Tracey Welch is a talented professional photographer from Sheffield who is exhibiting some of her photography work at the Bowery in Sheffield. The exhibition called ‘Cogs’ is currently running until the end of September and is generating a lot of interest. The preview evening itself was a busy occasion and as well as attracting some local celebs (e.g. Jon McClure, Matt Helders) some arty revellers too enjoyed the Bowery atmosphere and drank their tipple as they admired her work. The ambience of the exhibition was reinforced by a couple of interesting DJ sets (one being Paul Thompson – from the Alvarez Kings!)
The exhibition (funded by Creative Sheffield) depicts various people who put on entertainment in Sheffield. The people photographed had to choose a significant place, and they would be photographed in that particular venue. I have to say I didn’t know the people photographed, obviously I’d heard of some of them – but I don’t know them. But after looking at the photographs I felt as though I knew more about them. Their personalities captured in an instant. These photos were no way staged…I asked Tracey how she could capture their personality so well, with the subjects only choosing the venue. Tracey replied she just chatted to them, and took the photos as they chatted. A simple – yet effective way to create a wonderful series of work.
I then wondered about the title ‘Cogs’…why ‘Cogs’? I did wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that if I were to visit these particular places where the people were photographed, and actually saw these people there, it would all fit into place and seem right…not odd or a staged piece of photography that can so easily look false. So these photos are spot on…like a hand fitting a glove….cogs moving and meshing together… therefore ‘Cogs’ is an excellent name for the exhibition.
