I’m in the process of discovering the dimensions and uses of my practice. By dimensions, I mean the formal style, subject and tone of my work. Within the broad genre of landscape photography, my practice presently incorporates the abstract, the sensory-impressionistic, the unsettling, the picturesque and the documentary and I feel this needs some refining and focussing to bring these elements together, or by eschewing one in favour of another. I have a clear preference for bold lines but am developing a deeper engagement with texture and am in the process of learning more about colour, through experimentation and research, to help develop a more coherent, distinctive personal style. I am continuing to photograph commons and am deepening my relationship to the Pebblebed Heaths in East Devon and with Tunbridge Wells common. I also continue to photograph when walking elsewhere to train and develop my eye. My 18 month engagement with Exeter’s M5 bridge feels to be in its closing stages, other than to record seasonal events such as snow or the reeds in flower.

By uses, I mean the outputs for my work. I am presently developing ideas for my M5 photographs and believe a book with a strong written component would be the best end product, with an accompanying exhibition. I’m getting ideas and support from my network and considering how I might apply for AHRC funding for this. I’m in the process of setting up a 3 month project with Devon Wildlife Trust to provide material to promote Exeter’s Valley Parks, and which may include film as well as photography. I’m also in discussion with Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust, who manage Devon’s newest National Nature Reserve and will be launching as such publicly in May; our interests in sense of place exactly coincide and whether or not funding might be available for my work, the timing is fortuitous. I am also acquiring a working understanding of the principles of anthropology and learning how photography is used in ethnographic, especially sensory ethnographic, research beyond simply providing accompanying data or illustration.

In short, 2020 looks to be an interesting year for my practice.