My eyes are always scanning and memorizing, I observe everything that's around me down to the most minute details, I'm like this all the time wherever I go often to the point of distraction. This partially explains my obsession with photographing things that strike a chord with me for what ever reason. I came across this photo mosaic mural in a showroom yesterday and I can't get it out of my head. The scale of it was dramatic at about 8 feet tall. I keep returning to my laptop to stare at this image, I'm so drawn to it - the concept of it, the possibilities. Being such a lover of photography and especially black & white photography my mind can't stop imagining the possibilities that could be created from this concept. There are many places where original canvases or framed photography aren't practical (an outdoor terrace,,,,,above a tub or in a shower, above a cooktop, a pool or water feature, or on a sun drenched wall). Using tile artwork is the perfect application in all these circumstances. Imagine a photo mosaic using an image in the reverse of this, a mainly white background with the image depicted in shades of subtle grey and black,,,and imagine an image not necessarily of a person but of an object, or a flower, or a bird,,,or a landscape.......and then imagine a sculptural freestanding tub sitting in front of it,,,,or the image framed by an arched opening at the end of a hallway.....
Then I saw this enormous slab of unbelievably beautiful malachite. Its a piece of artwork all on its own. I can imagine this slab of stone wrapped in a metal frame and hung on a wall,,,,or cut into a series of pieces, framed and hung gallery style,,,,,or imagine it used as a screen or inset into a wall dividing a space and how it would glow with backlighting....or imagine how gorgeous it would look as a table top on a small side table......
And then I came across this. At first glance I didn't like this light fixture. But then I returned to look at it again and again. And I loved it. I know its a trend,,,I'm seeing chunky chains everywhere, normally I'm turned off by anything trendy but still I'm attracted to these chains in a way I was never drawn to the crystal chandeliers with the organza shade trend. Its elegant with an edge,,,and I think more than anything I'm always drawn to that bit of edge and things that are more masculine than feminine. The chains remind me of cascading water and although they're very similar to the fashion jewellery women are wearing right now,,,this fixture to me is a great mix of simple and elegant that appeals to masculine tastes too. I can imagine all the types of settings I could design where I could see this fixture, preferably a pair of them over a long table.......made from reclaimed wood.....with black walls.....
So at the end of the day and 100's of photos later, I'm incredibly drawn to these three images for no particular reason or specific project. I'll keep these on my inspiration wall, continue to dream of the possibilities, even imagining all three of these things used in the same environment. I don't know exactly where or exactly how but one day I know I'll incorporate a little bit of inspiration from each of these concepts into a design plan.
Oh yes, it was a good day for sparking the imagination!
All Photos: Carol Reed
