Anthony Lamb
Monochrome
Desert Portraits
Over the years of photographing the Arabian Desert, my appreciation for the desert flora and fauna became heightened due to the minimalistic landscape emphasising their presence. The trees became more than a point of geographical reference. They were telling the story; they are the story. Unbearable summer heat combined with almost freezing night-time temperatures during the winter months and consistent sand blasting, strips the bark from many of the younger saplings. I started to question how anything could survive in such an unforgiving environment. It became apparent that some trees and shrubs that once stood, now have their roots exposed to the unforgiving sun or are buried by sand due to the ever-changing movement of the desert dunes. Documenting these narratives of survival seemed like a small act of acknowledgment, a nod of respect. The portraits in this series verge on abstraction, minimalistic, ethereal, offering viewers glimpses of information functioning on a metaphorical level as well as a documentary one.
Coastal Connections
Man’s relationship with water has been written into history books since records began and the reliance on this element is evident in the past and present. I’ve always been drawn to water and have explored the technique of long exposure photography using man-made structures as singular and paired subjects. This collection of images incorporates scenes broken down into a simplistic form, exploring the relationship between man and the water’s edge. Some of the fine art photographs in this collection form part of a long-term documentary project called ‘Coast’, which concentrates on climate change in the UK and what we stand to lose if sea levels continue to rise. In 2018 I started the process of visually recording specifically selected locations on the UK coastline and saving the precise GPS coordinates of every archived image. I hope to return to these same locations in years to appreciate from a personal perspective, how and if the coastline is changing. What’s at risk is worrying; the UK has the 12th longest coastline in the world, at 12,429km only 2000km less than China. Already, 3000km of the coastline is at risk from erosion and 2300km is artificially protected.
Paradise Lost
Using long exposures, this collection of photographs was captured on the stunningly beautiful Maldive island South Ari Atoll. Some experts say that the Maldives could disappear in 20-30 years, due to the rise in global sea levels. It’s important to me that we record the beauty of these pockets of paradise, not just with point and shoot holiday snaps, but documenting the elegance with long exposure to offer future generations a new aesthetic. These long exposure photographs look deeper into the soul of the islands and indicate the time that is passing before our eyes before the unimaginable loss of a planetary paradise.
Painted Silence
This series explores the mangroves on the salty shoreline of Abu Dhabi islands. The Middle East is not renowned for its mangrove forests, but they cover thousands of hectares of land along the UAE shoreline and form an integral part of its coastal ecosystem. The local environmental agency in Abu Dhabi is currently working on a rehabilitation programme to conserve and protect these fragile reserves. In this series of images, the saplings scattered along the shallow shores should show the promise of future conservation. The composition of each photograph has been inspired by Japanese art and Wabi-Sabi, the imperfection found in objects.
Human Element
This collection explores the relationship between humans and the deserts of the UAE. Even when man has changed the landscape or left a human element, the photographs echo the beauty that can still be found among these collaborations. The desert is a hostile place where most life struggles to survive, but infrastructure can be found to facilitate human needs. Whether it’s decaying oil drums or a faint desert road, this desolate place offers glimpses of life other than the flora and fauna that scatter this almost un-inhabitable environment.
Sizes (without frame, without mount) and Editions
A.
30.5 x 30.5cm – Edition of 10
61 x 61cm – Edition of 5
106.7 x 106.7cm – Edition of 5
B.
73.7 x 50.8cm – Edition of 10
99 x 68.6cm – Edition of 7
129.5 x 89cm – Edition of 7
185.5 x 127cm – Edition of 3
C.
83.8 x 68.5cm – Edition of 10
109.2 x 88.8cm – Edition of 7
134.6 x 109.2cm – Edition of 7
162.5 x 132cm – Edition of 3
