Laid to Rest
Limited Edition of 25.
It was by chance that I came across this ship wreck down in Bluff, at the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island, but I’m glad I did. Nature had really taken its toll on this boat over the years, having been attacked by the salt water as well as the elements. I loved the textures of the rust on the old boiler and decaying timbers. The boiler was like the heart of the boat still being protected by the large structural timbers of the hull that resembled its rib cage.
I wanted a simple composition so I decided on a very slow shutter speed to smooth out the water and isolate the structure, giving it more impact. I also needed to keep the camera as low as possible, just above the surface of the water; doing this gives a great perspective at the same time keeps the horizon as low as possible and less distracting. Finally I turned it to black and white to emphasize the textures and add more drama to the scene. Printed on Ilford Smooth Cotton Rag 310gsm.