Words by Hannah Tapping | Images by Chris Tuff
Chris Tuff, international award-winning photographer and director, takes a minimal approach to landscape using strong composition, colour and form to define his work.
Chris’ relationship with monochrome photography began as a child: “My father taught me to process my own films and make prints in his darkroom. I was immediately captivated by the alchemical magic of seeing images slowly appear on the paper and how my vision of a moment became a physical artefact, a photographic print. Although I now rarely work with film, the art and craft of printmaking in the darkroom still influences how I approach the post-production of images today. I seldom do much to an im-age digitally that I would not be able to achieve in a darkroom.”
For photographers working before the mid 20th century, monochrome was the only practical choice, but the creative appeal of black and white photography remains an enduring genre of choice for many contemporary ‘art’ photographers. It removes the distraction of colour and is an abstracted, less literal representation of the world. It also, arguably, invites a more creative interpretation of the subject that demands a particular way of seeing and thinking, reducing imagery to the influence of lighting, shadows, contrast, texture, form and patterns.
“For me, black and white captures the elemental drama and primal spirit and beauty of the Cornish coast in a way that colour cannot,” explains Chris. “Perhaps because I work primarily in black and white, my approach to colour photography differs from other photographers and tends towards the abstract and minimal. The quality of light and unique colour palette of the landscape in Cornwall has attracted generations of artists, in Summer, the sea and sky are intense shades of cerulean and turquoise and in Winter, they become steely cobalt and indigo blue.”
Much as Chris uses the physical attributes of the landscape, as compositional elements in black and white, his colour images use the contrast and juxtaposition of colour and shades as compositional forms, inspired more by artists such as Rothko than other photographers, reducing the elements of the landscape to form, shape, colour and line to capture its essence.
Chris is a member of the Lizard Arts Collective who exhibit a selection of work in the Stableyard Gallery at the historic Trelowarren Estate. His limited-edition prints are made to order.
LEFT: ‘The Bather 2'
RIGHT: ‘Kynance Cove1’
LEFT: ‘1862 Cerulean Sea’ variant CENTRE: ‘Red Boat’ RIGHT: ‘Dying Light’
LEFT: ‘Distant Sun 1’ CENTRE: ‘Distant Sun 2’
RIGHT: Ascension
LEFT: ‘Silver Sea 1’ RIGHT: ‘The Calm’
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