I've figured out how to do a WEBSITE. So please find your way to www.vanessacracknell.weebly.com for my new blog, and new photos!
See you there!
Vanessa
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Taking to the streets
Personal Relevance (2)
Smith Street, Durban, South Africa
It was a Sunday afternoon, and I was itching to take some photos. I wanted some street shots, perhaps even a city shot. Once again, though, I was held back by something – the South African paranoia about safety, and my belief that I couldn’t go out and take photos by myself. After much debate with myself, I picked up my keys and my camera, and I got in the car.
I’m just going to drive around Glenwood and then go home, I said to myself. Making deals, negotiating with myself, the usual attempt to get over the fear I was feeling. After a few minutes of shooting boring Glenwood, I headed down to town. Its Sunday afternoon, it has to be quiet enough for Durban not to be filled with hijackers, is what I was thinking.
I started with the buildings, shooting while I was driving, or when I was stopped at a traffic light. Then I started shooting the streets.
I spent six weeks in New York in 2001, walking that city silly, almost breaking my neck looking at the tall buildings. I envied the ease that New York city has for looking stylish and flashy, and oh so cosmopolitan. The streets and buildings always looked so statuesque, and all the photography books I’ve looked at capture this perfectly. With a sigh, I wished I could go back and see that city again!
This is what inspired me when I stared down Durban’s Smith Street that Sunday afternoon. The traffic light turned red, I was stationery at the pedestrian crossing. Quick, get the camera and take the shot, I said to myself. Its New York, in Durban! The slope of the street reminded me of the long avenues in New York. The buildings in Smith Street, although only a few stories high, were framing the street exactly like the images in my mind of New York. On processing the photo on Photoshop, I used a moody charcoal tint, and added in a gradient for the sky. I had my Durban version of a New York street.
But I also had my inspiration for getting photos in town, despite the danger. This was particularly relevant, because it was a turning point for me for taking photos in town. I have been back many times and captured the same street images again and again. Its fantastic. Liberating, scary, thrilling. Enough to get me out taking photos on my own.
Smith Street, Durban, South Africa
It was a Sunday afternoon, and I was itching to take some photos. I wanted some street shots, perhaps even a city shot. Once again, though, I was held back by something – the South African paranoia about safety, and my belief that I couldn’t go out and take photos by myself. After much debate with myself, I picked up my keys and my camera, and I got in the car.
I’m just going to drive around Glenwood and then go home, I said to myself. Making deals, negotiating with myself, the usual attempt to get over the fear I was feeling. After a few minutes of shooting boring Glenwood, I headed down to town. Its Sunday afternoon, it has to be quiet enough for Durban not to be filled with hijackers, is what I was thinking.
I started with the buildings, shooting while I was driving, or when I was stopped at a traffic light. Then I started shooting the streets.
I spent six weeks in New York in 2001, walking that city silly, almost breaking my neck looking at the tall buildings. I envied the ease that New York city has for looking stylish and flashy, and oh so cosmopolitan. The streets and buildings always looked so statuesque, and all the photography books I’ve looked at capture this perfectly. With a sigh, I wished I could go back and see that city again!
This is what inspired me when I stared down Durban’s Smith Street that Sunday afternoon. The traffic light turned red, I was stationery at the pedestrian crossing. Quick, get the camera and take the shot, I said to myself. Its New York, in Durban! The slope of the street reminded me of the long avenues in New York. The buildings in Smith Street, although only a few stories high, were framing the street exactly like the images in my mind of New York. On processing the photo on Photoshop, I used a moody charcoal tint, and added in a gradient for the sky. I had my Durban version of a New York street.
But I also had my inspiration for getting photos in town, despite the danger. This was particularly relevant, because it was a turning point for me for taking photos in town. I have been back many times and captured the same street images again and again. Its fantastic. Liberating, scary, thrilling. Enough to get me out taking photos on my own.
Personal Relevance (1)
I was recently asked about my favourite photos,- why I took them, and what is the personal relevance of the photo. Why did it capture my attention? In short, whats the story behind the shot.
