For this set of photos I was imitating the work of Mathew Merrett, a photographer who looked at Urban Decay. In relation to this I went to quite a large range of places that I felt I could capture Urban Decay at its finest. The focus of each photo varies quite drastically, again linking to Merretts work as he concentrated on a large range of things/places/objects etc and was never restricted by his purpose. This photo was taken in a car park in Central London. The composition of the photo is very purposeful so that you view the wall from a face-on angle, making it overall look very pleasing to the eye. The use of lighting in this photo stands out to me, as it is simply lit by a single fluorescent tube stretching along the ceiling, which adds a sense of isolation to the photo. The grimey and dirty surroundings are what tie this particular photo in with the whole idea of urban decay, and this is ephasised by certain features such as the scratchy paintwork, the half-full dustbin that lay to the right hand side of the photo and overall the cruddy dirt stains that are apparent on both the wall and the floor. The use of space and positioning in the photo are what also make it far more pleasing to view, i.e. there is a fairly equal amount of space on either side of the wall, which creates for neatly and well balanced photograph.
This photo was taken from an above angle, highlighting the derelict nature of the construct. I managed to elevate myself via a staircase that stood just in front of the building and therefore was able to fully observe which angle would be best in order for me to capture this particular image. The overall tone of the photo is very grey, and the diagonal way in which it is slanted makes for a far more interesting image for audiences to look at. The general absence in colour variety makes the mood of the photo quite gloomy and dispiriting. There is an abstract use of natural lighting as it shines in through from an above angle, however, only manages to reach specific parts of the subject, therefore equalling in quite large amounts of shade and darkness in the photo. This photo is the most reminiscent of Merretts works in my opinion, therefore I though it was necessary to include it in my contact sheet an make it one of my enlargements.
This photo was taken in order to accentuate the extensive amount of graffitti present within the tunnel, and to highlight the blurred lines as to whether its 'art' or whether its 'ruin'. The large variety of colours in the photo account for the majority of the reason in which it looks so appealing to an audience. This also links with the idea of urban decay, as graffiti is often seen as vandalism rather than that of an art form, therefore a common public perception is that it is a slowly deteriorating the structures in which it lays upon. The lighting in the photo again relies on the fluorescent tubes that stretch alongside the tunnel and again they create for quite a lonesome/atmospheric vibe. The tunnel is mostly absent of life until the very end, however, this still highlights tones of emptiness and neglect. I thought it was important to take this photo as often people do see street art as a form of decay, yet they are so common and almost expected that many of us overlook the fact that in turn it is a criminal offence and technically 'damaging' property.