2nd place
silver star award
mark monk-terry
united kingdom 
title
lost heritage
Some sites are obvious but others have little or no evidence of their previous use. Sometimes they are covered in woodland or scrub and often the banks, ditches or small depressions on the ground are the only clues to indicate human activity. These locations include Tudor iron forges, brick kilns, burial mounds, furnace ponds, flint mines, Iron-age hill forts, battlefields, industrial areas and Neolithic rock shelters.
For this work I used a 5x4 view camera, recording the images on very old glass plates. The plates were bought at auctions, camera fairs and markets and have been up to 80 years old. As such it is impossible to tell how much damage there is to the emulsion until the plate is actually developed. Results can be unpredictable with random damage and spotting often appearing in the negatives.
Walking with a camera, returning to favoured locations and observing change over time is an important part of my practice. Alongside my photographic work, I also work in nature conservation which helps inform and inspire my photography. I am interested in geography, ecology, archaeology, history, mapping and landscapes and draw upon these disciplines to inspire my work.
I am drawn to the beauty and purity of the natural world as well as the damaged and neglected edgelands and industrial sites in our landscapes. Somewhere between these often ephemeral worlds are the inspiration for the images that I want to make.
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entry description
This project has focused on photographing sites of historical and cultural interest in the United Kingdom. Many of the locations are forgotten or ignored now, even though many are Scheduled Ancient Monuments and can be traced through Heritage or Local Authority websites or seen on Ordinance survey maps.Some sites are obvious but others have little or no evidence of their previous use. Sometimes they are covered in woodland or scrub and often the banks, ditches or small depressions on the ground are the only clues to indicate human activity. These locations include Tudor iron forges, brick kilns, burial mounds, furnace ponds, flint mines, Iron-age hill forts, battlefields, industrial areas and Neolithic rock shelters.
For this work I used a 5x4 view camera, recording the images on very old glass plates. The plates were bought at auctions, camera fairs and markets and have been up to 80 years old. As such it is impossible to tell how much damage there is to the emulsion until the plate is actually developed. Results can be unpredictable with random damage and spotting often appearing in the negatives.
about the photographer
I have been interested in photography for many years and was a member of the North Star studios when living in Brighton. I enjoy working on long-term projects based in the landscape and often focus on the history and narrative of individual places – I research areas thoroughly and then look for subtle signs of human interaction and the natural world within these places.Walking with a camera, returning to favoured locations and observing change over time is an important part of my practice. Alongside my photographic work, I also work in nature conservation which helps inform and inspire my photography. I am interested in geography, ecology, archaeology, history, mapping and landscapes and draw upon these disciplines to inspire my work.
I am drawn to the beauty and purity of the natural world as well as the damaged and neglected edgelands and industrial sites in our landscapes. Somewhere between these often ephemeral worlds are the inspiration for the images that I want to make.
back to gallery
