honorable mention
mark monk-terry united kingdom
title
Power
The cooling towers had a huge presence in this landscape and after an initial visit to photograph them, I became fascinated by the remnants of this industrial complex, especially the train tracks that carried the fuel on to site – these are now overgrown by a mass of trees and shrubs that are slowly masking the industrial workings from view. The nature reserve was originally contained by the large “dug out” lake where the red shale was won to create the foundations for the site. Now though, nature finds opportunities across the site to spread and develop, creating temporary habitats for a number of species.
Construction of the power station began in 1959 with a first test undertaken in 1963. It was officially opened in 1967 after a blessing from the Bishop of Sheffield. The station covered an area of 45 hectares and was designed to be a prototype for power stations in the UK. It produced one Gigawatt of power but eventually closed in 1994. The site employed 530 staff and had lawns and garden areas, a lake, golf club and facilities for cricket, bowling and dancing. In 2011 permission was given for the construction of a gas fired power station on the site.
There is also a memorial garden and a nature reserve. I hope to photograph both of these areas on my next visit and as always I expect to find myself wandering along the rail tracks, looking for subtle changes before any major development takes place.
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
entry description
The images in this project were all taken at Thorpe Marsh Power Station near Barnby Dun in South Yorkshire, England. Whenever we stay with family living near the site, I try to make at least one visit to the power station and have therefore observed the location over many years.The cooling towers had a huge presence in this landscape and after an initial visit to photograph them, I became fascinated by the remnants of this industrial complex, especially the train tracks that carried the fuel on to site – these are now overgrown by a mass of trees and shrubs that are slowly masking the industrial workings from view. The nature reserve was originally contained by the large “dug out” lake where the red shale was won to create the foundations for the site. Now though, nature finds opportunities across the site to spread and develop, creating temporary habitats for a number of species.
Construction of the power station began in 1959 with a first test undertaken in 1963. It was officially opened in 1967 after a blessing from the Bishop of Sheffield. The station covered an area of 45 hectares and was designed to be a prototype for power stations in the UK. It produced one Gigawatt of power but eventually closed in 1994. The site employed 530 staff and had lawns and garden areas, a lake, golf club and facilities for cricket, bowling and dancing. In 2011 permission was given for the construction of a gas fired power station on the site.
There is also a memorial garden and a nature reserve. I hope to photograph both of these areas on my next visit and as always I expect to find myself wandering along the rail tracks, looking for subtle changes before any major development takes place.
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