Light fantastic

Above: Jurgen and 'Splash'

Above: 'Light wave'

Jurgen Dabeedin from Potters Bar talks to Caroline Foster about his work as a light photographer

LIKE many artists, Jurgen Dabeedin’s photography has become a passion if not an obsession and although his style of photography happened by chance it
is actually just another aspect of his former career.
Jurgen, from Potters Bar, studied Scientific and Industrial Photography at Harrow College, then spent almost 20 years as a forensic photographer. Jurgen says he learnt a lot of ‘techy stuff’ to do with light and frequencies and using this in a more creative way has been able to produce some fantastic photographs of everyday objects.

Twists of light
His first insight and inspiration came from the sun reflecting light from a tall plain glass vase onto a wall. Jurgen explains that it had beautifully intricate refraction and diffraction patterns within it as the light twisted and bent its way through the glass curves. Immediately, an ordinary vase had been transformed into an amazing light projector, revealing previously hidden secrets.
‘This has led to a lot of experiments,’ says Jurgen. He then began using other everyday objects such as a glass of water, ink in water, plastic tabs from files, cellophane and other plastic items. He also used different double exposure and light exposure techniques and ‘trickery’ with equipment such as a Nikon digital camera, self-built lighting rigs and scanners. ‘It’s not about photograph manipulation, as I try not to alter the image in any way. It’s about using different techniques to get the image I want,’ he says.
One of the photographer’s aims this year is to create a new range of projects, each one using a different technique such as infra red, ultra violet or fluorescent light. Jurgen says, ‘A lot of what I do is really unusual, other people don’t really know a lot about scientific photography but if you look around you it is amazing the results you can get.’

Extraordinary results
Although a specialist photographer, Jurgen has produced some ‘landscaped’ shots and does photograph flowers, trees and outdoor scenes but the majority of his photographs are taken in and around his home using light and everyday items to create some really quite extraordinary and unusual photographs. Equally he says his work suits both living and work environments.
Whilst one image would look great on a living room or bedroom wall so it can look just as fantastic on the wall of a corporate reception or director’s office – a talking point of his work being what the actual item or object was in the first place. ‘If clients want something really personal I can come to their home or office and use a specific object. Of course it’s then a guessing game for others and a great conversational point trying to guess what it is,’ he says.
Jurgen’s photographs are available as either single edition or limited edition prints, all of the highest quality finish and reproduction. He has spent a considerable amount of time testing the quality and life of the inks and papers to ensure what the client buys under normal conditions will last a very long time.

SEE FOR YOURSELF

Forthcoming exhibitions:
Feb-March and May-June
Wyllyotts Centre, Potters Bar.
01707 645005

March 31 -April 14
Lauderdale House, Highgate Hill, Waterlow Park, London.
020 8348 8716 www.lauderdalehouse.co.uk

May 3-5
(Private View, May 2 at 6.30pm)
Artshed – Hertfordshire Art Fair, Westmill Farm, Ware. 01920 466446 or www.artshed-ware.com