Artist Profile: David Morris

Norfolk photographer David Morris is passionate about capturing moments of truth…

Smoke Amsterdam

David Morris’ photographs possess a gritty, yet beautiful quality that instantly brings the subject alive. ‘In the early 70s, I was taught photography at Hull College of Art by an incredibly talented teacher called Clee Rimmer,’ says David. ‘His photojournalist style of photography - where one melts into the furniture in order to capture moments of truth - has always stayed with me.’ These moments of truth are nowhere more apparent than in David’s ‘Barlife’ series of images, a collection built up over the past 15 years. ‘All life takes place in bars,’ reflects David. ‘They really are one of the only places where you get to talk to strangers. I love the lighting and certainly in the past, the smoky quality of the air.’ The series came into existence while David was working for a brewery, designing a calendar of images. ‘I realised the potential to develop this area of photography and started visiting bars in whichever country I happened to be in,’ says David. It was in Milan that David stumbled upon a shot that would prove to be one of his most popular to date. ‘I was in a bar when I spotted a girl sitting alone,’ says David. ‘I assumed she was a model as it was fashion week in Milan. I took a photo of her and called it ‘The girl who never smiled’. A year later, I was in a different bar in Milan when I spotted her again. I approached her and showed her the earlier photo I’d taken. Thankfully she liked it and agreed to pose for another image - the girl in the yellow trousers.’ On another occasion, a bar in Amsterdam provided David with the perfect photographic opportunity. ‘I was enjoying a drink when I spotted a very attractive

older lady smoking a Churchill cigar as she chatted to a man. Suddenly she blew out smoke, transforming the atmosphere in seconds. The resulting image has become one of my most popular.’ Moving away from bars, David also enjoys photographing behind the scenes at the fantastic Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth. ‘My wife and I had forgotten just how magical the circus is until we won tickets to the Hippodrome one year,’ David recalls. ‘We hadn’t been to the circus since we were children but instantly we were hooked by the skills and professionalism of both the performers and the show itself.’ Since then, David has taken many images backstage, overcoming the lack of light and other technical difficulties to produce a series of stunning shots. Although David enjoys photographing people, he is also passionate about depicting the beautiful Norfolk landscape around him. ‘I go out early as I love the light and the atmosphere created by mist and fog,’ says David. ‘I’ve bought an aluminium ladder for a fiver and I like to climb it to take photos but I have to be quick before it sinks into the mud! Sometimes I take a canoe out to reach unusual places. I also love taking nocturnes at dusk’. David’s work is available at The Garden House Gallery, Cromer where he is exhibiting for Open Studios week from May 23rd-June 7th. He also has an exhibition with nine other artists from April 6th-19th at Holt Community & Arts Centre and his work is on view at North Lodge, Cromer from May 8th-10th. www.davidmorrisphotographer.com

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