Dave Green - Dave Green

September 26, 2012

Wren Music

I had a commision to photograph the staff at Wren Music. They asked for a gothic theme as they were working on a production that required it. The first photoshoot was at Okehampton Castle, a great gothic ruin. The sun was in more than it was out and I had to work very quickly finding the best locations, groupings, expressions etc whilst juggling with the lighting.

There was just an hour spent at the castle then it was into town, for another hour, to use an empty drama room of a local school for the next shoot. I had some lighting with me but the theatre spotlight in the room backed by the black velvet curtains gave the gothic look we were all after. A little light was reflected back into the shadows on the faces using a large sheet of white card. The picture compositions to me were all about marrying the musician with their chosen instrument and making something that filled a 3×4 frame in a balanced way. It was a challenge to make each portrait different from the last as there was no time to change the lighting. Again I had to work very quickly, concentrating on the key things like getting the all important eyes open and in focus.

September 11, 2012

Okehampton Camera Club

On Monday 10th September I had the pleasure of talking with the Okehampton Camera Club; a progressive group of about 25 creative photographers on the edge of Dartmoor.

I used the title ?Constructive Photographs? to present and discuss my work. This title can be used to sum up my working practice since the mid-1990?s. It was never a conscious decision to have such an obscure thread running through my work. But it is apparent in 35mm film triptychs, camera-less daylight processes silver images and through my 21st century digital work. The process is rarely hidden in my work and the photographically literate will make the connection of sprocket holes on the edge of a triptych or the hard, unblended, edge of a frame seen around the outside of a huge cave interior landscape.

The presentation in Okehampton was split into two parts; the first being key images in the progression of my work over the last 15 years. Then, after a tea/coffee break, the technical considerations of making these images was discussed and illustrated.

The animated gif above shows the constructing of an early image made in North Devon. This is named ?Shipload Grotto?, a cave in the difficult to get to Shipload Bay, close to Hartland Point. I should really make an up-to-date animation to illustrate the using of ?photomerge? in Photoshop; this one was made using a 2003 Sony Cyber-shot which served me well at the time but it?s lens was prone to chromatic aberration (the coloured edge seen where the contrast between very dark and very light is at the most extreme, like the entrance of a cave). The finished imaged was made from 51 separate frames.

Prior to my talk at the Club, I got a chance to witness their annual show, held this year at the Museum of Dartmoor Life, in Okehampton. This was a great way of getting to know the photographers by their photographs. I was really encouraged by the overall quality of work and the emphasis the club has for creativity and experiment; members seem to be developing their own styles which enhances the overall experience of the exhibition. The show continues until 29th September.

July 15, 2012

Installation Comments

Here are a few of your wonderful comments for the installation
‘a Postcard from Manteo’ by Dave and Sadie Green

“What a wonderful multi-sensual trip back to Carolina! thank you!”

“A Wonderful record – much enjoyed”

“Great! Hands across the ocean.”

“Totally absorbing and transporting, thanks for the pop-corn.”

“Wonderful creative exhibition – Dave is a real artist…Sadie is a great photographer!”

“Beautiful space, really interesting and informative, lovely hosts and beautiful things to see!”
“An amazing adventure. Not an art studio nor a gallery. A real life trip into another world.”
“Fantastic idea, tantilising all the senses – love the stairs, the food, music and the tour guides are second to none!”
“Wow – so many beautiful pictures, a real taste of the Outer Banks – so many memories!”

“Lovely space and v. interesting to hear about Manteo too.”
“Great Stairs!”

July 7, 2012

Postcard from Manteo – Opening Reception

The opening reception on Friday 6th July went really well. a crowd of 21 braved the unseasonably wet evening and stay for a good two hours each absorbing the OBX atmosphere.

There was lots of drinking of iced tea, lemonade and Norman Palmer (which is a mixture of the two and a top tip of what’s in at the moment in North Carolina where the temperature has soured to 110 degs f). There was also a spread of food likely to be consumed in Manteo; sweet potato cakes, crab dip, corn bread, muffins and pecan cookies to name just the homemade food.

Local photographer, Graham Hobbs, was one of our guests, who had come along to make a photograph for the North Devon Gazette. He stayed about an hour soaking it all in before grouping us all together at one end of the room with as much American and Manteo items as we could grab for the shot.

Later on, about 11pm, we had a Skype video call from Mayor of Manteo, Jamie Daniels. It was great to chat for half an hour with Jamie and the hand full of guest still here. Amongst the conversation was talk of Manteo’s July 4th celebrations where Jamie felt compelled to show off some of the paraphernalia worn in the parade.

July 3, 2012

a Postcard from Manteo

I have a joint installation/exhibition with Sadie Green at Green House my home/studio in Bideford as a part of Art Trek 2012.

The installation of photographs, video, sound, smells and digitally generated art has transformed our home into a sensual experience of Bideford?s twin town in the Outer Banks of North Carolina USA.

The Opening Reception is on Friday 6th July 7pm?10pm where a light fare of North Carolina food can be sampled. The installation continues through the weekends of the 7th/8th and 14th/15th of July 11am-5pm. There?s an illustrated talk at 2pm on each of these days.

You’ll find my studio here: Green House, Torridge St, Bideford, Devon