#savebrixtonarches

[joehorgan4-blog]

Here are my final prints for my Save Brixton Arches project. I chose a set of 6 images all showing a type of wall that the council put in the way of the shops which was practically a barricade to prevent people from even viewing them let alone running the family run businesses.

[joehorgan4-blog]

This contact sheet contains all shots that I used in my final edit. From this contact sheet I could determine what images I wanted to print on full size. 

[joehorgan4-blog]

My first black and white shots.

My first black and white film shots was mainly a practice shooting as I wanted to see what worked and what didn't in terms of documenting the location. After developing my film I then made a contact sheet to view all of the images that I shot. Unfortunately, I found that my film camera was slightly leaking light, therefore the shots were bright and unusable. However, the experience of developing the film was very beneficial when it came to the following shoots. 

[takeyouwith]

“redevilopment”

Gentrification is happening quickly both at home and abroad. Brooklyn neighborhoods that used to be “dangerous” a decade ago are now dotted by expensive boutique shops and fancy restaurants. Some people might call this “progress,” but those people fail to realize that the soul of a city is not determined by the number of skyscrapers but by the diversity and creativity of the people who build and live in it.

[joehorgan4-blog]

Black and White Film

I feel that the brief of having to use 35mm black and white film for our project was very beneficial to what I was trying to document as explained in my last post, I want my series of images to pick up on the neglecting concept of the location and by in some essence erasing the vibrant colours shown in my iPhone snapshots by using black and white film I am able to emphasise that the transition is a hugely negative occurrence.

[joehorgan4-blog]

Closed down businesses back in October had heavily graffitied wooden guards put in place in front of them, and although the shops were shut-down, the same warm vibe was still given off to pedestrians walking to and from the station. However, almost as if the council wanted to destroy any glimmer of happiness that came with the Arches they issued big dark blue boarders which covered up these eye-opening pieces of art and this played a huge factor in what I was trying to present in my project as essentially what I was documenting was this idea of a negative transformation of a location.

[joehorgan4-blog]

I started my project by taking snapshots with my iPhone. These images display just several of the many promotions put up by the #SaveBrixtonArches campaigners in an attempt to expand the group of people that are supporting the cause, it is evident how much the campaign means to those who it is effecting.

[joehorgan4-blog]

After 4 months of working in Brixton, I really feel like I am part of a community. Walking past the Arches every day on the way to the warehouse that my work is based, I feel a stronger understanding of the campaign to #SaveBrixtonArches from Network Rail and the Lambeth Council. Shops that have been past down through generations being forced to close down due to a 300% rent increase from the greed of Lambeth Council making it impossible for these fundamental business to continue running, business’ that belong in Brixton. Never have I been to a place with this much culture, life and such a genuine warm atmosphere that is now week-by-week being destroyed, making me feel obliged to document the somewhat evolution of the location and how it has a massive effect on the community as a whole. #BAPhotography