The Cardiff Project
The Cardiff project is my first Uni task and involved venturing to a city never visited with my camera and a title, 'Cardiff Dock area'. Researching the docks before leaving I found out about the history and how the dock has grown since the 1790's, from the industrial revolution by the rapid growth of the mining industry. My research also lead me to the newest part of the docks 'Mermaid quay' and the land owned by ABP (Associated British Ports) that is soon to be the new BBC studio.
Once arrived at docks a friend and myself walked around to see what was there and get a fell for the place. Half way round we realised we were on route to Penarth, where we were going to see Zed Nelson show 'Love me'. After walking there and back we split up to explore by ourselves and see what we could use for our project. I came by a old light house boat where i encountered a man who filled me in on what he new about the docks. Getting a first hand account on what he knew was interesting, particularly as he had photographs of how the docks looked before they had been extended to how they are today. Leaving the boat i had an idea of what i wanted to capture while there, just was not sure how.
The old dry docks over looking the ABP land.
The old dry docks were once used to mend boats but are no longer are in operation. However they are kept open and visitor can moor up in them, as the surrounding area has been turned in a hotel and other housing. The biggest thing i noticed during my time in the docks is how they have composed modern buildings whilst keeping the docks history. There is a big contrast between the old and new which is what i decided to look at.
The ABP land looking over the old dry docks.
Old and new cover the docks in architecture, barrages and boats. The most central part of the bays scenery is The Peirhead building that has stood there since 1897 and seem vast modification in the last century. The building helped benefit Wales past and today enlightens, connects and motivates new minds to extend the bays future.
The Peirhead surrounded by modern architecture.
Now i had explored one side of the dock area i headed in a different direction, which captured my final image of the light house boat i had previously visited. Which has stood still for a number of years preserving another side of the bays history, at the same time keeping the area contemporary with the wheel less than a 100 yards away.
Th old light house boat and wheel.
The whole area is divided between protecting the stretch of land history and keeping with the times. Both attract people to the bay and keep it with a busy atmosphere.
Throughout my time in Cardiff i did struggle to know what i wanted to say. From photographing the Yacht clubs, the nature reserve, the Mermaid Quay, ABP land, barrages and dry docks i realised the colourful, historical, contemporary front the bay has. I enjoyed my time in Cardiff docks and would return to photograph it again.
jenni
