TWEED PHOTOGRAPHY

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This was a photography project I worked on over the summer of 2018. We were asked to choose out of a list of building typologies a category, and then to create a collection of photographs which capture the essence of the chosen building. To my own surprise, I ended up being most taken with the idea of studying an industrial building. 

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I had some restrictions to my choice of building, as I moved back home to the Isle of Lewis for the summer:  a beautiful place for taking photos of the landscape; but our buildings? Not exactly architecturally exciting. 

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I had to think about the industries I had access to and ones that would make for an interesting photographic collection. I decided the most colourful option would be to contact the Harris Tweed Authority to see if I could visit one of the wool spinning and dyeing mills. 

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They were more than willing to let me have a wonder around the massive 'Kenneth Mackenzie Mill' located in the Outer Hebrides' biggest town, Stornoway. 

These images are just a handful of hundreds of pictures I took on my two visits to the mill, which offered so much colour, texture, shape and visual interest. 

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In the past I had been unaware of the intricate process which goes in to creating this world-renound fabric, and I hope my photos reflect all the stages of our local textile industry; from land, to cloth.