Abstract nominee

Chicago architecture has long fascinated photographers and the buildings have been photographed so many times and from so many different angles. I wanted to create a new and personal visual perspective of Chicago. To do this, I drew inspiration from the abstract art movements of the 20th Century which charted a journey from the figurative representation of reality towards increasing levels of abstraction, with the use of lines and geometric shapes and forms.

Constructivism as an art movement came to the fore in the Soviet Union after the revolution of 1917. The movement was conceived out of a need for a new aesthetic language; one befitting the progressive new era in Soviet socialist history. The Constructivist movement is rooted in the artistic depiction of utilitarian objects (in my case, skylights and staircases), often rendered in black and white.

Taking inspiration from Constructivism, I have processed my Chicago photographs in Photoshop to develop my personal homage to this art movement, including overlaying multiple images and placing them onto background textures of concrete or gesso to create images that are low key and gritty, to reflect a world embracing the industrial age in the early part of the last century.

As a photographer, composition has always been at the heart of my creative journey. Photography, for me, is far more than about technique – it is an expressive language that allows me to represent my ideas and emotions visually. Unlike other art forms, it offers a unique immediacy, capturing the world as it exists, while also providing the flexibility to reimagine and reinterpret it.

Photography bridges the gap between reality and imagination. It is particularly suited to exploring the dynamic interplay of light, shadow, texture, and form, uncovering patterns and perspectives that might otherwise go unnoticed. It enables images to be composed that are not just visual records but emotional and intellectual experiences. Through photography, it is possible to convey the fleeting beauty of a moment, experiment with abstraction, or delve into deeper themes that resonate beyond the surface. It provides a boundless canvas to express one’s artistic voice.

My work has been recognised in:

- 2025 ND Awards
- 2025 Prix de la Photographie de Paris
- 2025 MonoVisions Awards
- 11th Fine Art Photography Awards
- 2024 Monochrome Awards
- 2023 MonoVisions Awards
- 9th Fine Art Photography Awards
- 2023 Prix de la Photographie de Paris