Slow Burn

The intention of the research outcome is to question photography’s ability to present reality, as the images produced are shown in a way they cannot be seen by the naked eye. As part of the project an ongoing series of houses are photographed using two hour exposure times at night. Although the range of houses reflect the individuality of our homes, these ordinary residences are shown in a way that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Seen from this detached viewpoint, they become portraits of the spaces we inhabit but through the photographic process they have gained a supernatural quality, with every aspect of light and detail being heightened, giving rise to odd shadows and strange light sources. This ongoing research project has led to two solo exhibitions, firstly at the MAC Gallery in Birmingham, 2005 (‘Vanishing Point’, 8 January – 23 February 2005) and most recently Slow Burn at the Focal Point Gallery, Southend (29 September – 10 November 2007, http://www.focalpoint.org.uk/), for which an accompanying publication has been produced, (ISBN 9-0-9547777-8-4) Slow Burn includes a new series of photographs developing the key themes, ‘Room Shutter’ which are taken using slow exposure, but looking outwards from suburban houses, using the curtains as a camera shutter.