Let me tell you, photo by photo
1. Addington Children's Hospital
This is by far my most personally relevant photo of all my photos so far. It was taken at the Addington Childrens Hospital - the abandoned hospital that everyone has forgotten. There is a treasure trove of things to see, from abandoned baby's hair brushes, to decaying old architecture. I was wandering around the different hospital rooms, looking at the dreadful state the place is in, when I walked into this little room. It was tough going looking at the hospital, where evidence of a busy and purposeful place, left to ruins, was getting to me and making me emotional. I was also slightly on edge because we were trespassing, and I was expecting to be caught at any moment.
That's when I walked into this room. I saw the peeling paint, the dirty floor and was about to turn around and walk out, when I spotted the graffiti on the wall. Firstly, it was the only graffiti in the whole building, which is rare. Most abandoned places are preyed upon by graffiti artists, but surprisingly this was the only writing or art on the walls.
I stopped, and read what was written. I was breathless by the profound simplicity and meaning of the statement, taking a while to understand what it said. "Beauty visible through the eyes of derelict mind." W O W !
That is exactly what I believe I do as a photographer. I look at things with a broad and open mind - perhaps what they meant by a "derelict" mind - and through my vision, I see beauty. And then I capture it as a photograph.
How amazingly profound is that? It resonates with me so much.
Photography to me was originally just going to be a hobby, possibly to be discarded along with all the others. But it has stuck around and I’ve remained interested and keen, and over the last year, I believe I’ve improved a fair amount. But what I’ve noticed is that I see things differently now. The same buildings, the same roads, the same people in the streets, all suddenly have a different attraction to me, and are appealing and interesting. I see something in the visions before me, and using my camera, I try to capture some of that emotion or feeling that I’m experiencing. Its an amazing thing to do. Its like making something out of nothing, or taking the ordinary and making it extra ordinary. Just by seeing it differently.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Buildings - Up close
Buildings - up close.
This one is Addington Hospital, as seen from the Children's Hospital next door to it. I didnt realise that there were so many broken windows.
This one is Addington Hospital, as seen from the Children's Hospital next door to it. I didnt realise that there were so many broken windows.
Another award!
Most dramatic photo.....
The camera club Christmas party was held at the beginning of the December. We had a mini exhibition, with a non-serious awards ceremony for the photos that were put up for exhibit that night. The catergories were fun, like "Photo with the most Red in it", "Best Wildlife" and "Best 'Aaaah, cute' Photo". The judges were some of the non-photographers at the party.
My photo of the Point building got the award for The Most Dramatic Photo. I was quite chuffed!
Last one standing.
Although it was a fun award, and I'm damn glad that I didnt get awarded the booby prize for "Photo with object most in the middle", its still great to be acknowledged and have people like what I do!
The camera club Christmas party was held at the beginning of the December. We had a mini exhibition, with a non-serious awards ceremony for the photos that were put up for exhibit that night. The catergories were fun, like "Photo with the most Red in it", "Best Wildlife" and "Best 'Aaaah, cute' Photo". The judges were some of the non-photographers at the party.
My photo of the Point building got the award for The Most Dramatic Photo. I was quite chuffed!
Last one standing.
Although it was a fun award, and I'm damn glad that I didnt get awarded the booby prize for "Photo with object most in the middle", its still great to be acknowledged and have people like what I do!
I love this building!
I love this building. Everytime I see it, it captures my attention. I love the crazy turquiose colour, and I adore the wacky windows. Its just such a quirky and wierd slab of brick and concrete. It appeals to me enormously.
Turquoise beauty.
Perhaps I'm a lunatic, and I just love turquoise, but I'm always grateful when the robot goes red, because then I get to take a few photos of this building!!!
Wacky windows.
The windows are so funky and such a wierd shape. Fantastic architecture! And its in Durban, nogal. Not too shaby.........
Turquoise beauty.
Perhaps I'm a lunatic, and I just love turquoise, but I'm always grateful when the robot goes red, because then I get to take a few photos of this building!!!
Wacky windows.
The windows are so funky and such a wierd shape. Fantastic architecture! And its in Durban, nogal. Not too shaby.........
Good news about the Children's Hospital
Perhaps it was our good vibes and curiosity about the building, or perhaps it is just coincidence. But its good news, and thats what we should celebrate. The Department of Health have decided to renovate and restore the ruined building back into a children's hospital!
