Exposed To the Elements

When I began to select prints for this show I planned to simply call it 'Exposed', with no other explanation, and simply title each print in series 'Untitled 1' to 'Untitled X'. My rationale was that I was drawn to take the picture because I saw something different to what was actually in front me. So by leaving the print 'Untitled' I wanted the viewer to ask, … "What am I looking at"?

However, as I showed the prints to others I quickly discovered that such an approach could be very frustrating for the viewer. Everyone wanted an answer to the question … "What is it"?

Replying … "What do you think it is"? … just irritated and frustrated them even more.

A revised approach was needed …

This show came about after fellow photographer, Frank Galdys, invited me on a photographic expedition to Flynn's Wrecking Yard in Cooma. As you drive through Cooma on the way to Jindabyne you find Flynn's, on the right, three kilometres out of town.

Established in the mid 1950's, Flynn's is the resting place for nearly 4000 car, bus and truck bodies dating back to 1928. This is a car enthusiast's paradise as it is the only remaining such yard in Australia. A visiting Grey Nomad, looking for ideas for his new hot rod, told me similar operations were closed as the increasing price for scrap steel made it too attractive to keep them operating. He regarded Flynn's as a treasure trove.

In contrast I found it to be a sad place with many vehicles showing some form of major damage. I began to wonder about the stories behind each of the vehicles and the people they carried.

One thing I noticed was the durability of the paint on vehicles built prior to the 1960's. When I looked closely at the different doors and panels I began to see abstract images in the peeling and fading paint. Left in a paddock (Exposed To the Elements) Cooma's cold dry weather (like Jack Frost the creator of winter patterns on our windows) had worked a form of artistic magic on the exterior of these vehicles.

Rather than capturing a series of potentially sad stories I decided to focus on pictures I saw in the peeling and fading paint. The subject of each picture is no bigger than 10cm across.

This show is a small selection of pictures taken on two visits to Flynn's Wrecking Yard. The blur in some of the prints was intentional and created 'in camera' simply for my curiosity.

Now you have the background. … What do you see?

To see all the prints please visit the Early Doors Cafe in Gungahlin.

 

How to buy the prints

The prints are available in three sizes and provided unframed. Only 20 prints of each image, no matter what the size, will be produced. Each print will be issued with a Certificate of Authenticity with both the print and certificate certified as genuine through an individually numbered registered hologram.

The images are printed personally by me on 290 gsm Hahnemühle Bamboo paper using Epson UltraChrome K3 inks. Hahnemühle Bamboo is a natural white paper made from 90% bamboo fibres and 10% cotton guaranteeing archival standards.

To order prints download and complete the order form and hand to the Early Doors Café before 10 March 2012. After this date prints can be ordered from my online store.

Click to download the order form (0.7MB PDF)

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