- capture the historic distinctiveness of the Hotwalls area
- demonstrate the range of creative industries, businesses and activities that could be sensitively accommodated within the arches
I'm basing my selection on the fact that the pictures will need
to tell a story to support minimum text which will be describing the 'offer'
not what the picture is necessarily conveying.
From what
I've read about photojournalism, I am looking for one dominant, theme-setting
image which will be published larger than the others, which would help
reinforce the theme of studio space for artists...
Theme setting images...
This project is about providing much needed artistic and affordable space so I'm thinking that an image showing an artist at work might work here...I also think that using images of young artists might target a potential market for these small, affordable studios..
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| P1022: F6.3 @ 1/160 24mm ISO 1600 |
P1022- Jeremie Glaize, an artist working at 'The Arches', Southampton..I like the suggested action here of putting up his work ready for action ...echoes the concept of creating new artist studios....
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| P1028: F6.3 @ 1/80 63mm ISO 1600 |
Alternatively, P1028,1021, 1023 and 1025 showing Jeremie in action also set the scene..
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| P1023: F6.3 @ 1/160 24mm ISO 1600 |
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| P1021: F5.6 @ 1/100 35mm ISO 1600 |
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| P1025:F11 @ 1/20 44mm ISO 1600 |
Location...
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| P1015:F10 @ 1/100 26mm ISO100 |
P1015 is all about location...it shows the actual arches to be developed; the open aspect of the frontage and nearby the historic Round Tower in the background, the statue in the forefront, a reference to Portsmouth past.It is static but has some clear space in the foreground for text...P1030 presents an alternative, placing the site within Southsea by reference to the Spinnaker Tower in the background..
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| P1030: F8 @ 1/1600 22mm ISO 400 |
Artistic activity...
These two images show Andy Doig working in his Neon Studios in Brighton...the footprint of the studios is about the same as the planned artist studios so these images demonstrate the kind of creative activity that would work well at Hotwalls.I prefer P1027 as it show the activity close but the client may prefer P1014 which shows more of the working space and a window frontage to the space i.e. a hint of how the space might present itself to artist and visitor.
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| P1014: F9 @ 1/200 24mm ISO 1600 |
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| P1027: F8 @ 1/200 24mm ISO 1600 |
The following images show young artists at work ...
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| P1017: F8 @ 1/80 24mm ISO 1600 Agata Wojcueszkiewicz |
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| P1023: F6.3 @ 1/50 28mm ISO 1600 |
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| P1024: F8 @ 1/25 24mm ISO 1600 |
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| P1019: F4 @ 1/125 24mm ISO 1600 |
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| P1018: F3.5 @ 1/125 24mm ISO 1600 |
The anonymity of P1018 above would be a useful adjunct to more full figure activity..showing pencil work rather than painting..
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| P1026:F5.6 @ 1/150 24mm ISO 1600 |
Personally, I like the image above.P1016 is a corner of a studio cubicle in an artist 'cooperative' in Brighton..a working space with really interesting items on show.That said, the client may feel the imagery may not reassure the more conservative, ,maybe reactionary local residents.
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| P1035: F5.6 @ 1/80 39mm ISO 3200 |
P1035 conjures up the artist through the abandoned art materials and reminds me of an old master - a less flamboyant, safe image.
Business activity...studio and gallery..
P1016 shows how an artist can both work and display completed works in a small area.The artist just happened to be within his working studio at the back when this a taken.Again, this might be a useful image to show prospective artists, gallery owners and local residents how the studio space might be used.
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| P1016: F5.6 @ 1/200 24mm ISO 1600 |
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| P1020: F8 @ 1/100 16mm ISO 800 |
I chose the image above (P1020) to show that Hotwalls has the potential to house small galleries and as such would be one way of attracting visitors to Hotwalls.This is the 'two kats and a cow gallery' in the Kings Road arches on Brighton beach..lighting was a real challenge here...almost extreme bright light coming in through the entrance and very subdued, almost yellow light at the very back of the gallery...
Eating out....
I was lucky to come across the 'Feed Cafe' down near the Gunwharf complex in Portsmouth.This is a very popular cafe situated in an arch which was ideal from the point of view of showing a working arch interior i.e. showing what can be done....
If we're looking for an image that might suggest a 'brasserie' type eatery then P1010 might just work given the composition and slight distance away from the ketchup bottle. The manager and customers were happy to have photos taken and after a while became oblivious to the camera..the shot could be revisited and posed if a more upmarket 'brasserie' were required...
If we're looking for an image that might suggest a 'brasserie' type eatery then P1010 might just work given the composition and slight distance away from the ketchup bottle. The manager and customers were happy to have photos taken and after a while became oblivious to the camera..the shot could be revisited and posed if a more upmarket 'brasserie' were required...
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| P1010: F5.6 @ 1/40 24mm ISO 800 |
P1009 has more vigour that P1010; the slight blur of the waitress' arm suggest movement
and you see more of the customer and food as well as the suggestion of the curved and bricked wall of the arch..
and you see more of the customer and food as well as the suggestion of the curved and bricked wall of the arch..
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| P1009: F5.6 @ 1/20 24mm ISO 800 |
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| P1011: F5 @ 1/60 24mm ISO 1600 |
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| P1012: F5.6 @ 1/80 24mm ISO 1600 |
P1011 and P1012 above, to my mind, show how the interior of an arch can be developed into a working, viable cafe but present the challenge of the visual marketing of 'Feed' i.e. the logo and the message on the far wall.OK, if Feed were the company going into Hotwalls but otherwise, the marketing logo and message on the wall might deselect these photographs. Of course, Photoshop could be used to amend the images by removing the logo etc....Not sure how ethical this would be ...
The challenge of what to offer the client..
One of the challenges that I have found here is the selection of images that would meet the client's requirements versus images that work better for me from the point of view of personal taste as a photographer...
For example, P1031 shows the dynamic energy of the artist but would this really meet the client's brief ..would the well used environment sell new studio space ?
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| P1031: F5.6 @ 1/80 24mm ISO 1600 |
I am also drawn to P1029 - I like the composition and the hint of artist anonymity..the artist behind the artwork...
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| P1029 : F4 @1/60 24mm ISO 800 |
Likewise for P1032...the eye is drawn to the foot pressed up against the wall hinting at an intense closeness to the work in hand..
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| P1032: F5 @1/50 24mm ISO 1600 |
P1033 and P1034 say more about the artist than the Hotwalls Project 'offer' to local artists.
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| P1034: F5 @ 1/60 24mm ISO 1600 |
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| P1033:F4.5 @ 1/125 24mm ISO 1600 |
However, at the end of the day,I have to keep in mind the brief that I am working to and the final twelve images have to reflect this.
