Artist Statement
thewarmroom is where I go to escape. Do some rejuvenating and get back some wonderment.
It’s my own place – and I love being there.
I can consider and think and get curious. Play around and try different things.
Watch – and look for longer.
Hopefully creating something thoughtful.
It’s seeing things my way – and having fun with it.
I can indulge myself too and not care. Be pig-headed and singular and absolute. No compromising or explaining or apologising – and no worrying that it all might be a bit rubbish.
And if I want to I can wallow in some melancholia. Pictures are great for that. I love to remember and ponder and yearn.
It’s a favourite pastime.
Of course the big bonus to all this is that I am reminded of just how much I appreciate and admire and care,
when so often I think I don’t.
And if I’m lucky I might get a more rounded sense of things. Understand a bit more. See things a bit differently.
Maybe be a bit better.
I’ll be less irritated and frustrated and despondent – and more amazed and fascinated and awed.
It’s my search for beauty and joy.
My anti-depressant.
Artist Bio
We first visited Cambo Gardens in February 2024. It was a fine day with the sun low in the sky, beaming through the trees. The snowdrops were everywhere, all quivering in the breeze, blowing us away.
I later approached head gardener Cal who kindly agreed to me photographing some samples. I wanted to gather together a set of specimen shots; try and get up close to show their form and specifics.
Not easy (for me) to photograph. With some varieties there is little detail on the outer perianth segments so focusing was difficult especially with very wide apertures, and the inner perianth segments would often be in shadow. Also, bringing a closed flower from outside into a warmer room would cause it to start opening and with using slow shutter speeds and no flash, getting a sharp image often proved difficult.
On the later shoots I tried to be a bit more inventive; make pictures with, rather than of. I played with different backgrounds, colour temperatures, ISO’s. A few I turned upside down. All natural light by a window, a reflector was used too, for shading.
Post production took forever. I have sensor dust I just can’t seem to get rid of and because I tend to under expose, my white backgrounds would turn out darker. My ongoing lack of technical skills continuing to frustrate me.
I see some winged creatures in there, along with a half hiding grumpy old man, and there is something weirdly strange about Bishop’s Mitre; that bit behind, hanging down.
They are all beautiful.
