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B+W5 RAILWAY ARCHES
Adapted, bricked up and pressed into use
again, the railway arch has a long history
of supporting trades, services and repair
workshops, as this example shows. Look for
the nearest railway arches and see what you
can find out about their current inhabitants
and the stuff they make and repair.
Look at geograph.org.uk – an ongoing
online community project that seeks to create
an archive of photographs that document the
physical landmarks and landscapes around
us. Search using the term ‘railway arch’
and see if you can find a site near where you
live, or perhaps something that’s missing
from the collection that you can contribute
through your own project.4 RETAIL PARKS
Across most developed nations, the
ubiquitous out of town retail park can
provide rich pickings in this era of changing
shopping habits. Choose an angle that
allows you to focus on a particular aspect,
such as the negative impact on the
surrounding area, as this example shows, or
perhaps look at those parks that are closing
down due to changing economic conditions.
To create a sense of emptiness within
bigger spaces and sites, consider shooting
wider and more encompassing views so
you can see how all the different elements
spatially interact. For inspiration, look at
the work of Paul Seawright, especially
his project Margins which takes a look at
marginal lands and uninhabited spaces.INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
‘I’ve decided to recast myself as utopian. I like this landscape of the M25
and Heathrow. I like airfreight offices and rent-a-car bureaus. I like
dual carriageways. When I see a CCTV camera, I know I’m safe.’- JG Ballard.
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