16 Comments
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Caroline Howard's avatar

I love the idea of the terrain vague, and I realise I am always seeking out such places for their unpredictability and sense of possibility. Peckham and Nunhead provided such places in abundance. Thank you for joining me on a wander, and for capturing these residues. It was fun to collaborate.

Neil Scott's avatar

This is my favourite way of doing a photowalk: one day doing the dèrive, the next retracing the steps and documenting.

Jon Nicholls's avatar

It was an interesting process which I've not tried before.

Caroline Howard's avatar

I agree, Neil. I like to be open-minded the first time I wander an unfamiliar area, and I try to resist the urge to document it. Then I let all the impressions coalesce in my mind into a story or a theme, and I return another time with that in mind.

Neil Scott's avatar

I’m not sure I could do that if I was exploring on my own, but am very reluctant to impose on others!

Ollie's avatar

This is a process new to me and I'm now keen to try it out myself!

Gianni Simone's avatar

Caroline led me here. Wonderful pictures. I see we both hunt for those strange places that most people never notice, or care about in the first place.

Where does the Patrick Barron quote come from?

Gianni Simone's avatar

Thanks Jon, very much appreciated.

Patrick Lears's avatar

I too like this idea of terrain vagues set out by Patrick Barron. Aligns nicely with your photos. Thanks too for alerting me to Caroline Howard’s Substack - have just gone down a lovely rabbit hole of scenes in ambient London.

Jon Nicholls's avatar

You are most welcome. I'm a big fan of Caroline's mellifluous prose.

Caroline Howard's avatar

Thanks, Patrick!

Andrea Fisher's avatar

Stunning. I too love Caroline’s piece. Your tombstones look like ghosts, maybe they are?

Not So Dismal's avatar

Fabulous pair of articles - thank you for sharing

Ollie's avatar

Hi Jon, like some of the others I found my way here through Caroline's Substack. I'm currently pet sitting in Camberwell and the South London Gallery is one of my fave writing spots. Shame I didn't spot you both! ;-)

You've both given me some lovely creative ideas of how to better explore this area while I'm still here. I particularly liked your photos. All the best.