Stanhope Silver Band stroll on water! Richard Grassick’s greatest {photograph} | Photography

I joined the Amber Film & Photography Collective in 1983. Amber’s purpose was to seize working-class life in north-east England, and over almost 30 years I amassed a physique of labor documenting life within the higher Durham Dales – a mission I later known as People of the Hills. In 1994, I moved with my younger household right into a derelict plumber’s workshop and yard in Stanhope, Weardale. Living there over the subsequent six years meant I met individuals in all types of circumstances – I obtained to know and {photograph} many native house owners of smallholdings as a result of my children befriended theirs in school.

The members of the Stanhope Silver Band, seen on this {photograph}, have been well-known within the village. One was a joiner who paid us 5 quid a month to make use of our outbuildings as workshop area. I don’t know what number of of these within the image are nonetheless within the band – a good few, I’ll wager.

Every second weekend in September, there’s an agricultural present in Stanhope which takes place on the south aspect of the River Wear – the village is basically on the north aspect. The band at all times meet within the village market after which stroll to the present through Stanhope Ford, the place they cross the river over a sequence of stepping stones.

In 1996 I used to be nonetheless within the early days of my color pictures profession. The band all wore vivid purple jumpers, and the river may flip bluer on a sunny day. In September, there’s nonetheless loads of foliage in Weardale too, so it appeared a very good alternative to get one thing that may use the color medium to its fullest.

I realised it could possibly be an fascinating shot for me, as a result of I’m often up near individuals. I’ve a background in sociology, so there was at all times a component of “participant observation” in my work. The Silver Band picture was a uncommon instance of having the ability to think about each small element. This was actually a visible play, unfolding earlier than me on an open air stage.

The stepping stones have been at all times a enjoyable problem with my children and their associates. You can see on the image that there’s solely room for one particular person on every stone, and at the very least a foot between them. When you’ve obtained greater than 20 members of a band, it’s a really delicate operation to get throughout. It’s a bit like ducklings following their mom.

By the time I took this, I’d photographed the band in different conditions and once they noticed me standing in the course of the river, I believe they only thought: “Here he goes again.” I’d visited the spot a day or two earlier than to search out one of the best place to face – there have been some spots the place the river was possibly a foot deep however others the place the water would positively have gone excessive of my welly boots. I used to be trying west and it was morning, so the stones have been properly lit.

You can take a look at every particular person and see whether or not they’re trying again, trying ahead, ready or stretching throughout to the subsequent stone. So the image additionally has a sort of celebratory really feel, which was at all times part of Amber’s philosophy – to have fun working-class tradition.

Richard Grassick’s Stanhope Silver Band is obtainable in Side’s 50×50 charity print sale. Every buy helps Side’s work and the AmberSide Collection