Some artists use a camera to create their works of art by simply capturing the world around them. Others use Photoshop to masterfully manipulate photos to transform an image into something new. Others still, use photographic wizardry to create images that trick the eye or astound the audience.
Joseph Fordis one of those photographers. He painstakingly matches us the real world with the subject of his photographs. Whether that’s aligning clothing items with an aerial photograph based on colours and shapes or combining his keen eye with the skills of a knitter to create real-world camouflage.
Joseph Ford describes his work as ‘storytelling with a side order of off-beat creativity’. It’s certainly something spectacular. Take a look and see some of his best creations.
Knitted camouflage
Hunters and soldiers use camouflaged clothing to blend into the environment and make themselves invisible from their prey. But the average layperson wears clothes to stand out from the crowd or just chooses clothing that feels comfortable and suits them.
In the big bold world we live in, you’re unlikely to accidentally find you’re wearing a jumper the same colour as the curtains or with the same pattern as the seats on the bus. Sometimes it happens, but not very often.
In this series of works, Joseph Ford worked closely with his friend Nina Dodd to create photographs where real people blended with their environments. These hand-knitted sweaters made by Nina Dodd were created specially to merge with the world in a particular location.
The result is a number of photographs which look like they’ve been Photoshopped within an inch of their life but actually, they’re just brilliantly posed and wonderfully prepared.
Tiles and tartan
A man sits on the steps of Tokoyo nightclub New Lex. His knitted jumper and trousers blend perfectly with the tiled floors and walls. This is no coincidence, but the result of perfect planning and wonderfully knitted materials.
Greens, blues and the musician
An urban scene in Brighton caught Joseph Ford’s eye and he saw an opportunity to create something special.
With the help of expert knitterNina Doddand modeling byFimber Bravo, a renowned steel pan musician, the photographer was able to create this brilliantly colourful scene near the loading bay of a vegetarian shop in the city. Careful positioning, a fine eye for detail and patience resulted in a brilliant image that we thoroughly enjoy.
The happy cat
In this photo, a chap in a carefully knitted yellow jumper stands in front of one of the many examples of Monsieur Chat graffiti that appears on a variety of walls around France. This yellow cartoon cat with a large Chesire-like grin is a common sight on buildings around Paris and was originally spotted in Orléans in 1997.
With smart knitting and clever photography, Joseph Ford blends his subject with the painting to create this new image for us to enjoy. Two works come together to create one.
Waves in the desert
These windswept sand dunes disappear off into the horizon. Ford used a ruffled jumper to carry on the lines of the dunes with the black parts of the jumper working perfectly as shadows in the sand.
By the seaside
Another aerial image of the seaside lines up with a fashionable camouflaged outfit. The curve of an open zip curling around the coastline.
Train trackers and zippers
With a steady hand, Ford takes a camouflaged coat and lines up the zip to this train track running through the countryside. The teeth of the zip match with sleepers and tracks of the line, creating a wonderful finishing image.
British flags and waterways
There’s a lot to love in this image. The shoes are by Pepe Jeans, a London-based fashion brand and the logo on the side lines up with the shape of London’s O2 arena (AKA the Millenium Dome). This way, both images are geographically matched as well as visually and are really pleasing to the eye.
The resting ladies
You almost have to look twice at this image of two ladies (or is it just one?) resting against a wall with their jumpers perfectly aligning with the edges and lines of the frame. The positioning of the imagery is magnificent and we love the visually pleasing nature of these photos.
Leather and lines
With the perfect placement of an earring and some leather material, Ford matches the lines of the real world creating a satisfying result. Where his knitted images blend colours, this one contrasts perfectly yet shines with symmetrical lines.
