TILT
A NEW PERSONAL CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTWORK
ABOUT CONNECTION + SYNCHRONICITY
WITH THE LANDSCAPE.
The name 'Tilt' relates to the angle that the Earth spins on its axis – 23.5 degrees.
Tilt is a new piece of work that builds on some of the ideas I started to explore in my photography with my previous project, The Desire Path. With the intention to deepen my relationship with nature and the landscape, I began taking photographs on significant days and at specific times – in sync with nature's clock and the natural rhythms of the Earth.
This time the work started with the location. When using Google Maps to find new country walks around Manchester, I kept seeing the name 'Great Britain' on the map, somewhere in Lancashire. I'd noticed it a few times, but when I tried to zoom in on it, it would disappear. I didn't give it much thought at first. Dismissed it as a tiny village in the middle of nowhere and of no consequence. There are after all loads of towns and villages with weird names all over the place. (See 'Nob End - also in Lancashire!)
But one day I looked into it and realised it was a label only visible when zoomed right out. A label for the whole country. And not just randomly placed somewhere over the British Isles but actually right in the middle. So I started to explore this and found out that this is indeed the very central point of Great Britain (according to Ordnance Survey).
(Sidenote: Apparently this is a bit of a contentious issue, with several places laying claim to being the centre of Great Britain. But I'm siding with OS on this, both because I like their reasoning and also because it works better for this project.)
So, of course, I had to try and go to this spot. The very centre of our country, within a couple of hours drive from where I live – no brainer. If nothing else, it would be a day out with the dog.
DUNSOP BRIDGE IS THE NEAREST VILLAGE TO THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTRAL POINT OF THE COUNTRY AND THIS PHONE BOX MARKS THE SPOT ACCORDING TO THEM.
(IT'S NOT TRUE, BUT A NICE PLACE TO START MY JOURNEY.)
In my mind I was thinking of the project being called 'Centred' - echoing the therapeutic benefits of photography that I'd discovered in previous work. This awakened the concepts of making my work around specific times of the year and considering our place in the solar system. I'd previously shot The Desire Path photographs at the spring equinox so it seemed obvious that I should make this work at the summer solstice. The central point in our calendar.
After working at the spring equinox I read into the physics behind how and why we have equinoxes, solstices and seasons. I knew it was because of the axis upon which we rotate, but still couldn’t imagine the solution clearly.
23.5 degrees. That's the average angle at which the Earth is tilted and is the reason we get the beautiful changes in our seasons. Not everywhere of course. If you're unfortunate enough to live close to the equator you have to endure 12 hours of sunshine all year round. Must be awful.
But where I am, in the northern hemisphere, this tilt means everything. And I see it as another one of those beautiful coincidences. Just the right angle. I find it fascinating and humbling. Like the Sun being 400 times the size of the moon, but 400 times the distance, so when they align and we get an eclipse, they just happen to look almost exactly the same size so the moon obscures the sun almost entirely. Tiny details with massive consequences. I can get lost in these details and they allow me to fantasise and use my imagination. This is what informs a lot of my work.
"THIS IS THE REAL SECRET OF LIFE — TO BE COMPLETELY ENGAGED WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THE HERE AND NOW. AND INSTEAD OF CALLING IT WORK, REALISE IT IS PLAY.” (ALAN W. WATTS)
Part of finding my way through life and making sense of things is focusing on facts like this. The magic and perfection that we had absolutely nothing to do with, or have any control over. Which brings me back to the act of feeling 'centred'.
I researched the summer solstice and found out that in 2024, it would occur at 21:48 on the 20th June. This would be the precise moment that the Sun would be positioned directly over the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees latitude).
I planned to travel to this location, at the very centre of Great Britain, at the exact time of the solstice – where day and night are equal in length. I did attempt a recce, to make sure I would be able to get to the location easily enough – considering that the sun would be setting when I went on the solstice. I got close by but had to abort before I got all the way due to a situation involving a dog, some sheep and a Land Rover heading my way. But figured it was fine, and that it would actually feel more significant to see the location for the first time on the actual day.
The last element of the project that I wanted to incorporate was how to represent the tilt in the final image. Light is often a key subject in my work as it helps to add a touch of magical realism. In some way it's how I include myself in my photography. But it also provides a focal point and introduces that element of play and fantasy.
I decided I would create a ring of light that is tilted to match that perfect angle of 23.5 degrees. I didn't want to use a drone as it felt too removed from the personal story and journey behind the final image. I had to create the ring of light. So I improvised. A cheap camping light attached to the end of the dog's lead that I would then swing around my head while stood in front of the camera, set on a timer to take a long exposure. (I practiced this beforehand many times in the garden, originally using fishing wire so it wouldn't show up in the frame. Bad idea. The line snapped and the light ended up in next door's garden. But I did get a couple of shots with the ring of light visible so was happy).
(IN THE ABOVE ANIMATION YOU CAN SEE MY EXPERIMENTS WITH MAKING THE 'TILT OF LIGHT' – INCLUDING WHEN THE STRING BROKE!)
On the day itself, I set off with Rocket (my dog / assistant), to try and get as close as possible to the grid reference by car, to then make the rest of the way by foot. We hiked as far as we could in the time we had and the location was absolutely stunning. Almost a 360 degree view of unspoiled, Lancashire countryside. No sign of other people other than a small farmhouse in the distance. But, the midges. Hadn't factored that into my plan. I was being eaten alive. So I was content that we were close enough to set-up the shot.
I took several frames of the view, camera facing west toward the setting sun. Then set the timer on the camera and positioned myself in the frame and started whipping my light-lasso round and round. I was laughing at myself and what I must look like to anyone that might be able to see. But I was also laughing with joy. Knowing I was at the centre of this final photograph that was the culmination of so many ideas gave me that sense of connection to the landscape around me. It felt tribal. I was celebrating the solstice and I loved every second. I felt connected.
Below is the finished photograph, which will be available to buy via my print store very soon.