New Book – Fleeting Reflections II

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IMG 4916When I got my first camera, an 35mm film camera, an Olympus Trip, I never thought to learn about photography from books, rather preferring to experiment with different films and techniques, expanding on the abstract way I had used paints as a child.

I struggled to find my own style for many years, something not unfamiliar to any photographer, experimenting with landscape and urban photography but never quite hitting the spot it seemed.

I will always remain grateful to Canary Wharf Group for their commission which gave me free access to all areas of their impressive docklands site. While working on it, I noticed patterns in the water. I took a few photos and was astounded at what I saw on the camera lcd, nothing like what I was looking at. It reminded me of Spirograph. It reminded me of the album cover of Joy Division’s ‘Unknown Pleasures’ – an all time favourite album. It lit a spark.

Over the last ten years I have explored every inch of the water at Canary Wharf in all conditions and feel lucky to have found my ‘style’, something that connected my childhood interests, something that I found absorbing and accessible.

My first book, Fleeting Reflections, published in 2016 by Triplekite, was my first impressions. These are not my last reflection photos but it seemed apt to celebrate my 60th year on this planet and my 40th anniversary as a professional photographer.

Many thanks also to David Ward who has written the foreword. David’s amazing photography has always been a source of inspiration for me so I was delighted when he agreed to write it.

All the photographs were created in camera without the use of Photoshop.

I hope you find them as captivating as I do.

Order here: https://www.mikecurryphotography.com/books/

Mike Curry

New Exhibition – Abstracted:Architecture – Anise Gallery 19 September – 12 October 2019

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Canary Wharf – a mini metropolis, a civic transformation, an urban district, a home… however we describe this unique east London enclave it is undeniably a feat in construction. Having celebrated its 30th birthday only last year the transformation from derelict wasteland to skyscraper city is incredible.

Over the last 6 years Mike Curry has studied the ever changing architectural landscape of Canary Wharf. He has not however sought to visually re-represent the buildings that confront us on a daily basis. Instead he has looked to Canary Wharf’s other identifiable feature, and its raison d’etre; the mass of water that surrounds it.

Abstracted:Architecture is a study of the buildings in and around Canary Wharf as they relate to the bodies of water that surround them. Initially starting as pure reflections, already abstract in themselves, Mike seeks to extend the abstraction to create something the eye can’t immediately recognise. Using in camera multiple exposures and blending modes, his resultant images are peaceful and meditative – a stark contrast to the chaos inherent to the buildings from which they are derived.

The images themselves are produced purely from within the camera. Their abstraction a result of the prevailing weather, patience, skill and an understanding of subject matter for a successful image. Mike’s intense levels of vigilance enable him to notice things that would normally get missed. The whole process is a form of meditation and reflection, with Mike often photographing the same area of water for 3 or 4 hours and producing over

1000 multiple exposed images just to get one “perfect” image, without the use of photoshop. Post production is limited purely to contrast and levels adjustments with the intention of presenting the viewer with an honest representation of what the camera saw.

Inspired by painters such as Rothko, Hodgson, Kandinsky and Pollock, and the photography of Hockney, Mike has been a professional photographer for 35 years and is a Fellow of the British Institute of Professional Photography. He has had work featured in the Sunday Times Magazine, Outdoor Photography magazine and has featured in the Landscape Photographer of the Year exhibitions in recent years.

Abstracted:Architecture will coincide with our participation in Open House London 2019. Mike will be giving two free tours of the exhibition as part of Open House, the details and times are below.

Saturday 21 September: Artist Tour 3pm
Exhibition Open 10am – 5pm

Sunday 22 September: Artist Tour 12pm
Exhibition Open 10am – 1pm

Anise Gallery is a contemporary art gallery with a strong focus towards the architectural aesthetic. Working with early to mid career artists in a wide range of media the gallery presents
an exciting and diverse programme of exhibitions, events and talks that relate back to architecture, technology and the built environment.

Press enquiries to: [email protected]

Anise Gallery
13a Shad Thames London SE1 2PU

www.anise.gallery +44 20 3754 2374

Fleeting Reflections – Exhibition and book release 14th September 2017

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Canary Wharf Relections16

‘Fleeting Reflections’ – An Abstract Photography Exhibition in Greenwich, London

  • ‘Fleeting Reflections’ is an exhibition of abstract building reflection photographs taken over the last four years at Canary Wharf in London by Mike Curry.
  • Exhibition runs from 14th – 28th September 2017 at the Greenwich Gallery, Linear House, Peyton Place, London SE10 8RS. Admission free.
  • Accompanying book ‘Fleeting Reflections’ published by Triplekite Publishing https://www.triplekitebooks.com/new-products available now
  • Mike Curry’s abstract photos of building reflections at Canary Wharf offer an intriguing insight into the everyday things we pass without regard as commuters. Mike invites us to discover the beauty of the detail around us that generally goes unnoticed.

The striking colourful images may initially seem as if they are created in Photoshop, but every image in the exhibition and book is exactly as it appeared, you just needed to stop, take a breath and really look.

A selection of the photos form the exhibition and the accompanying book ‘Fleeting Reflections’ ISBN 978-0-9932589-7-8 published by noteworthy photography publisher Triplekite, whose books are sold in the Tate and available worldwide, gives us an expanded view of the series which is very much an ongoing project.

