Stuart Clarke is a photographer who has spent most of his life making images of one of his passions - football. He was perfect to look at because it is one of my passions and one of the areas I was looking at taking a project. He's been taking photographs of football and everything surrounding it for 20 years now and has a permanent exhibition in Ambleside. I went there during the summer and so want to write a little about what I saw, what I liked and include a couple of images.
Something that instantly stood out to me from having seen his images previously, but more so for seeing them in person, was how much you can tell he loves the sport. His dedication to taking them implies them, but it is something he has been very successful at conveying in his works. It is quite obvious that it fascinates him, and I find something equally fascinating in every one of his images. Whether it's the ones from the 80s, those of classic football stadia that just don't exist in the same ways these days, or of modern times in football, there's something that every fan can relate to and that reminds you of days supporting your own team.
Even if football or sport in general isn't particularly interesting to you, there is no denying that his images are good and from a documentary point of view, they tell a story of how football has changed and developed. The collection is made of photographs that capture moments some fans will never forget and some that others wish they didn't remember.
For me, I stood there and could almost hear or feel the atmosphere in the crowd shots, or imagine how cold and bitter the weather must have been in shots from night games in the midst of winter. I didn't pick up a leaflet, but his website has some text and I particularly like his own views on this long time project. He says, "20 years ago I began The Homes of Football believing myself to have a mission in telling the changing face of football, post Hillsborough. I believed I was stood on the precipice of history, peculiarly privileged in my view, to witness a national institution in big trouble, reinventing itself. I never deserted that lamp, but the mission dimmed as the years rolled on. Then, ding, bang on this 20th anniversary there is (rather than a token anniversary) again a real sense of mission to start telling the story anew. Club after club is facing dereliction, given the global recession combined with over-reaching oneself. Even though the game is ever more popular in footfall and some of the foot-ball is the best ever served. It’s just the sums that don’t add up. Here’s to that national institution. Again."
As someone interested and invested heavily in football, i found it all very inspirational and particularly to help me decide that I really would like to do a project exploring football. It's something I'm so passionate about and my best work always happens when I'm very interested in the subject I'm making it on. It's interesting to see how many other people he's influenced and ask anyone who even has a passing interest in both football and photography and it's almost a certainty that they'll know and love his work.
Below are a couple of the images that particularly stood out to me, either from the exhibition or from the website of it:- http://www.homesoffootball.co.uk
Each of these images captures something to do with the game in a creative or beautiful way and it's an insight into a sport that many play and more love. Sometimes the images are elegant and well constructed and sometimes they are raw, full of emotion and taken more suddenly. But all are about that association with football and the things people do for it or experience at it.
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