It’s not hard to see where the inspiration for this project comes from !
I have always admired Paul Grahams’ , Great North Road, A1 project and fancied exploring and documenting the A48 road myself , never really thinking that I would actually get around to doing it !
The shrinking opportunities of Covid-Land and my need to live a socially distant lifestyle mean that I need to adopt a different approach to my photography if I am to maintain a “Safe” level of photographic engagement during the months ahead !
I worry about putting my camera down during this pandemic and never picking it up again , it would be easy to lose focus during these dark days, shooting a uncommissioned project in reality must be better than NOT shooting a dream commission in La La land !
Don’t hang about , Commission yourself !
Even though the socially distant queue of commissioning publishers and Galleries appears to have vanished , you’ve got to keep moving !
Staying engaged is a important part of getting through the emptiness of these times !
The A48 is a trunk road in Great Britain running from the A40 at Highnam, 3 miles west of Gloucester, England, to the A40 at Carmarthen, Wales. Before the Severn Bridge opened on 8 September 1966, it was a major route between England and South Wales. For most of its route, it runs almost parallel to the M4 motorway. Wikipedia
I’ve been shooting this project for a few weeks now and have been surprised by what has turned up so far, the star of the show at the moment is definitely the quality of the autumnal sunlight, the zebra striped piano that appeared last week was a nice surprise too ?
This project occupies the ambiguous space in my mind that lives somewhere between Documentary Photography and Art Photography, truth be told I’m less worried about the label and more concerned about the look of the pictures themselves . This objective “Road Photography” approach has led me to more than fifty captures so far and is helping me to stay positive and maintain my smile !.
I wonder what lies ahead , stay safe and keep it real …
David Barrett is also following the pandemic crisis from a personal perspective with the Testing Times project .
The State Of Britain series is now complete, it explores everyday life during the Brexit era and gives visual insights into British identity, aspirations and post-truth uncertainty .....
He is based in the South West of England .