Ash Sutton Š Alan Porrett ARPS
Alongside our other photography we have had a project running for over thirty years. We became interested in strange buildings and structures; the type people often refer to as follies. We did a lot of research and compiled a large list of curious items all over the country. These include the buildings but also items which are in a strange location or were once common but have become very rare. In the early years of the project we were both at work and could only manage the occasional long weekend to travel to different areas and photograph our subjects. However, we gradually amassed quite a collection of photographs (Colour Slides). Then of course along came digital. We scanned some of the slides but thought that we would really like to re-visit the items and produce new photographs. Over the last five years we have made several trips each year visiting one or two counties at a time. We have now made photographs of several hundred locations and in addition to giving talks on the subject we are also busy putting them onto a dedicated website. Some of the buildings which were getting into a rather derelict state have been taken over and saved by the Landmark Trust. They have restored them and adapted them so that people can stay in them, a sort of strange holiday let. Over the last three years we have actually stayed in quite a few of our curiosities which has been great fun. At the start of out photographic journey it was our other interests thatinfluenced our pictures, but now it is often our photography that influences where we go and what we do. Along our journey we have met many lovely people and visited a lot places that we probably would not have got to without the photography. We have enjoyed our journey so far and look forward to continuing it in whatever direction it takes us.
See more of Pat and Alan's photography at www.porrett.com
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