Saint Monica Trust - Facilities, Aspirational Living & Care

Saint Monica Trust

Retirement Villages

St. Monica Trust is a Bristol based collective of retirement villages, with independent residential living and care facilities at 5 sites around the city and surrounding countryside.

The brief for photography covered the facilities and architecture of each village, to capture the character of each. In addition, we made a series of shoots with models (and a few willing residents!) to create location specific aspirational living portfolios, as well as specific sets to reflect care, activities and catering at SMT.

This project exemplifies what I love doing most in my commercial photography at present. Balancing between many genres of photography and having them inform one another, fitting everything together into a wider cohesive set.

You can see the whole series on their shiny new website, created by the fantastic girls & boys MUD. 

PS: I've promised to get back to editing and publishing my travel photography super soon... Much more fun! Been a tad busy building a house. 

Norway E2.11b Mortensrud Kirke

This is a wonderful church built for a local community just south of Oslo.

Designed by Børre Skodvin & Jan Olav Jensen - Our tutor Martin Gledhill at Bath University often brought up this amazing place in his lectures.

The building fits simply and serenely into a peaceful landscape. It's a contemplative and connective space. We felt this even after a month in the wilds of Norwegian national parks, along with a sacred, temple aspect given by the structure.

There is actually a rough trail cut around the perimeter of the building through the vegetation, likely by architect pilgrims.

Sadly the time we managed to get there en-route to Sweden we couldn't go inside, except peering through the glass. The light was wonderful though.

Norway E2.11a Oslo Operahouse

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Oslo opera house.

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Neat.

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Inside too.

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More photos of this set on flickr

London Barbican Centre

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Around this time last year I visited the London Barbican. Never having been before it was a thoroughly pleasant surprise for the architecturally minded of our little party. A fabulous example of urban design, softening brutalist concrete forms with hanging greenery and unusual plants.

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The interior was dominated for me by peculiarly shaped apertures, formed by and through which the complexity of the three dimensional foyer and movement spaces was revealed as layered glimpses, flickering as distant people crossed the scene. 

The changing coloured lighting embedded in the moulded concrete ceiling was incredible too…

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As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or facebook, are hugely helpful and welcome.

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2014.10.08 Pump Cottage - CaSA

This architectural shoot for CaSA was just down the road from my flat.

The original property - a highly unusual (for Bath) timber and glass structure - was designed by Ted Nash. Recent work by CaSA remodelled the interior layout for new inhabitants and added a modern timber facaded extension.

As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or facebook, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback. You can view my full portfolio, contact and pricing information on my WEBSITE -

tomglendinning.co.uk

2014.08.08 Manor Barn Wellow - CaSA

I have been lax in my posting - publishing has come too far down the list when work is on!

This shoot was a trial for CaSA Architects in Bath (an incredible creative studio -

website here.

The Manor Barn in Wellow is a considerate, economical and aesthetically effortless restoration-modernisation of a beautiful tithe barn and outbuilding. The latter has been turned into mixed use to include studio space for the prolific mannequin and automata sculptress, Annie Scotland. I really recommend

looking up her work here

.

Annie and David made me so welcome (including orange juice-cereal and elderflower cordial seemingly on tap!) and the setting was so serene, it made the atmosphere of this home a real pleasure to photograph.

My favourite aspect of the place was the energy in the studio room and workshop, emanating from the creativity-inspiring surrounds of paraphernalia and diasporic completed works, the subtle smells of wood and workshop; in contrast to the airy, almost dreamily detached, hugely-spacious, multilayered, deep-shadowed levels of the main living room in the barn…

So much more to come - Working with Park Street in Bristol, more Hereford and Gower landscapes, Collins House Dental Surgery, silly gopro videos that I need to edit and so much more whenever will I post it?

On with the fun - enjoy the sun.

As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback. You can view my full portfolio, contact and pricing information on my WEBSITE -

tomglendinning.co.uk

2014.05.06 Property & Paper

OK so I’ve been busy.

This post is a couple of jobs I’ve finished very recently but I’ve also been back in architecture doing drafting work, taking business portraits and shooting landscapes.

