After the bright colours of Dumfries summer festivals, carnivals and pageants I became curiously drawn to inky monochromes and moody black and whites. I noticed this while processing my urban photography recce images.

The upcoming Urban Portraits Dumfries project session is inspired by the town centre’s multiple alleys and passage that provide shortcuts from High Street and the Plainstanes with the neighbouring streets. Dark and narrow, they epitomise the passage of time, as well a physical route for me.

I also recorded sharp shadow projections, pronounced textures and high contrast pools of light isolating people and objects amidst the dark.

A narrow alley in Dumfries town centre
A narrow alley full of character in the town centre. I like the silhouette of an old man pausing at the bottom.
Dumfries old alley lamp
Intricate swirls of the alley lamp metalwork (detail)
Geometric shadows cast on the textured walls of this back alley
Geometric shadows cast on the textured walls of this town centre back alley
Woman speaking on the phone in the pool of light on High Street
Woman in a vintage headscarf speaking on the phone in the pool of light on High Street
Shadows projected on the ground through the Loreburne shopping centre roof
Passerby – shadows projected on the ground through the Loreburne shopping centre roof

Similar Posts