blog - Page 5 of 62 - Annie Wright Photography

Be A Photographic Beachcomber

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August 25, 2017
County Mayo / photography

Beachcomber, photography, Mulranny, Ireland — © www.anniewrightphotography.com

Every photographer should also be a beachcomber. Or a regular visitor to flea markets. Or a connoisseur of auction houses. Because everywhere, chance finds and hidden treasures are literally waiting to be discovered. My favourite example is this prehistoric implement, which I found washed up on an Irish beach.

And all you need to do is train your eye.

This approach can equally be applied to photography, where you recognise the exceptional rather than attempt to create it from scratch or through applying pre-existing expectations.

It’s simply a case of you will know it when you find it… (more…)

The Kingdom of Heaven at St Magnus Cathedral

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August 20, 2017
history / Monuments / Orkney

Kingdom of Heaven, St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney — © www.anniewrightphotography.com

A crown, the enticing offer of the Kingdom of Heaven adorning a 17th century tomb at St Magnus Cathedral on Orkney. What I particularly like about this is the tomb’s three dimensional realism where the extended arm neatly balances the crown on its dainty finger tips. Naturally there is a Christian message here, which aims to cajole the viewer into sticking to the straight and narrow rather than succumbing to devilish delights.

St. Magnus Cathedral – the red cathedral – dominates the skyline of Kirkwall, the largest town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is also the most northerly cathedral in Britain, a fine example of Romanesque architecture built for bishops when the islands were ruled by the Norse Earls of Orkney. It is owned not by the church, but by the burgh of Kirkwall as a result of an act of King James III of Scotland following Orkney’s annexation by the Scottish Crown in 1468. It has also its own dungeon, presumably for those indulging in sinful practices. (more…)

Arctic Willow the Goatling

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August 13, 2017
Animals / Orkney

Goats, Arctic Willow, Orkney — © www.anniewrightphotography.com

Arctic Willow is a prize winning goatling, an adolescent kid who is by turns stroppy, feisty and beguiling. Over the last six weeks I have been photographing her, which is not without its challenges because she’s in constant motion.

Animals are certainly one of my “subjects” and I try to go beyond the furry cuteness to catch a sense of the being itself. In Artic Willow’s case, she’s such an in-your face- flamboyant diva that she overwhelms you with her “beingness”.

However, goats are also famed for their “devilish” qualities. Or, as a farmer recently remarked to me on Facebook, “Goats are just like sheep only evil”. But Arctic Willow is far too much of a drama queen to be called evil… although maybe, just possibly there’s a hint of the dark side along with the endless mischief. (more…)

Cloud Appreciation Society

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August 7, 2017
Orkney / photography / Scotland

Recently I was sent a flyer for a cloud photo competition to be judged by the legendary Cloud Appreciation Society. A great choice of subject matter because Orkney – where I’m based at present – has enormous skies and dramatic weather. So, instead of pointing my camera horizontally or towards the ground, I have started looking upwards, an experience which is quite literally dizzying. And, with my head in the clouds, anything is possible. To quote the great photographer Alfred Stieglitz: “My cloud photographs are equivalents of my most profound life experiences, my basic philosophy of life. All art is an equivalent of the artist’s most profound life experiences.” (more…)

Hiding the Wound – Homage to Mr Freud

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July 30, 2017
art / LGBTQ

I’m absolutely delighted that my work Hiding the Wound – Homage to Mr Freud (1979) is part of the Coming Out exhibition, which has just opened at Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery. The show celebrates the diversity of LBGT voices over the last 50 years since the first steps were taken in the decriminalising of homosexuality in the United Kingdom.

According to the information accompanying Hiding the Wound, “the title of this artwork refers to the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) It also refers to his theory known as the Oedipus Complex. This suggested that women believed that they had been wounded, or castrated, when they discovered they didn’t have a penis as a child.

“Wright was active in the women’s liberation movement during the 1970s. Her practice at that time explored gender and sexuality through photography and performance. This work, she explains, ‘by means of sewing, a so-called feminine activity, responds to the female experience under male supremacy.'”

For me, it was always a quite light-hearted piece, a visual joke at the expense of Freudian solemnity.

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The Simmer Dim – a Very Weird Light

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July 17, 2017
Orkney

Simmer Dim. East Mainland, Orkney — © www.anniewrightphotography.com

The simmer dim is a very weird light. Affecting the Northern Isles of Scotland, it is a strange half light where evenings are endless and nights are brief or non-existent. Here, the light does not simply get darker, rather it becomes progressively less intense like a fading light bulb that needs to be changed. After nearly two weeks on Orkney, I’m getting used to it…almost! (more…)

Simmer Dim

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July 9, 2017
Magic / mysteries / Orkney / Scotland / weather

Returning to Orkney in the summer, I am experiencing the simmer dim, an eternal twilight where nights are brief or even non-existent. Right now darkness descends shortly before midnight and daylight…

50 Years of LGBTQ Rights

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July 1, 2017
LGBTQ

It's 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales, which was the first step towards LGBTQ rights in the United Kingdom. This will be celebrated in July with a…

Discovering the Fujifilm X-T2

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June 26, 2017
Alfie / art / Orkney / photography

My travelling companion Alfie getting to grips with my brand new Fujifilm X-T2. The Fuji has received plenty of gold star reviews but – although that’s important – ultimately it all comes down to whether it sits comfortably in your hands and is in tune with your photographic desires. In other words: Can I make it sing for me? As of now, all the signs are positive and I can’t wait to start working with it! (more…)

Picture Perfect?

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June 18, 2017
beauty / Orkney / Stromness

Picture perfect? The early morning light, the ships and cloud reflections are all there, but so too is Orkney County Council with its extensive repairs to the water system. Personally I love a little imperfection: It shakes things up and throws them off balance. Location: Stromness, Mainland, Orkney

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