When I Survey... #1

[Paul Abbott]

When I Survey... - A Photographic Project and a new objective in my picture taking...In colour with no location names, dates or titles.

When I Survey...
A Photographic Project #1 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Asher Kelman]

When I Survey... - A Photographic Project and a new objective in my picture taking...In colour with no location names, dates or titles.

When I Survey...
A Photographic Project #1 - Paul Abbott​

Exactly what I want in design, but just on a smaller scale.

 

[Paul Abbott]

Nice one Asher, I hope you don't have too many 'birds' around!

I'm kind of defining my vision at the moment...I will be trying to take a critical look at the urban spaces we live in, use and abuse; and to try and photograph and document our environment as a whole and all what we do with it. I want to create something that hopefully really defines and means something.
I know my first couple of points sound like a cliche but for me, this is a response to coming to terms with the here and now and embracing our contemporary culture in a photograph. Obviously, it won't be around for long, it will all change.
All other projects of mine are still current but this one will take centre stage for as long as I can see and press a button.

 

[Paul Abbott]

When I Survey...
A Photographic Project #2 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Asher Kelman]

When I Survey...
A Photographic Project #2 - Paul Abbott​

So, Paul,

This will be a reference to what our environment, our "living and work spaces" are at the "opening" or in the second decade of the 21st Century.

It won't describe us, but where we have paved roads or cut canals and built bridges, planes, trains and boats and space craft, to be to able to live and even thrive at this time. So, am I correct in surmising that you'd exclude unspoiled woodlands and mountainsides?

Asher

 

[Jarmo Juntunen]

Paul, this is an interesting project. I like your take on this, not naming your locations or subjects gives your pictures a universal quality.

 

[Paul Abbott]

Asher, Jarmo...you see, I was going to call this project something like Uncommon or Common Spaces, or Common Places depending on how this project evolves. But I soon realised that Stephen Shore had a book out called Uncommon Places, so I can't call it that. But those words kind of sum up what I want to photograph. Things like urban renewal and it's breakdown, the social spaces we frequent and use and abuse; and the spaces we live alongside and what we leave there, and the ephemera of all that urban furniture. Also, I want to document folk on the high street amongst all this consumerist culture and the advertising at play there.
I want to embrace and document all this stuff within the field of my lens and not be afraid to press the shutter. I want to let some of this chaotic world into my photographs now...no matter where I go.

 

[Paul Abbott]

When I Survey...#3
A photographic project #3 - Paul Abbott​

 

[Sam Hames]

When I Survey...#3
A photographic project #3 - Paul Abbott​

This project fits very nicely into my interests, can't wait to see more.

This image in particular appeals to me - a wonderful combination of things that just happen in everyday life in a city (any city?).

I'm curious about why you're choosing to go with colour. I remember many of your black and white images, so this seems a little bit of a departure.

Sam

 

[Asher Kelman]

Asher, Jarmo...you see, I was going to call this project something like Uncommon or Common Spaces, or Common Places depending on how this project evolves. But I soon realised that Stephen Shore had a book out called Uncommon Places, so I can't call it that. But those words kind of sum up what I want to photograph. Things like urban renewal and it's breakdown, the social spaces we frequent and use and abuse; and the spaces we live alongside and what we leave there, and the ephemera of all that urban furniture. Also, I want to document folk on the high street amongst all this consumerist culture and the advertising at play there.
I want to embrace and document all this stuff within the field of my lens and not be afraid to press the shutter. I want to let some of this chaotic world into my photographs now...no matter where I go.

I like your thinking, Paul! .

It's a worthy task you've set yourself and I am happy to see again the picture with the massive black wall and the cones in front repeating, as it were, the gesture of the crane anima we only partly see.

Uncommon Spaces II is a good working title. It says everything. You could either use it or come to know what would replace it.

Asher

 

[Paul Abbott]

Asher, it's only a title and in the end it will be what it'll be I guess. I know what i'm concentrating on documenting so i'll stick with 'When I survey...' at this moment in time.

Sam, for a while now I have gotten to thinking that the use of B&W in a documentary type aspect such as this project of mine is too anachronistic for me. Don't get me wrong, B&W has it's uses but not here. Also, in this instance I feel the use of B&W will just be a semblance and of no importance...

 

[Paul Abbott]

When I Survey...#4
A Photographic Project - Paul Abbott​

Paul,

Using the ability to make things close massive is a great dramatic ploy that works so well here. I'd love to see this also with a similar composition with bales of hay.


Asher

 

[Sam Hames]

...
Sam, for a while now I have gotten to thinking that the use of B&W in a documentary type aspect such as this project of mine is too anachronistic for me. Don't get me wrong, B&W has it's uses but not here. Also, in this instance I feel the use of B&W will just be a semblance and of no importance...

Thanks for the extra information. I suspected this was the case - as you're aiming to document urban spaces it seems like the colour is a lot more important. I'm noticing in particular the 'safety' orange in the traffic cones and excavator in the construction photo, and the greens in #2 and #4. I think these would have lost some of the impact you're aiming for if you had taken your B+W approach.

Cheers,
Sam

 

[Paul Abbott]

Nevermind the colour, Sam.
I'm offering a couple of bobbins, needle and a thread in this last photo...hence, 'When I Survey...'