Abandoned Architecture

James Kerwin joined us by zoom this week from Istanbul and many members braved the cold to listen to him with others favouring warmth and joining us by zoom from home. James journey started in the UK when he and his friends started visiting and photographing disused and derelict buildings which in England have become more scarce and difficult to find. He gradually set his sights further afield combining photography with his love of travel. Travelling mostly around Europe, exploring public and private buildings from long forgotten palaces to asylums James’ travels have taken him to abandoned buildings in France, Belgium, Poland, Italy,Turkey and Georgia.
As his technical knowledge developed so did the depth and character he was able to add to his images. His knowledge of the colour wheel and his use of light and time of day created some very atmospheric and interesting images. Where his friend might have photographed many rooms in a forgotten palace he might stand and wait two hours for the light to fall where he wanted.
The buildings themselves were of eras long forgotten, in another time and place and it is nice to see that he is capturing their magnificence and beauty even though walls might have crumbled and cracked plasterwork and vegetation is beginning to invade.
Some very stunning images were shown and it is worth looking at his full collection on his website and visiting him also on YouTube.