He is a freelance photographer in Cardiff in South Wales. He uses digital and physical manipulation to create cityscapes that are stained, spattered and layered together. This creates heavily manipulated photos that feels rough and chaotic. Full of bursts and layers of colour.
Steven's work practice combines both digital and analogue methods, from scratching and staining negatives to digital manipulation. His work creates a unique and stylised image that has a dense and painterly appearance.
(https://www.lensculture.com/steven-irwin)
The skyscrapers shown are the a black and white base background. The photographer has then physically manipulated the photo with watercolour paints over the top. The major feeling that come from the photo is chaotic which I think is great. This is because when I think of a city I think chaotic and busy which this really brings that forward.
'When Cities Were Forests III'
In this skyline photo the buildings are still super prominent even in with the paint over the top. The paint is dark blue and a few other colours, its oil paint and looks like trees in after the leaves have fallen off. However it still gives off the same chaotic vibe. Due to the physical manipulation it has become hard to work out which city this photo is portraying.
'Procession'
This photo reflects the idea of a busy city as each black mark almost makes a full outline of a person like the people within the city are like shadows. The way in which the size of the buildings are in the background makes the view feel like they are on some form of bridge and you are watching people cross. The mix and use of computer and physical manipulation creates a really busy feel to the image, which is really playing to the stereo types of a city as they are known as 'busy' and 'a hum with life'.
'When Cities Were Forests II'
The skyline within this image has been manipulated that again you cant make out exactly which city it is. The use of the circular lines forms the thought of radio frequencies that are being imitated from the tallest building with the what seems to be transmitter pole on top. The addition of the burnt orange with in it also could apply where the sun was when taking the photo or where you could have been as a more ascetic choice.
Influence
Summary
I think the addition of paint to photos has created a really interesting effect. It looks like snow falling past the building. I think it creates a really dramatic effect over the photo. This is because it adds texture and movement as the viewers eyes dart around the photo.
I used the same technical approach in using paint over the photo that I took. However I changed to adapt the paint as water colour paint wouldn't work on the paper. A result of this was that I used acrylic paint instead. The first example of the photographer also had an influence in the angle and composition of my photo. Therefore giving a similar approach to the way I took and experimented with my photos.
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