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Tuesday, 21 September 2010

Roof space

(Best viewed large)
Normally the roof space of Salts (West) Mill is not open to the public. But it was used as gallery space for the Saltaire Festival. So I had two good reasons for exploring up there on the top floor - to experience the enormous space (over 190 meters long - that's nearly the length of two football pitches!) and to enjoy the exhibition and a talk by the photographer Asadour Guzelian.


'The Art of News' showed photographs from the archive of Asadour Guzelian, who runs the Guzelian Picture Agency from premises in Little Germany in Bradford. Prior to moving to Bradford, he had an office on Victoria Road in Saltaire for 15 years, so he counts as something of a 'local'. Some of the images in the exhibition are shown on the Guzelian website. His talk was a fascinating insight into photojournalism.

I was encouraged to hear that on a 'shoot' he might normally take between 70 to 90 photos, discard 90% of them, and only really be pleased with one or two. That about equates to my experience too! He also said that many of the pictures that appear spontaneous are not really 'candid' shots but that he does set them up to an extent - so that was encouraging too, as I'm never very pleased with the candid shots I take. There's always something that could have been improved if I'd dared to 'manage' the situation a bit more.

(Thank you all for your kind good wishes - I am pleased to report that my back is much better today. I discovered Voltarol gel - magic!)

17 comments:

  1. It is an enormous space isn't it. You get a bit of a feeling for the size on the lower floors but it must have been fascinating to go to the very top. The link to the collection was fascinating, I had never come across his work before.

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  2. Sounds similar to my experience, I'm only happy with a small number of the pics I take.

    The roof space looks amazing! :-)

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  3. That roof space is huuuuge! I followed the link to his website and scrolled through the photos. His work is amazing. What a capture of political history! My favourite was definitely the painting of the Humber Bridge. Please can I have a go? Pleeeeeeease???

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  4. That is one big roof space. That is heartening news abut professionals. Glad to hear the back is improving.

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  5. That is where digital saves us lots of developing.I used prints as business cards, and amazed some that I was giving them away.Love the gel, I just got some this year.

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  6. Glad you're feeling better Jenny.

    My ratio of 'photos I'm pleased with' is much lower. I can take 300 and be pleased with none. :-)

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  7. that is an encouraging thing to hear...
    after taking so many photos on vacation~ i was a bit discouraged by how many were less than pleasing!

    thanks for making me feel better today.
    :)

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  8. This reminds me of a shot I took at one of Lisbon train stations I haven't yet posted because I totally forgot it... Thank you, Jennie! :-) I really enjoy this kind of perspective.
    Glad to know Votarol did its job, I have no idea if we have it here but I will find out! :-)

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  9. Aah, I like vanishing point photos, huge interior with some extra interest from the chairs

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  10. What a grand space. That could definitely be used for a number of wonderful things. I like the play of shadows and the chairs etc. Great image. Thanks.

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  11. Very interesting to hear it's not all easy peasy for the professionals during a photo shoot. Oh, and did you notice that hook hanging from one of the rafters there? Yikes! ~Lili

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  12. Huge enclosed spaces are a little unsettling to me -- one almost expects them to have their own weather.

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  13. Actually I'm glad I saw this photo after I saw the one you posted later, when this space was still in working order.

    What a great space for art exhibitions. All that light...

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  14. I like this barren space with the few tossed chairs.

    Oh yeah, and Icy Hot works well too!

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  15. Amazing how very long this place is . Great image . Your blog again very interesting. Nice to hear about an artist I havent even heard of . Thats nothing new for me.
    Glad to read your on the mend.
    and
    I still love the Lady in Red. Wow

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  16. What a great experience. I love the huge old places!

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