Tim Bechervaise
© Tim Bechervaise
Tim lives in Hatfield and is a writer by trade but has a growing enthusiasm for street and urban photography. Life is full of colour, even in the mundanity of everyday life, and he seeks to reflect this in his photos.
Whilst he has yet to pin down a name for the project, the focus is on solitary moments on the street. Tim is an introvert and particularly drawn to people who seem to be content in their own company — whether that’s walking the street alone or gazing out of a window.
London Photo Show Exhibition
What inspired you to curate this particular collection of photographs for your exhibition?
I was really keen to focus on something that I’d enjoy but would also stretch me. My initial plan was to focus on my favourite football team, Tottenham Hotspur, but the project grew bigger and more challenging than I first thought, so it meant that I’ve had to have a rethink for the exhibition. I’ve instead decided to focus on solitary moments on the street. The idea came after I spent time looking at key themes in my photography, and it struck me how I’m often drawn to people on their own who seem content with their own company. I figured this is probably because I’m an introvert myself — I guess I see in these people a kindred spirit. But it’s not just people on their own, the photos (I hope!) also draw on another feature of my photography — the aesthetic. So my aim is to create an exhibition that invites observers into these solitary moments, whilst being pleasing on the eye.
Could you share some insights into the creative process behind these photographs?
With most of these photos, I’m first curious by the setting — whether that’s the lighting, a building, the background or whatever. I then wait for a moment or person — what many call the fishing technique — to complete the picture. Other times, the picture is there waiting for me and I just need to be quick to respond! So the key has been observation and patience. I should also add a word of thanks here, because two of the photos in the exhibition were taken on a street photography workshop in Venice, where the tutor Brian Lloyd Duckett spotted some opportunities for us to take some snaps. Thank you, Brian!
What emotions or messages do you hope viewers will take away from experiencing your exhibition?
As mentioned above, I hope people feel invited to the solitary moment shown, but also captivated by the aesthetic of the picture. I expect it to particularly to appeal to the introverts like me! I also like to think there’s something of the unusual in each of the photo, meaning there are different details and quirks that people pick up.
Are there any specific stories or moments from your photography that you would like to highlight in this exhibition?
My signature photo comes to mind. It’s from Venice and features a man with a hat walking past a puddle. Our whole street photography group had gathered to take a photo of this setting, with no notable results, and we were all getting ready to move on I noticed this man in the corner of my eye approaching. So I stayed on the ground, in the moment, whilst the group were making their way. I took about six photos as he walked by, and this was the best. I was thrilled with the outcome.
How do you see your photography evolving in the future, and how might that influence your future exhibitions?
I hope the exhibition gives me the boldness and confidence to be braver with my photography. Part of the reason I’ve gone with this project is that I’ve already sold prints of some of the photos, so it’s given me an idea of what works and is landing with people. I’m intrigued to see what reaction they get at the exhibition and how that will fuel my photography moving forward. I am also super keen to keep going with my Tottenham Hotspur project. I’ve made a good start and I want to see it through to the end.
What has been your experience with UPC in regards to this exhibition?
My experience with UPC had been wonderful! I am so thankful for involvement in the group. It’s given me projects to focus on and a space to get useful feedback. It’s also whetted my appetite to be more public and brave with my photography. I am aware of my limitations in terms of time, skill and resource, but there are little things I can do to progress, and UPC has been a key part of this. I’d also never imagined that I’d be doing my own exhibition, so having this opportunity is just wonderful.