Tag: freedom

Following further research into other photographers work (specifically Raymond Meeks and Sian Davey) this shoot centres around memory and place, childhood and the value of outdoor space. My mother and stepfather have an old farm which has been out of action for several years. There are many features including old buildings, woodland and several man made lakes most of which are now home to many waterbirds and a family of otters. Although no longer a working farm, the buildings are used for storage and my stepfather is frequently coming up with unique ways to utilise the remaining space for environmental projects or as a place to simply play. The area is regularly occupied by teens, but more so in the summer months, when the ‘square’ lake is used for many activities, all informal, creative and without too many rules.

During those months, there is seemingly endless freedom even though the time disappears fast. I am noticing the passing of time much more as my children transition through their childhood years and this is especially the case with my oldest child who is almost 15. I am acutely aware that in all likelihood the days of meeting his friends to seek out places to play and create will become less and less.

In these photographs I’ve experimented with shooting the ‘summer playground’ (lake and pontoon) as it appears in Autumn, a quiet place, with the abandoned equipment gathering leaves and dirt.

I have included some images of the massive abandoned glasshouse which is currently being used as an experiment by my stepfather (he has removed a large proportion of the glass and is attempting to grow plants around the entire frame) and finally photographs of my son and some of his friends contemplating how they might utilise the space next to the glasshouse to make a mountain bike course for the Autumn and Winter.

My instinct here is to develop a parallel project alongside module 7801. I feel that this has the potential to be a longer term project that could reflect other times of the year when the landscape transitions from season to season and forces the children to adapt their ‘play’ to integrate. I am interested in exploring further, how the young teens interact with their environment as they themselves change alongside the seasons.