Photographer's focus makes light of his disability

Posted by Simon Honeysett on Aug 16, 08 03:36 PM in News

Gordon Thompson An inspirational photographer who refuses to allow profound disability to frustrate his creative talents is about to stage the biggest exhibition of his work.

Former art teacher Gordon Thompson, 62, has been paralysed and confined to a wheelchair since breaking his neck in a fall while rock climbing in Northumberland in 1986.

Despite being unable to move any part of his body from the neck downwards, he defiantly combines his vivid imagination with the help of friends and the use of personalised computer technology to devise, stage, shoot and process his own photographs.

Now he is preparing to proudly stage a public exhibition of between 50 and 60 of his pictures, which have been taken over the last two years, at the Chantry Gallery in Morpeth next month.

Hard Times - which will run for several weeks from September 6 - includes a series of photographs depicting American dustbowl farmers during the depression years of the 1920s and 30s.

Using an ex-miner friend of his as the model, Gordon set up and took the pictures in a cornfield near his home over several days.

Another eye-catching selection of photographs - shot on a special set created in his house - shows a musician and prostitute in a series of scenes depicting a graffiti-strewn street corner in a typical Russian state.

He uses his imagination to design his photographic studies, and relies on a circle of close friends to physically set them up and help arrange his camera equipment.

Yesterday Gordon, who lives with his wife Joan, a retired teacher, near Ellington, Northumberland, said he hopes next month's exhibition will attract some critical appraisal from photographic experts.

"Because I am totally paralysed and sometimes in a lot of pain, my photography is an utterly strenuous process, but I have got to do it to remain sane. I am pushing the boundaries to what a disabled person can do, especially with an injury of my severity.

"The photography used to be therapy but now I believe the standard of my work is very high. As I am in a wheelchair it is difficult to do a lot at once, so the whole process is extremely slow and tedious.

"However, it is very fulfilling and I am proud of the latest work which will feature in the exhibition. I just get these ideas about crazy and zany pictures and rely on friends to help me set them up and take them.

"They have been with me since I decided to take photography seriously and do the physical work after I visualise the picture. This is the biggest exhibition I have ever staged and I will be there on the opening day to talk to people about it."

Gordon's work will be on sale during the exhibition and he plans to donate some of the proceeds to research into spinal injuries.

We'd like to hear from you.
Send your stories, pics and videos