A UK photographer is travelling around Ireland in a converted ambulance photographing RNLI volunteers, through a Victorian process that captures images on glass.
A UK PHOTOGRAPHER is travelling around Ireland in a converted ambulance photographing RNLI volunteers, through a Victorian process that captures images on glass.
Already having photographed 88 UK stations, Jack Lowe – grandson of Dad’s Army actor Arthur Lowe – this week arrived in Cork to visit RNLI stations including Union Hall, Crosshaven, Kinsale, Courtmacsherry, Baltimore and Castletownbere.
The Lifeboat Station Project began in January 2015 and will see Jack visiting all RNLI lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland.
He will be photographing the view from each station, along with the crew and coxswain and senior helm, using ‘wet plate collodion’, a Victorian process that allows him to record stunning images on glass.
Jack, who lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, travels in ‘Neena’ — his decommissioned National Health Service ambulance, purchased on eBay and converted into a mobile darkroom.
‘Believe it or not, this is the first time I’ve ever visited Ireland,’ he said this week. ‘I can’t wait to see the stunning coastline and meet the Irish lifeboat crews I’ve heard so much about.’
The entire project is likely to take five years in total, and will be the first complete photographic record of every single lifeboat station on the RNLI network. Jack looks set to reach the half-way point in 2018.
On his travels, Jack will have RNLI merchandise for sale, including t-shirts, mugs, key rings and more, for €1 each.
The dates for Jack’s visit are: Kinsale Tues 19th; Courtmacsherry Thurs 21st; Union Hall, Sat 23rd; Baltimore Sun 24th and Castletownbere Wed 27th.
See also LifeboatStationProject on Facebook.
