NJ Photography: Peter Marshall

Peter Marshall - Urban Photographer
Research

As part of my research, I looked at the work of Peter Marshall (Peter Marshall). One of his images showed the corner of Fish Street and Robinson Row. It was taken around 1975. I found the same location and my image is below the original. The subject has certainly changed, but is more interesting is the difference in the lighting. In the original, there are no hard shadows and the low light level gives the picture a sad, run down feel. The modern picture was taken in bright sun, giving more shadow and bright areas. Even in monotone, it is hard to reproduce the same sad feel to the scene. This is something to bear in mind when looking at a subject.

Fish Street c. 1975

Fish Street 2010

Peter Marshall - Urban Photographer

I came across Peter's work while searching the internet for urban photography, and of Hull in particular. Peter is a London based photographer and is co-publisher of a website dedicated to the urban landscape (http://www.urbanlandscape.org.uk/).

One of his first urban landscape projects was called 'Still Occupied: A View of Hull. He started the project in 1975 and exhibited the photographs there in 1983. He saw that Hull was being redeveloped in a big way and captured Hull as it was. I can still recognise some of the locations and others have gone for ever. Where I can I would like to emulate some of the images and compare like for like.

One thing that strikes me first of all, is that all his images are black and white. This format makes you focus on lines, patterns and textures, but I feel it puts an edge of sadness to a subject in many instances, especially to images of run down areas. I will use black and white to compare my images to his, but I will also look at colour equivalents to show how different the same image can appear in different formats.

Peter also uses windows a lot in his images, either looking in or out through and as a reflection to view the scene. Instead of just looking at a picture, the window seems to put you there as if it is your own eyes looking through. It gives the picture a more 'candid' feel too.

The first image is of a well know gents on Victoria Pier. The building is still there, but where there used to be a road going by, is now a pedestrian area and a garden wall and a tree now stand at the spot where Peter must have taken the original. The image shows the contrast of the very ornate entrance sign against the worn brickwork and dilapidated windows. The original was also taken in low light, which adds to the signs of ageing.

It can be seen from my image of present times, the building has been given a facelift and it looks more inviting. As mine was taken in bright sunlight, it adds to the cleanness of the façade. The colour image adds further the modern look, although it is after all the same structure as the original.