Jonathan Chritchley

I have researched, via the internet again, another UK photographer, Jonathan Chritchley. Jonathan was born in Wimbledon, but moved to Lymington on the south coast at the age of 14; where his fascination of the sea developed. In 1998 he moved to Biarritz, southern France, which has enabled him to continue to develop his work not only taking on all things related to the sea, but also has allowed him to work in the mountainous region of the Pyrranees.

This picture is typical of his style. Working extensively in black and white he creates a mystique all of his own.

What makes this picture so enthralling? I don't really know. It is merely a fishing hut, on its own, out at sea, connected via the walkway adjacent to the hut.

But there is nothing and it is the 'nothingness' that makes it so intriguing.

The use of light, or rather, the darkening of the top and bottom does draw you towards the horizon and the fishing hut, which itself seems shrowded in a bright light.

As for the horizon, it is almost non existent, with just a hint of contrast between the sea and the sky.

Having the post sitting on the left, off-sets the loneliness of the hut and does balance the view, but this is a cold and lifeless image that is haunting in it's solitude.

The small aperture and  longer exposue in this image has ensured a milky quality to the waterfall. The eye is drawn from right to left and over the edge of the rocks. There is a contrast between dark and light, with the motion going for the dark towards the light.

The eye is drawn into this image through the hardness of the rock line moving from right to left, towards the centre of the image. The contrast between the dark sky and the lighter water keeps the eye down onto the sea. The sea has taken on a misty form which in itself contrasts greatly with the harshness of the rocks.

The sharp edges of the rocks and the cracks in those rocks add an aditional quality to the rocks themselves.

With nothing in the picture apart from six sticks it is difficult to understand how Jonathan was originally inspired by the initial view. The milky water is softened and gives the sticks a harsh reality against the flatness of the sea. The dark sky keeps you looking doawn towards the sticks and to the light milky water.

I absolutely love the way that these sails billow in the wind. Being a black and white images enhances the quality of this image. The contrasts here are between the solid sail on the right and the soft billowing sail on the left. Yet again, this is a picture of contrasts.