Statement of Intent

Title: THE BATH FRINGE – MUSIC, DRAMA & DANCE

For three years I have photographed the musicians and actors of Bath and Bristol as they perform locally. Many have become friends. For two weeks each June, they form the core of the Bath Fringe Festival and I become its official photographer.

The Fringe presents alternative music and underground theatre with strong audience participation. The performances are low budget with little presentational gloss (and even less lighting.) My panel attempts to capture the vibrancy and intimacy of the performances and of the audience.

A 35mm range-finder camera, with a fast 50m lens coupled to very fast film, allows me to be mobile and discrete in a crowd or around a jostling stage. Only when the gloom defeats this approach do I resort to a low powered fill-in flash.