A PHOTOGRAPHY graduate has produced a snapshot of society’s throwaway culture with her first published book of prints.
Former Cleveland College of Art & Design student Di Emmerson, who studied photography at the college’s Hartlepool university-level campus, has created a 76-page journal documenting the forgotten places and discarded objects in and around her hometown of Middlesbrough.
The idea for the book, No Direction Left to Turn, produced in partnership with fellow photographer Paul Garcia, 38, was to celebrate a year of friendship for the photographic duo and also includes a number of images from Paul’s home of Liverpool.
“Paul and I met on line on a photograph sharing site after he started to follow my work,” said Di, 28.
“We both shared an interest in photographing things that people have forgotten about, things like discarded carrier bags, dumped mattresses, broken glass and derelict buildings.
“We like finding weathered objects, things with different textures and so we tend to hang around skips and refuse centres quite a lot.”
Selling through her website www.diemmerson.co.uk, the book is priced at £8 within the UK, £10 in Europe and £12 for the rest of the world.
“We’ve had a really positive response to the book,” said Di. “We have sold copies as far afield as Japan, America and Australia.”
As well as producing her book, the former BA (Hons) photography student, who graduated from CCAD in 2011, has recently seen one of her prints displayed at exhibitions in London and Manchester.
From over 600 submissions worldwide Di’s photograph, of a pair of yellow velvet curtains, was chosen as just one of 40 images to be put on show at the Of the Afternoon twin centre exhibition.
“Of the Afternoon is a really exciting platform for creatives to exhibit their work,” said Di.
“I was thrilled to have my picture chosen for their exhibitions in both London and Manchester.
“The colour and texture of the curtains, their fluid movement and the contrast of the blue carpet against them really drew me in and it was a great experience to have my first display on show to thousands of people across the country.”
Di is now concentrating on building up her portfolio of work with a view to putting on her own pop up exhibition in the future.
“I still get a lot of support from CCAD who let me use their facilities, through the college’s print club,” said Di.
For more information on opportunities at CCAD contact (01642) 288888 or log on to www.ccad.ac.uk.
