160 years ago amazing and fantastic images of Horsham and nature were captured by two amateurs who used the cutting edge chemistry and technology of Victorian science. These images formed the beginning of Horsham’s rich photographic archive - an archive that has been used by Horsham Museum in its series of photographic exhibitions. Today, 14th January 2010 - the museum is throwing open its doors to The Next Generation – students from Collyer’s 6th Form College.

The exhibition, The Next Generation, reveals a dramatic view of their world. Some of the students have used the challenge to produce stunning images of the everyday – who would think a cut melon would look so ravishing with such vibrant colours. Other photographs create images that give a new perspective on the everyday scene. We all know that the Forum is a new modern building, but giving it a glow of primary colours reveals an almost comic book look, whilst the photographs of the Church in traditional format give a sense of the antique. This sense is magnified in a photograph of Park House that creates a vision of a parkland landscape that wouldn’t look out of place in a 17th century oil.

Some of the photographs twist reality producing a shell like landscape. Others capture a split second transforming bubbling water into glass like structures that sparkle light. The exhibition though is all about clever use of digital imagery, it is also about revealing the photographers eye – selecting an image out of the everyday, from a simple door, to a robin, to dappled light through trees.

The Next Generation: A photographic exhibition by Collyer’s Students shows that in the hands of the next generation Horsham’s long and illustrious tradition of photographic excellence, started by two businessmen in 1850, is in very good hands and eyes. It is an exhibition which is revealing, creative and interesting.

The Next Generation opens on 14th January and runs till 20th March.

Copyright: Chris Brown	Copyright: Immie Wall
Copyright: James Mallory	Copyright: Stephanie Pickering

For further information please contact Jeremy Knight, Curator. Tel: (01403) 254959.