Northern Soul

Last week I went to visit the National coal mining museum where they were holding an exhibition by John Bulmer called Northern Soul Life and times in the 1960’s.

I love the simplicity of this photograph, yet it shows the very complex features of the brickwork in the house. There is nothing particularly special about the location as it is just a street of terraced houses and could have been taken in any town centre. What I think separates this from many other images of the same nature is the use of bright and highly saturated colours against the darker brickwork of the neighbouring buildings.

Again this is another piece by John Bulmer that I am very fond of which I saw at the exhibition. Again the place this picture was taken was in an everyday environment in a very normal situation like most of his work. However, it appeals to me because it is so simple. The lady is focusing directly on the camera and has suite a moving facial expression.

I like the irony of this picture. The person pictured is obviously old and hunched over and just happens to be sat outside of a fitness gymnasium for sportsmen. It also shows reflection in the top of the photograph. The block of orange colour across the frame also helps to draw the eye into the picture.