Notes – Simon Beirne Photography

Representing a mood – Colour vs. Black and White

I generally prefer colour to black and white photography; I, like most people, see in colour and I want my images to reflect that. Don’t get me wrong though – I very much respect the works of earlier photographers who had no choice but to photograph in black and white. However we don’t have that restriction anymore – so why continue to use monochrome?

Where monochrome can score over colour is in establishing a more sombre mood. To me the image above does work better in black and white, but only because the setting is a cemetery and the scene benefits from being presented in a more muted fashion.

Feelings of melancholy are relatively rare – to me anyway – and colour will always win out. The following may be an extreme example but the colour image is way better than black and white

Declutter or not ?

Judges in photography competitions have to make what seems to be ultra-quick decisions on whether a photograph is better or worse than other photographs. I have never done well in these contests – and I have no problem with the judges concerned – but here I want to discuss one area that often comes up. Judges will frequently suggest that a photograph would have done better if it had been decluttered; that is to say extraneous objects edited out so that the image shows solely the main area of focus.

As an example, it was suggested that this might be better if the fag end was edited out. I can understand a dislike for the entire image but to edit in this manner seems a step too far

Questions around the notion of truth in photography have been around pretty much since the technology was first invented in the 19th century, and my concern is not really around the notion of truth. I have an aesthetic preference for clutter; I like the everyday detritus that is always there. To me it will nearly always make the image stronger.

Another example; Not a great photograph anyway, but would this be improved by editing or cropping to remove the blue bin or the yellow sign ? I much prefer these to be left in, as to me they keep the image grounded and in touch with the real world

Ghosting Myself

AKA Fun with bulb mode

Oxford Railway

February 2026 is when the rail bridge over Botley Road at Oxford Station is being replaced. As one might expect, a good opportunity to photograph scenes that will most likely not be repeated in my lifetime.

Water

There is plenty in literature and songs about the meditative aspect of water; how it can lead to introspection, to pondering the mysteries of life, or just wondering where it all went wrong. I’m not claiming I particularly fit into any of these situations but all will be triggered by the presence of water at some point. The meditative effect is mainly invoked by fresh water; seas are often a different thing altogether (e.g. JMW Turner), though not without the possibility of dreaming.

Empty Tyre Swing

I almost titled this ‘Abandoned Tyre Swing’ but I then thought it doesn’t look abandoned. Since this photograph was taken in October it isn’t surprising it isn;t being used.

I have been opondering my own childhood a bit in the past few weeks, and find myself attracted to empty play areas – whether formal or home made (as here). I get a great sense of melancholy from places like this – but that could just as well be feeling autumnal!

Beaches

Like many people, holiday photographs feature heavily in my collection. Although many are taken as souvenirs, mementos of a great holiday or just as a reminder of a place I have been.

Sometimes though, it becomes more than just a reminder. I take photographs of beach scenes where it seems to signify a particular mood; solitude or even outright loneliness. The openness of a beach and the often wild nature of the place may evoke sense of ‘smallness’; where we (or me anyway) recognise we are not as important as we sometimes imagine.

The images below are ones I have taken that – tome at least – evoke different moods and emotions.

Insignificance

A couple of years ago I tried to categorise few of my photographs under the vague heading of ‘Insignificance’. Looking back on that now, I’m not really clear what I meant by this (not a new problem for me). However I do feel that some of the images I’d placed in this category do still work as juxtaposed pairs. I don’t want to get too bogged down in deeper meanings, but post them here just as a reminder to myself.