Fine art photographer Ray Spence combines his fascination with mannequins and infrared imagery for an upcoming exhibition
ON ASSIGNMENT
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[1] An image of chaos and discarded bodies of all ages, gender and colour.
I first photographed shop window mannequins in Athens in the 1970s and have always had a fascination with them. I have several in my house and garden, and I have forever been interested in the way we use mannequins and dolls, aimed not just at displaying clothes or childhood play, but sometimes in a far more sinister context.
This Mannakin series is a small part of the work done and will eventually find its way into a larger exhibition and book. It is surreal but has a direct reference to many aspects of society and the issues facing us. The use of mannequins to reflect the human condition is a recurring theme in my work.
I often work collaboratively with my friend and photographer Clare Acford. We tend to work with mannequins, particularly in conjunction with the human figure, to produce a visual narrative. She is great at searching out unusual locations and it was Clare who found this location. It was a mannequin repository in Lincolnshire, which refurbishes and hires them out for film, photography and events.
I approached the shoot with an open mind, but it was one of those situations where the possibilities were endless. I looked for scenarios that could be translated to some of the events happening now and in the past in our society.
An infrared convert
These were the result of a single day’s shoot over about four hours. I had upgraded to a Nikon D810, and so this was a great opportunity to make use of my D700 by having it converted to infrared. I used it along with a Nikon AF-S 24-120mm lens. I like to work with the minimum of equipment, so the use of a single body and lens allowed me to concentrate totally on the subject matter. Most shots were handheld, but there are also a number of interior shots that required the use of my trusty 40-year-old Benbo tripod.
The subject matter and location was rather surreal, so the use of infrared was the ideal way of translating this surreal feeling. It has led to a body of work that I am still reflecting upon. It was an exciting day, finding a unique location that could have been made for my sty
