I had my first meeting with Port Sunlight Village and Works Bowling Club this week. I met a man named Michael at the Lyceum building in the village, in a room probably adjacent to where the brass band play. On arrival, I entered a fairly noises pub that was empty except for a single table. In the email Michael had sent me he had mentioned that two other club members where to join us and that I could ask for him behind the bar. After doing this I was told by a somewhat confused barmaid, that she didn’t think he was here. I then bumped into a very friendly man carrying a folder as I walked through the exit. This was Michael. He sat me down in a back room past a hue snooker hall and function area. I explained what I was hoping to do in terms of photographing and documenting the bowling club and he told me how they could really use someone like myself to aid in the clubs publicity. I had brought with me two of the Hoxton mini press books to show examples of what I hope an end product will look like.
Michael explained to me that the team had been struggling with members for a few years and that the village has been trying to promote the club, but has no images or publicity to send out. He said I had got in contact at the perfect time. Once two others joined us, (I think named Nick and Arthur) they began discussing their current online presence in mild confusion. It made me sympathetic to them but also grateful for the opportunity, as they are obviously very passionate and so want their club to be properly represented. However I felt the urge to laugh as one of the chairman said of their website “We have had something put on there, not long ago”, later it being revealed it was in either 2013 or 14.
I told them the more access and time I have with them, the better my project will be and in turn their publicised images will be more personal and professional . I am hoping to get formal portraits of each member, entire team or club photos and action shots of the actual games. They seemed more than pleased to hear this and said I would be welcome to any event they attend. I felt that Michael understood the project I am trying to pursue, as he said “There are certainly lots of characters and different attitudes you could capture”. I have started to generate bigger ideas again after my slightly limp Brass band session last week but want to keep in touch with as many clubs as possible. The more images I produce, the more chance I have of getting what I need for a quality finished project.
A J Carlton 