City of Nottingham

School Ground

A weekend walk around Nottingham probably 1982. I had not long had a lesson in the zone system by visiting lecturer Fay Godwin and wanted to capture a large tonal range in bright sunlight. A metal bin in a school playground seemed to resonate. Years later I went to the photographers gallery after work in the Tony Stone Darkrooms, having not eaten I soon became a bit drunk on the free wine. Seeing Fay I walked up to her and said something along the lines of “Hello Fay, remember me?” she was very kind and I was an idiot!

The learning process

Euan Duff the course leader at the Photo Department at Trent Polytechnic knew I enjoyed documentary photography so give me the opportunity in my second year to work with a graphics student who had a project on schooling in Nottingham.

One of the schools I photographed was a small private primary. Entering the classroom was like going back in time to my state school in St.Helens, perhaps the floors were less dusty here but it flooded me with memories of listening to stories and the strict and not so strict teachers.

On the desk is a packet of sweets or munchies, not too sure if they are confiscated from a child or used to reward good behavior. Young minds informed.

Elegaic light

Nottingham Municipal War Memorial next to the river Trent. A nightime walk with my camera and tripod in the early 1980s.

The light brings out the sad beauty of the monument, it would seem to me that a lot of thought has gone into it, a focus for complentation.

Concentration

Taken not at my state school Cowley Boys in St.Helens but at a real private school in Nottingham.
Part of a second year Trent Polytechnic Photo project covering the subject of schooling in Nottingham in collaboration with a design student in 1981 or 1982

Very similar school to Cowley boys in pretty much every way except this was a fee paying school. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go to Cowley as they managed to drag me up from ‘failing’ to ‘mediocrity’ in academic terms, a huge shift for me. The ethos of the school promoted learning and development and it did rub off.

Framed arrangement

View from St.Stephens Church, Sneinton, Nottingham. Looking West towards the Kingston Court flats. Taken in 1981/1982.
I used to live on Lees Hill road in Sneinton and passed this church each day. Sometimes its good to explore and get a different angle on things.

Caravan of secrets

A fortune teller at the Goose Fair in Nottingham, approx 1982. HP5 high speed film pushed 2 stops.

As part of my final year documentary project at Trent Polytechnic I had been photographing people in pubs and clubs using available light, a low shutter speed and a wide aperture to get enough light to the film. Hand held photography at night felt liberating, a technical challenge but also fun. Walking through the Goose fair and recording what I saw felt natural to me though pretty strange perhaps to others.

The curtains of the caravan were open for all to see but what was said stayed inside as the music, machines and crowds provided a protective wall.

A vague memory of taking this picture but i only noticed its thin and sparse negative 38 years later. Not one of my better images but like a blurry photo of a live dodo it has some merit (searching Google images for fortune teller caravan reveals no true documentary image of the subject – let me know if you find one).

 

Evening dance class

Dance class in the main hall of the YMCA Nottingham approx 1982. Taken as part of a documentary project in my second year at Trent Polytechnic studying photography. The dance tutors were very nice people and allowed me to wander around all their classes to take pictures. The younger classes were held during the day and the light pouring into the room really set off the chaos and fun of the children learning. The evenings were much less chaotic and much more formal.

Im not a dancer myself but documentary photography allowed me to explore other peoples interests and passions. One day I was walking into town and saw a dance class in progress, it seemed natural to go through the door and ask if I could take photographs. I was made welcome and in return I found a respect for their world.

No Signal

Nottingham, roadside signal near railway crossing, taken approx 1982.
No green light and the barriers are up, perhaps a good signal?

Area

Unknown part of Nottingham. Night time shot done on a exploitative walk. Finding different vistas.

Taken approx 1982. 6×6 Colour negative, Yashica 124G camera 80mm lens.

Town design

Originally shot for a college project to illustrate a book by a local author.
What struck me about the place then (and now) is how idyllic it is to have normal terraced housing backing onto a communal park area. If I were a town planner my rule would be road at the front, green strip at the back.
(Only just noticed the tops of the bench are like mini houses with the same roof angle as the properties behind, I would not been concious of this at the time but I have no doubt it was a major reason for taking the image, unconscious thought notices far more)

 

 

Early 1980s demolition, Nottingham

Luckily I dont think it was a windy day. Health and safety standards for demolition have certainly changed since. Taken on a walk to nowhere in particular. I enjoyed walking with my camera and capturing what I saw along the way.

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Post Office Telecommunications

24 hour Buzz service says the Buzby poster on the side of the van. Before privatization and it becoming BT the Post Office looked after the telephone service. The distinctive red and white plastic tents kept the weather out as the engineers joined impossible bundles of copper wire together. Nottingham circa 1981.
The Gasometers have gone but some 40 years later there is still access to the phone network in the same place.

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