The editing backlog is growing - look out soon for:

Parisian Street Photography

Herefordshire Spring Landscapes

Massage(!)

Clouds (ever more)

Other cool things.

I’m also starting work at Clifton Photographic Company - a Bristol portrait studio. I’m volunteer shooting for the Park-on-Park Street event on 1st June, as well as getting photographically involved with

Concern Universal

, my charity of choice based in Hereford.

As for todays photographic offering: 

The property is all renovated by Alexander Henry Property (The talented Streatfeild brothers) in London. Give them a house, it will become wonderfully minimal and superbly tiled. There will be truly excellent brass taps.

View this set on Flickr

 [Property]

The paper products are by

Whitehall Printing

in Bristol. They are BRILLIANT, use them.

View this set on Flickr

 [Printing]

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback. You can view my full portfolio, contact and pricing information on my WEBSITE -

tomglendinning.co.uk

2014.03.03 Stonehenge Visitor's Centre

Two weeks ago I had the fantastic opportunity  to shadow

Peter Cook

- an architectural photographer whose work I greatly admire. After getting in touch via

Mitchell Taylor Workshop

architects where I used to work and many of whose projects he has photographed superbly, he was happy for me to accompany him on a photoshoot. I (of course) took my camera as well, follows is my impression of the new building.

Denton Corker Marshall recently completed the new Visitor’s Centre for Stonehenge, nestled between the rolling Salisbury downs. A good attention to simple details and careful complimentary aesthetic choices make for a harmonious structure. It works like a large pavilion, two buildings, timber clad and glass, are occupied by exhibition/toilet facilities and café/ education centre respectively. The waveform thin metal roof on a support of angled columns covers and obscures the blocky forms and camouflages them in relative form, amongst the hills and surrounding trees. They provide cover (of sorts, the wind is always strong on the hills) but more importantly a good sense of place a squat building would not merit.

The buildings themselves also extend a respectful obscurity with materiality. Vertical timber facade and reflecting glass box create a patchwork of colour that does not feel out of place. 

The only negatives I can put forward from my brief visit originate from items outside the designer’s control. The glaringly blue buses assisting with the ferrying of large number of tourists to and from the stones themselves; and the predominance of poor signage choice by the occupiers of the building (spot the bright yellow ‘PRIVATE ACCESS’ signs calling your attention to an otherwise almost featureless hidden door, amongst others!)

As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback. You can view my full portfolio, contact and pricing information on my WEBSITE -

tomglendinning.co.uk

2014.01.14 Bath Uni 1st Year Architecture Models

A studio job for Bath Uni - After taking tutorials teaching the later years how to shoot their models which they devote so much time to, this shoot was making a quality record of the 1st year’s small studio project models. In the 90 or so models there was a huge range of ideas and styles, my favourites I singled out for some more interesting closeups.

As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback. You can view my full portfolio, contact and pricing information on my WEBSITE -

tomglendinning.co.uk

2013.11.21 Basil Spence Crit

2013.11.21 Basil Spence Crit

This is a delightful reminiscence. Sort of. 

Last week it was 2 years to the day that I had my own trial by critique on the infamously stressful ‘Basil Spence’ group architects and engineers project when I was studying at Bath. Actually I was happy how we did, and I had a great team of guys - however I did not feel envious of the 4th years as I covered their crits as a photographer this time. I owe my recent re-incursion into the department to my head of year, the untiring Martin Gledhill. In fact I have gone so far with his and (my old personal tutor-) Daniel’s involvement to run some tutoring/ workshop sessions for the architect students. This is to teach them some photography skills to better capture and represent their ever-increasingly incredible model making skills as a key part of the imagery in their final hand-ins.

So it’s getting busy with TGP - Hurrah!

Fun and games aplenty. Lots coming up when I have a moment to write in the old diary.

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback. You can view my full portfolio, contact and pricing information on my WEBSITE -

tomglendinning.co.uk

Sagrada Familia

I've saved this for last.

I have to say that this is probably the most jaw droppingly beautiful man made place I have been - perhaps because it's so strongly derives its form from nature. Either way, it is majestic, sublime and graceful.

