Magazine

TERRAIN – A PROJECT AND EXHIBITION

by |Published

TERRAIN

This project recently exhibited at the Golborne Gallery, London

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ROAD TRIP

All the photographs in this project were taken over a week-long period whilst traveling from Los Angeles to East Arizona, and back again.

Something that really struck me when traveling through this part of the American West was how nature had relinquished control of the landscape.

Image from Jack Whitefield shot on ILFORD black and white film
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The towns were almost post-apocalyptic; half-burnt trash piles and concrete curbs were cracked by the hot sun. Whilst blades of grass forced through the debris, like planet earth was trying to absorb it all and start again.
My photos weren’t an attempt at a narrative or documentation, it was just life as I saw it, but I did feel like a sort of scavenger. I think photographers are scavengers.
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MY WORKFLOW
I work using a 6×6/6×7 Fuji Gf670 and 35mm Contax camera, i also use ILFORD Delta 100 speed pulled to 50, it seems to help achieve a much more muted, flatter, smoother grey palette, which is an aesthetic I try to keep consistent through out all of my photographs.
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All of my photographic prints are hand made from my darkroom in Cornwall with 12×16 ILFORD Multigrade FB Classic paper, I feel the slow methods and labor intensive process of darkroom work really helps to maintain a unique connection the project. I guess it’s all the thinking time you have standing in the dark.
I also self publish all my books and show catalogues using a Risograph printer combined various hand binding techniques which is an attempt to accentuate the timeworn feel of my work. 
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The show is accompanied by a hand made catalogues also titled ‘TERRAIN’, its 42 pages, risograph printed, bound with engraved metal clasps and housed in a enamel silkscreened sleeve. Edition of 100.
Poetry is a big part of my work and all my books/catalogues start with a piece of writing within the first few pages, I feel this connects the reader more intimately with the photographs, whilst leaving enough breathing room their own interpretation. 
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ENVIRONMENT
I tried to recreate the same environment I experienced whilst driving through the small desert towns. I covered the entire front of the gallery with a large photograph of a dumping ground that was located in the middle of an off-grid trailer park.
This show also features a window piece that takes up the gallery windows. It’s made from perforated micro vision vinyl that shows a solid image from a distance but becomes semi transparent on closer inspection allowing a view into the gallery. Another affect is the window image slowly disappears as night falls, supposedly mimicking the remote desert landscapes as day turns to night.
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LINK TO THE SHOW:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jack Whitefield

I’m a 26 year old photographer and artist working in St Ives, Cornwall, UK. I try to create photographs that are straight forward, even deadpan, in their depiction of subjects that are not generally thought of as having aesthetic qualities and are mostly devoid of human presence. I’m also really interested in the decay of our landscape due to man made developments and how nature always seems to regain control. I use a 6×7 and 35mm camera and print everything by hand from my darkroom/studio in Cornwall. Aside from my own projects i work closely with a collaborative publishing project, TARMAC PRESS, specialising in artists’ books and multiples.

Social: @jackwhitefield | Website: www.tarmac-press.com

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