I enjoy prowling around city streets at night with my camera, trying to see things from different points of view. Sometimes I imagine them from a street cat's point of view, as if I was Varjak Paw, or one of his friends. What would the city really look like to them?
This has led me into some strange places. I can find myself staring for ages at puddles, or reflections of neon lights on a rainy pavement. I spend whole evenings standing on precarious bridges over motorways, watching the light trails from traffic sparkling in the night.
I've even been down sewers to see what it really looks like there. (And smells like.) If you've read The Outlaw Varjak Paw, you might recognise this view:
I like to justify my photography by claiming that it's part of my research; it influences the way I imagine and describe scenes. My new book, PHOENIX (coming in summer 2013), would definitely not be the same without it. This book is not about Varjak Paw, or even cats; it's about people this time, and also aliens, because it's a science fiction epic set in outer space. It begins with the stars singing to the main character. I think that might look something like this:
By the way, if you like these photographs, some of them are published in a beautiful little book called London's Lost Rivers. It's a guide to the hidden, secret rivers that flow underneath the city; rivers most people have never seen. I didn't write any of the words... but there are 18 of my pictures in the book.
12 comments:
Phoenix sounds amazing, I cant wait!!!!!
Thanks Ben! It took me nearly 7 years to write it, but I think it was worth every minute. I'll be posting more about it in the New Year, so come and have a look every so often for updates!
I love your photos! Can I ask very geekily what camera you use?
Seven years! And here I was complaining that my second book took me three!
Hi Candy! Thanks so much for visiting - and thanks for the kind words!
I have to admit, very geekily too, that I have quite a few different cameras... The first 3 pictures & the last one were taken with a Polaroid SX70, which is the classic Polaroid camera that spits out pictures that then develop in front of your eyes. The 4th one, the sewers, was taken with a Holga, which is a plastic toy camera that takes medium format film, and makes surprisingly good pictures! The 5th one was the only one shot with a digital camera, a Canon SLR, which I never use any more... I had a brief period of digital photography, but I've concluded that film is the only way for me - it feels so much more magical!
Well, three years is still a long time to do just one thing, so you definitely have my sympathies! The Outlaw Varjak Paw took three, and it remains the hardest experience I've ever had while writing. Phoenix took much longer, but I never reached the total despair that I did with Outlaw...
Having said that, seven years is definitely too long to be spending on one book, and I'm so glad it's finally done! I think Dave McKean is about to show us some more of his amazing artwork for it - I can't wait to see!
It really is magical!
contemporary pictures do not look so nice.
Thank you very much! They are contemporary pictures in a sense, as I shot them all in the last few years, but of course using old technology.... Analogue still has the most magic, I think!
Hi SF, I'm also loving your photos and found my way to your website after having seen a couple of your shots in the Thames Festival brochure and being intrigued how you took those. Having read the above reply to Candy I understand how!
Can I ask you how you digitise your physical photos?
Hi Claudia, thanks so much for your lovely comment! I just scan the Polaroids; it's a very straightforward process, as scanners are now so easy to use. Not expensive, either. They never quite capture the depth and richness of the originals - some of the magic does get lost in digitisation - but I think they're pretty good for what they are!
I love your photos!
Thank you so much! That's very kind of you to say, and much appreciated.
With best wishes,
SF
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