So yes, I fell

a little in 

love with Gaudí while in Barca.

This photographic memory of the 'Sagra' as Alejandro refers to it, is split into two. 

Part 1. Exterior.

(tip: do this while your begrudging companions que for you - that gives you a good 15-20mins uninterrupted shooting off peak times)

I looked for something particular to focus on when photographing the outside from all sides. I found myself particularly drawn to the gossamer-like trappings of the scaffolding cocooning those parts still in construction, so I directed my attention at the beauty of the incompleteness of this edifice rising from the ground. Piece by piece, a squat and solid object becoming more  filligrous

(yeah that's not a word)

as it rises beneath it's attentive spider like cranes which, impossibly fine, seem to spin the soaring stone by first wrapping in metal and wood, then silk, to emerge fully formed and ornate.

Part 2. Interior.

(I walked around slowly at least twice :-) Sorry touts de Madjarovi.)

Inside I was a little blown away but gathered myself enough to alternate trying to capture the nature like qualities of the construction and the vast complexity of it all with wide angle shots, and documenting details with a longer lens. The way the light interacted with the faceted stone walls, columns and roof was just fantastic. How a mind can conceive all this is beyond me.

As usual you also can view the set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

PART 1. Exterior

Cocooning Sagra 1

Cocooning Sagra 2

Cocooning Sagra 3

Cocooning Sagra 4

Cocooning Sagra 5

PART 2. Interior.

2.1 Gracies

2.2 Sacred Clearing

2.3 Ceiling

2.4 Forest of Columns

2.5 Upper reaches of the branches

2.6 Untitled Column

2.7 Faceted

2.8 To the Glory of Light

2.9 To the Glory of Colour

2.10 Colossal Sculpture

Jardí Botànic de Barcelona

Barcelona again.

This was one of my favourite places we visited. High on Mountjuic,

(Barcelona's own minature 'mountain')

behind the deserted 1992 olympic park, tucked away on the hillside, there is the 

Jardí Botànic de Barcelona.

Apart from a dazzling display of interesting botany from around the world

(out comes the 100mm macro, and barely leaves my eye as I wander glued to camera from specimen to 

specimen

)it's worth taking a nice broad look at the really great landscape architecture going on. Harsh opposing lines built from white concrete and rust red core-ten steel, the path you follow feels to be cut and edged into a climbing landscape. For me this hugely complimented the riotous colourful beauty of the planting

(even in January - such flowers!)

and provided a crisp monochromatic counterpoint.

So this set takes both colour and monochrome abstract images, one after the other, each complimenting or balancing the next. See what you think.

As before this type of organisational decision and arrangement came during post process but reinforces the general feeling I had when making the two different types of image.

As usual you also can view the set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or 

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

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Barcelona Architecture

Continuation of posts covering Barcelona.

This is a selection of 'architectural' photography from around the city. With the below evidence in conjunction with the streetscape atmosphere shown in the street photography post, perhaps you can see why I would really like to live here.

Everything seems to have a concession, however small, to being fun and/or beautiful. Also the sheer density of different varieties and artistic statements taking form as buildings, street lamps or creative and humorous graffiti on street signs. (This is not shown here but if you've wandered around Barri Graciá you probably know what I mean).

Sagrada Familia to follow shortly in it's own post.

Yes I did go to the Barcelona Pavillion, but frankly, meh - I felt no glory of architecture there, just observed some

really

expensive walls. The pools were nice... Also my photos from there were quite crap.

I don't feel this set is any where near as successful and my concerted efforts at street photography, but as a pleasant record of the places I strolled around and dreamt about walking past every day, I am happy.

So, Barcelona:

As usual you also can view the set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or

facebook

, are hugely helpful and welcome.

1. An Architects Demons

2. Balconies I would like to live 1

3. Crane Spider Silk 1

4. Crane Spider Silk 2

5. Gòtic

6. Crane Spider Silk 3

7. Casas Amatller y Batlló

8. Passeig de Gràcia

9. Falqués Street Lamp

10. Balconies I would like to live 2

11. Balconies I would like to live 3