Richard Billingham - The Black Country

"A new book featuring specially commissioned photographs by Richard Billingham taken in and around his home town of Cradley Heath in the Black Country, West Midlands, published by The Public. This book is part of The Public's series of art projects looking at the 'Wonders' of the Black Country.

The remarkable series of photographs explores the changing, post-industrial landscape of Cradley Heath, the area where Billingham was born and grew up. On another level, the pictures also mark his enduring connection to his home town. The publication features daytime images taken in 1997 using the snapshot aesthetic to be found in Billingham's earlier work. Six years on from these photographs, Billingham was commissioned by The Public to take a series of new images re-visiting the same area. Using a larger, medium format camera, and focusing on the area at night, the photographs reflect how Billingham's relationship with the area has changed over time."

(www.webexhibits.org/colorart/billingham.html)

 I really love this collection, i like the way Billingham, in most images has not tried to alter the tungsten orangey glow of the street lights, this adds atmosphere to the photo's and a gives us a real idea of what that place looked like at the time he photographed it.