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Collection Obsession Yields Strange, Fascinating Photos | National Geographic


I think that when you become passionate

I think that when you become passionate about certain objects then you really

about certain objects then you really

about certain objects then you really want to keep on finding all that you can

want to keep on finding all that you can

want to keep on finding all that you can it never ends

my name is Rosalyn Purcell and I’m known

my name is Rosalyn Purcell and I’m known primarily for the photographs that I

primarily for the photographs that I

primarily for the photographs that I take in the back rooms of Natural

take in the back rooms of Natural

take in the back rooms of Natural History collections my photographs

History collections my photographs

History collections my photographs aren’t are straightforward in that

aren’t are straightforward in that

aren’t are straightforward in that they’re not really manipulated except

they’re not really manipulated except

they’re not really manipulated except for the light I choose which is always

for the light I choose which is always

for the light I choose which is always natural light what I really want to do

natural light what I really want to do

natural light what I really want to do is to wander through and see which

is to wander through and see which

is to wander through and see which specimen sort of jumps out as being

specimen sort of jumps out as being

specimen sort of jumps out as being readied up it’s picture taken

well photography certainly came before

well photography certainly came before collecting because the photography was

collecting because the photography was

collecting because the photography was triggered by the sight of things and I

triggered by the sight of things and I

triggered by the sight of things and I was brought up in the family where

was brought up in the family where

was brought up in the family where people did collect they collected books

people did collect they collected books

people did collect they collected books mainly but I didn’t really have the urge

mainly but I didn’t really have the urge

mainly but I didn’t really have the urge to collect on until I visited a derelict

to collect on until I visited a derelict

to collect on until I visited a derelict antique and junk yard

every piece of copper that’s left

every piece of copper that’s left outside near the salt water it becomes a

outside near the salt water it becomes a

outside near the salt water it becomes a thing of beauty

thing of beauty

thing of beauty I wanted them at home so that I could

I wanted them at home so that I could

I wanted them at home so that I could use them as backgrounds in photography

use them as backgrounds in photography

use them as backgrounds in photography not necessarily in Natural History

not necessarily in Natural History

not necessarily in Natural History collections but for the other still life

collections but for the other still life

collections but for the other still life photography that I was doing

the best light is brief when you take a

the best light is brief when you take a number of photographs there’s only one

number of photographs there’s only one

number of photographs there’s only one or two in my mind that ever really work

or two in my mind that ever really work

or two in my mind that ever really work and it’s as if the right tone has been

and it’s as if the right tone has been

and it’s as if the right tone has been struck between the subject and the light

when it comes to getting a photograph I

when it comes to getting a photograph I certainly feel very greedy it’s really

certainly feel very greedy it’s really

certainly feel very greedy it’s really important to get it right and then once

important to get it right and then once

important to get it right and then once you’ve got it you sort of have it and

you’ve got it you sort of have it and

you’ve got it you sort of have it and you don’t but the great thing about

you don’t but the great thing about

you don’t but the great thing about photographing in collections is that I

photographing in collections is that I

photographing in collections is that I have absolutely no no need to own

have absolutely no no need to own

have absolutely no no need to own anything I’m a visitor and when I get to

anything I’m a visitor and when I get to

anything I’m a visitor and when I get to take away are the pictures

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