About
“I would say that the emblematic photographic image is a picture from inside a room looking out. I think this defines photography. It’s the metaphor for the notion of first sight. What one saw first.” - Robert Polidori
Hotel rooms have always fascinated me, ever since I was a child. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a seedy motel by the side of a highway or a five-star accomodation on an idyllic beach; I always feel a thrilling sense of anticipation every time I am about to unlock a new door. What surprises await ? What will the room be like ? And what of the view . . . ?
A Room With A View is a record of the rooms I have stayed in over the last four years. Each room is photographed using the same process, in as much as is allowed; keeping the lighting and framing consistent in order to let the individual personalities of the spaces present themselves equally. No special requests are made and I always take the room I am assigned.
The interior shots are always taken first and feature the window with the curtains drawn. The bed is included in the frame whenever possible to give a sense of the space. Ideally, I try to photograph each room immediately upon entry, capturing the layout, furniture and effects precisely as I first see them.
The view shots are taken with the same lens, which I place directly on the surface of the glass at the center of the window. Because I often arrive late and check out early, I do not have the luxury of studying these scenes in advance or waiting for the optimum time to shoot. The glass is often tinted and dirty and the windows frequently seeled.
The result is an interesting interaction between randomness and order: the randomness of each location, the orderliness of repetition, and how each interior shot relates to its corresponding view.
And there are memories of each stay, no matter how faint or transitory, a story behind each room and view. Why was I there ? Would I ever return ? Would I want to ? This site will be updated each week with a new room and view and a little behind the scenes.
