The art of seeing

In the first of a new series, Benedict Brain explains how and why he makes an image

Ben Brain expects the unexpected

Weirdly, nothing gives me more pleasure photographically than a roaming suburban sprawl with my camera – especially the periphery of European cities, which I find a rich resource of potential images. I came across this palm tree in the port area of Barcelona. It was an innocuous and visually uneventful little corner of a slightly run-down official customsesque building – perfect for pictures!

I was initially drawn to the contrast in tones and textures between the stone walls and the palm tree. For me, this became the central focus for the image. There were several other palms in the area, so I had to work carefully to obscure the others and simplify my frame.

I particularly enjoy the mere hint of the top of the palm tree. Maybe I just take delight in subverting expected norms by chopping the head of the tree off. Whatever the reason, for me the hint of tree feels more successful visually than including it in its entirety.

Generally I’m quite drawn to a minimalist aesthetic in my images. I strive to strip down the elements and simplify a scene, often towards the point of near abstraction.

The simple, subtle diagonal line of the two rooftops and associated stone work helps create a keen sense of depth in the composition.

The image worked pretty well in colour; however, I preferred this relatively high-key mono treatment. I worked to keep the tones as high as I could without blowing the highlights.

Increasingly I’m drawn to the 4x5 aspect ratio: I find it more visually pleasing. Perhaps it harks back to when I made 8x10in prints in the darkroom. It’s an easy crop in Camera Raw.