and re-processed it.

British Sugar at Sproughton never made it onto the wall but it was in my book.

One of my Docklands images has also had a makeover. I’m not sure I have this one right at present.

Revisiting work and re-working it after having published it is an interesting experience. I suppose it is not unlike my ethic of re-visiting locations time and time again to make the work in the first place, When will it end?

Docklands project scales new heights

Ipswich Wet Dock & Tidal berths 24th July 2015

On Friday 24th July 3 likely lads from the EACG group scaled new heights and road tested the procedures for gaining access to the roof of the James Hehir building in Ipswich wet dock.

A view of the Wet Dock lock and grain berth, Ipswich 24th July 2015

 

The procedures went to plan. We will debrief when we next meet.

This time next week a PV is happening

This time next week we will be finalising the finishing touches to the Edgelands exhibition. I am very grateful for the support I have had from group members in getting this show on the wall. The encouragement and manpower offered has helped a great deal.

I hope to see as many of you as possible at the PV and  I would welcome feedback on the show.

Thanks

TomO

An exhibition looms

I’ve been quite quiet of late. Much to do with the forthcoming exhibition.

Halesworth New Cut – Bill Jackson

Bill opened a new show yesterday at Halesworth.

After a frustrating start involving calling out the RAC I managed to get there albeit later than planned. I’m glad I went. Bill’s work is very thought provoking and needs to be seen. Take my advice and look at the work first then view the video. I’m sure CARTOGRAPHIE LUMINAIRE will stimulate your thought processes.

There are several strands or themes of work on show in a very good space. This is the first time I have been to New Cut but now I have been, I shall have to go again.

http://www.billjackson.biz/

http://newcut.org/exhibitions/entry/2788

Some of you may in the group will know Bill so please make every effort to support his show and promote it to your chums and further afield.

 

 

Docklands – getting higher viewpoints

I hope you all had a good Easter weekend?

Peter Ellis and I met with a director of estates at UCS a few months ago to secure access to a high level vantage point from which to make new records of the wet dock. I have scripted both a Risk Assessment and Method Statement for us to qualify for access to their roof top.

Presently, it is only Peter and I on the list as we are the photographers who met and brokered the agreement with them. We did say that we would add others once we got the outline approval.

There is a physical impediment to last stage of ascent to the roof with a vertical galvanised ladder used for the last 14 feet. I’ll add additional photographers to the method statement that will have to be read and signed at our next meeting scheduled for 15th April. I will then send the signed copy to UCS.

Should anyone from the group not want to be granted access then please let either Peter or me know by Sunday 12th April at the latest so that I can prepare documents in advance.

Thanks

TomO

 

It was impossibly bright this morning …..

After the mediocre light yesterday I was determined to find better conditions today. I was up and out by 0500 and even that was too late as I drove East into the grey gloom of dawn.

Luckily for me my vantage point faces North West so I managed to salvage something of the early start.

This image was made at 05:54. Impossibly harsh shadows cast on the water from the construction cranes. These are more evident in the later images when the ambient light got brighter.

A stiffer than forecast 8 knot Nor westerly meant I had to use the 161 for stability. This image was made at ISO800 1.3s F13.

A behemoth visits the Haven Ports

Not so long back I photographed the Globe on her maiden voyage berthed at Felixstowe. By the time she left 2 and a half days later she was no longer the largest container ship in the world. She had been superceded by the Oscar. Oscar made her maiden voyage to Felixstowe today arriving at 1100. Tugs danced and fussed around her and gave her a traditional fire jet welcome.

It was a grim day for lighting and I decided to try my luck from Shotley. There was no one there. I could see many people on the beach at Landguard through my lens. I was a tad disappointed in that she was quite light in the water and not carrying anything like her capacity. I will try again overnight but these vessels have had a huge impact on how the docks of Ipswich, Harwich and Felixstowe operate.

A maiden entry to the port brings out the fire jets

The light was better the closer I was to Walton terminal. Landguard is several cables away.

Arriving at Felixstowe from Rotterdam