Creative Artwork Photography

Photographing Tate Modern: A Visual Exploration of Art and Space

Tate Modern is one of London’s most iconic spaces for contemporary art, but beyond the exhibitions, the building itself is an artwork worth capturing. As a photographer, exploring both the interior and exterior architecture can be just as rewarding as photographing the artworks and installations inside.

The museum’s industrial aesthetic—originally a power station designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott—offers striking compositions, from its imposing brick façade to the towering chimney that dominates the skyline. The modern extension, the Blavatnik Building, contrasts with its angular, twisting form, creating dynamic opportunities for architectural photography. The interplay of light and shadow across these surfaces shifts throughout the day, making it a fascinating subject at different times.

Inside, the vast Turbine Hall provides a dramatic setting, often hosting large-scale installations that transform the space. The high ceilings and massive windows allow for natural light to filter in, creating strong contrasts and unique patterns. Photographing the scale of the hall, along with the interaction between visitors and the art, adds depth to the storytelling.

Beyond the grand spaces, smaller galleries within Tate Modern offer an intimate look at artworks under carefully controlled lighting. Capturing how light interacts with paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media installations can highlight textures and details that might be overlooked. Additionally, the staircases, corridors, and viewing platforms provide abstract geometric compositions, making the entire gallery an ever-changing photographic subject.

Whether focusing on the structure, the exhibitions, or the visitors engaging with the space, Tate Modern presents endless opportunities for creative photography. Balancing the architectural grandeur with the artistic displays can result in compelling, atmospheric images that go beyond standard museum photography.

Lost Horizons

Back in 2017 whilst driving around Tuscany on a sightseeing, eating and drinking holiday we stopped off for a night in San Gimignano.

It’s one of Italy’s most spectacular hill-towns, known for its surviving medieval towers. I climbed the tallest one in this picture. It has stunning quintessential views of the Tuscan countryside.

Researching before the holiday I realised our visit would coincide with an Antony Gormley exhibition at Galleria Continua in San Gimignano and made a mental note to visit.Galleria Continua is a bit of rabbit warren and in the large lower floor space, a Antony Gormley piece called LOST HORIZON II had been installed. The artwork used 21 kilometres of silk-wrapped bungee strung from floor to ceiling in 5,000 vertical, taut silk lines. Visitors were encouraged to move among the bungee becoming part of the exhibit. Making your way into the forest of taut bungees your sense of space and distance became confused. It felt like you had been sucked into a three dimensional barcode. I stayed for an hour or so taking pictures as the exhibit lent itself to abstract patterns and textures.

Back home I converted the series of single and double exposures I took to black and white. These were the starting point for this collection. The initial images were modified in Photoshop increasing the contrast, inverting and toning them. The images suite large one of designs like cushions and tabletops. The printed table tops feature either transfer or direct to media prints onto birch plywood. These are then combined with hairpin legs to create unique one-off coffee and occasional tables.