‘Dreaming of Bridget Riley, Mr Coot contributes to Op Art’ is a caption to one of a series of social media posts about a feisty coot with an unexpected knowledge of art history. It’s also part of Amsterdam Shutdown, a larger project comprising my early morning forays into my home town during Covid-19. Like everyone, my life has shrunk dramatically but I try to provide a small antidote both for myself and other people through the photographs I take.
How I work
Out on the street each day at 7.15 am, I head to Amsterdam’s central canals. The light is amazing and there’s almost nobody around. This means I can be far less preoccupied with social distancing, which is incredibly liberating both physically and emotionally. Then I just wait to see what crosses my path. Once I’m back home I disinfect everything: hands, bag, keys and equipment. Fortunately I have a camera that’s weathersealed!
Photo gallery
‘Dreaming of Bridget Riley’ and other photos I’ve taken can be viewed at the Amsterdam Shutdown gallery on this site: https://www.anniewrightphotography.com/amsterdam-shutdown
Amsterdam Shutdown is also regularly featured on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profoundly.superficial
Finally to return to Mr Coot, of all the subjects I’ve photographed he remains my favourite. With his absurdist humour and cantankerous nature, he makes perfect sense in the topsy-turvy we currently inhabit.