A free talk on the works will take place at the Greenwich Gallery on Saturday 16th September at 2pm and all are welcome.

Mike has been a professional photographer for 35 years and is a Fellow of the British Institute of Professional Photography. He has had worked featured in the Sunday Times Magazine, Outdoor Photography magazine and has featured in the Landscape Photographer of the Year exhibitions in recent years.

 

Download the press release:  Mike Curry Photography Press Release

British Institute of Professional Photography Fellowship Award

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CwApril2017 DSC1275This photo is the most recent in my Fleeting Reflections project. It’s the first project I’ve done just for myself and I’ve enjoyed it so much it’s grown into quite a large body of work.  I’ve only put a few up here and the rest have been going on the Adobe Spark website but they’ve caught some attention and have formed the basis of a portfolio considered by the British Institute of Professional Photography who this week awarded me a Fellowship.

They have also nominated my Fleeting Reflections portfolio for the Peter Grugeon Award for the best Fellowship portfolio of 2017.   

You might be seeing a bit more of this work in future!

Landscape Photographer of the Year 2015 Competition

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Landscape Photographer of the Year 2015 Competition

I am thrilled to tell you that my image ‘Middle Dock Reflections‘ came first in the ‘Your View’ category (the category that includes abstract photos like mine) of the Landscape Photographer of the Year 2015 competition! Not only that but two other images of mine were also Commended by the judges, ‘Falling Foss’ and ‘Stodmarsh‘.

All three images will be in the exhibition which is at Waterloo Station, London, and starts on Monday 23rd November and goes on until 7th February 2016.

All three images will also be in the book Landscape Photographer of the Year: Collection 9 which is published today.

Middle Dock Reflections will also be displayed on a huge digital billboard at Waterloo Station!

All winning images can be seen on my website here and are currently coincidentally on display together here until the end of October.

Urban Patina

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Urban Patina VILiving in London and being very busy means I don’t get out into the ‘countryside’ as often as I’d like to. I used to get frustrated by this but after a few fruitless trips I decided to make the most of where I live and explore my locality more.

Trying to replicate the feeling locally that I wanted to create in my out of town work proved impossible, I just wasn’t connecting with the images. I decided that carrying heavy, bulky gear around was limiting me so I streamlined down to a Fuji X-E2 with 60mm macro lens and my Manfrotto BeFree tripod. I instantly felt less visible and less inhibited from taking photos as I was completely ignored, something that didn’t happen with the Nikon.

I walked for miles it seems on my first trip out looking for details and patterns and eventually found some old garage doors that had been untouched for decades and was immediately fascinated. The swirls of wood and the patina of aging in an urban environment made for surprisingly colourful images, some due to rust and some to paint I presume.

The area on each photo is only a few centimeters long and would have been easily missed had a not been prepared to scrutinize the surface so thoroughly. I got a lot of funny looks from commuters who I presumably just thought I was a bit mad. Maybe I am but I found it a rewarding and enjoyable way to spend a few hours!

View the patina images here.

Another Exhibition!

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Emirates AirlineAnother exhibition!

In association with Canary Wharf Arts and Events, I will be exhibiting three new abstract works in the Window Gallery (opposite Waitrose and Robert Dyas) at Canary Wharf for a month.

From: MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER – FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER 2015

Cost: Free

Open: Daily

It would be great if you could get along to see them!

Details here

#iPhone Exhibition

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Boiled EggsExhibition: ‪#‎iPhone‬ – An exhibition of #iPhone Photography by Mike Curry Photography

https://tyuk.com/events/iphone/

When: 2 November – 30 April 2016

Where: Timberyard UK Soho – 4 Noel Street, London, W1F 8GB

Private View: All are welcome at the private view from 6-9pm, 3 November 2015

I was delighted when I was asked by Timberyard to produce an exhibition of my iPhone photography. Many people ask what is my ‘best’ camera, my reply is always ‘the one I have with me’ and invariably this is my iPhone. To me it is a visual diary of the the world around me and just one of the tools I like to use to try and create my art.

Please come and see it!

Mike

Happy Anniversary to me!

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Thirty years ago today, to the day, I started my first day as a self employed photographer.

Having left the ‘comfort’ of being a salaried photographer at Selfridges, my first contract was running my own portrait studio in Richmond, Surrey. It seemed very daunting at the time having committed to buy a whole studio’s worth of equipment just waiting to see if the advertising had worked.

But here I am thirty years later still loving photography, still loving running my own business and entirely grateful to all the people who have helped me and stuck with me over the years.

I still have clients from 25 years ago who I see on a regular basis and who I fully intend to carry on seeing should they chose to

Happy Anniversary to me!

Charity Photo Sale in aid of The Stroke Association

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To help raise money for the Stroke Association I am selling the print I was given for coming second place in the Kew category for the International Garden Photographer of the Year 2004. It is a one off print and no more will be produced like this. 100% will go to the charity.

The image was taken on my Nikon F301 camera on Kodak Infra-Red film.

Image available to view on my website :

To go to Charity auction on eBay

The photograph is mounted and framed with a white mount and white frame with the total overall size being 32.5 inches by 24.5 inches.

As this is a large glass framed photograph it is collect only from Greenwich, London (SE10).

Good luck bidding!

Please like and share this on Facebook and Twitter to help me raise as much as possible!

Mike Curry
http://www.mikecurryphotography.com