Associate Award Royal Photographic Society

Graham Zimmermann

ARPS Statement of Intent Graham Zimmermann

Assessment date: 19 Oct 2022

 I live in the south east and greenfield sites are under a relentless threat of annihilation by housing developers. When greenfields disappear, hedgerows invariably disappear too. Half of all hedgerows have been lost since the Second World War. They are composed of numerous species of flora which are crucial for the uptake of carbon dioxide; they provide a home and shelter to birds and are the habitat of countless species of invertebrates – everyone of which would be threatened with extinction with the gradual demise of this wonderful habitat.

Yet the average walker or hiker will pass by a hedgerow without giving it a cursory glance along with the amateur photographer probably seeking the “bigger” picture which has long been my habit. But if they should stop for a moment and look closely - endless vignettes of small lives of great yet fleeting charm - of blossom, fruits, flowers and leaves will be revealed.

Hedgerows are chaotic, untidy habitats and can appear monotonous. Capturing images in black and white and in square format helps conceal the surrounding tangle and confusion but also enables the eye to be drawn to not just the pretty and charming but also to the “beauty of the mundane” – the ugly and the humble. With the hedgerow in mind, the images ought to be viewed as a continuum - as if walking by, - hence I’ve chosen the layout format as a single row.