Nicholas Sutherland

Hi,
Welcome to my page. I'm a retired product photographer-come-ex-college teacher now photographing still life images that emphasise the texture and feel of reclaimed metal objects. My images resemble abstract art-especially of the Cubist era-and have a sombre; even "dark" mood. Lovers of pretty landscapes and flowers in pots should look away now. I use a lot of saw blades and disks in my work. These provide me with a vocabulary of shapes, shades, surfaces and planes with which to construct a composition. I'm primarily interested in how the transitions of light and shade summon a totality that, on first glance, resists instant recognition as "photo" but beckons the curious to closer inspection. Once nearer, we can begin a "discussion" about the innate beauty of scratched up things. That's not to argue away those darker connotations: these are not old wood saws but empty-eyed, pitiless forces that suggest existential unease.

They would suit sombre rooms with a strong Retro or Industrial chic mood for grown-ups. After all, there's only so many pre-rusted giant "antique" wall clocks one can stand. If you want to know more, why not catch up with my blog?

20 years photographic practice
BA English and History
MA History
PhD History