It was reported by Vivienne Attwood, of the Sunday Tribune that the go ahead had been given to revamp the building, and make it a children's hospital. She wrote about this a few months ago. I have to say I was greatly relieved to see that someone was going to do justice to that building, instead of just ripping it down and turning the land into a casino. Yes, that was one of the 'options'. A restoration of the building makes a lot more sense, seeing that it is filled with beautiful fittings and the architecture is so grand.
A few of my fellow Urbex explorers, and I invited Vivienne to join us on one of our explorations back to the hospital. Allan had contacted her after her article came out, to tell her that we'd made that one of favourite places to take photos. Vivienne was fascinated by what we had been doing, and even more intrigued by the building.
Ironically though she told us that even though she had recieved the announcement about the revamp by the Dept of Health, when she wanted to verify this with trustees of the building, they did not know what she was talking about. One of the trustees is a decendant of the founder of the building, and has maintained an interest in the building through the years. I dont know if the trustees own the building anymore, but they have an interest in its future. As such they should have the first to know about the decision made about its future! Strangely enough, they were the last to know.
Anyway, its good news that the building isnt going to be torn down, or used for ridiculous purposes.
The bad news is that our opportunities for further photography exploring are probably going to be curtailed. We've gone back a few times. The last time was a bit dicey, as we couldnt climb over the wall as before. They had fenced in everything, so our fast access to the door was gone! Amusingly, though, the gate that we thought was padlocked was open, so we just pushed that aside, and walked in. However, once we got inside the building, I was frantic with thoughts of someone locking the padlock, and trapping us in the premises. Who do we call in that situation? "Hi Dad, I'm trapped in a run down building in the Point area. Can you bring some bolt cutters to break into the lock?" Haha.... Calling the police would be even more hilarious - seeing that we are loitering, or breaking and entering property that we shouldn't be in!
We need a new spot now. If anyone knows of a derelict building needing to be seen, viewed and photographed by some crazy Urban Explorers, let me know!!!
Reflections and angles. Red and yellow.
The turquoise chair.
It was reported by Vivienne Attwood, of the Sunday Tribune that the go ahead had been given to revamp the building, and make it a children's hospital. She wrote about this a few months ago. I have to say I was greatly relieved to see that someone was going to do justice to that building, instead of just ripping it down and turning the land into a casino. Yes, that was one of the 'options'. A restoration of the building makes a lot more sense, seeing that it is filled with beautiful fittings and the architecture is so grand.
A few of my fellow Urbex explorers, and I invited Vivienne to join us on one of our explorations back to the hospital. Allan had contacted her after her article came out, to tell her that we'd made that one of favourite places to take photos. Vivienne was fascinated by what we had been doing, and even more intrigued by the building.
Ironically though she told us that even though she had recieved the announcement about the revamp by the Dept of Health, when she wanted to verify this with trustees of the building, they did not know what she was talking about. One of the trustees is a decendant of the founder of the building, and has maintained an interest in the building through the years. I dont know if the trustees own the building anymore, but they have an interest in its future. As such they should have the first to know about the decision made about its future! Strangely enough, they were the last to know.
Anyway, its good news that the building isnt going to be torn down, or used for ridiculous purposes.
The bad news is that our opportunities for further photography exploring are probably going to be curtailed. We've gone back a few times. The last time was a bit dicey, as we couldnt climb over the wall as before. They had fenced in everything, so our fast access to the door was gone! Amusingly, though, the gate that we thought was padlocked was open, so we just pushed that aside, and walked in. However, once we got inside the building, I was frantic with thoughts of someone locking the padlock, and trapping us in the premises. Who do we call in that situation? "Hi Dad, I'm trapped in a run down building in the Point area. Can you bring some bolt cutters to break into the lock?" Haha.... Calling the police would be even more hilarious - seeing that we are loitering, or breaking and entering property that we shouldn't be in!
We need a new spot now. If anyone knows of a derelict building needing to be seen, viewed and photographed by some crazy Urban Explorers, let me know!!!
Reflections and angles. Red and yellow.
The turquoise chair.
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