Fergus Coyle, Walk Through Wuhan

Wuhan, China

Please introduce yourself: What is your name, where are you from, what do you do?

My name is Fergus. I was born in London to English/Irish parents and raised in Bristol where I continue to live today. I currently split my time between commercial photography work, renovating an old house and long term photography projects.

What is your relationship with photography, and how did you get into it?

I first discovered photography at A Level, although looking back, I was always interested in cameras growing up. I continued to study, eventually gaining a BA (hons) in photography at Salisbury College of Art. From there I went on to assist a variety of photographers, working on wide-ranging subjects from roomsets to studio car shoots, still life to portraiture and lifestyle photography. While studying helped define my taste for a certain aesthetic, assisting crucially developed my technical skills in a real world way that you cannot learn in college alone.

What do you think triggers you to photograph in a certain moment? Is it planned or solely driven by intuition?

I always take a camera when I travel and photography can often lead the exploration of a city or landscape. Certainly in the Wuhan series, I tended to shoot early morning or late afternoon into the evening to keep a consistently warm soft tone throughout. Sometimes I'll wait for a scene to unwind, especially when composing a landscape with people. The act of approaching strangers for portraits can happen in a flash though, If I wait too long to ask then its easy to loose confidence in the exchange.

What is the story you want your pictures to tell?

Every project tells a uniquely different story, which I hope will keep myself and the viewer occupied and intrigued for more. 

Which city would you like to visit the most, and why?

I often travel by bike and would love to visit some of Japans second tier cities in the south such as Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya, whilst cycling in between. The balance between countryside and city life is a big attraction and bike touring can take you through areas you'd otherwise miss.

What is your personal relationship to cities, and how do you perceive them as places in general?

I grew up in an area of Bristol with a strong Jamaican community and have always felt lucky to have lived in a multicultural environment. The same community had a big influence on the music scene in Bristol, helping to coin the phrase «Bristol Sound». Reggae and dancehall went hand in hand with drum and bass and from teenage years to early twenties we'd go to D&B nights all the time! I've often questioned whether I'd had a misspent youth, but can be sure it was a culturally rich one.

Regarding your project Walk through Wuhan: What was your intention, and how did you come up with the idea?

My Brother has lived and worked in Wuhan for over 10 years. In late 2017, he married his long term partner and I flew out to attend the wedding. I stayed on for a further four weeks to get to know my new extended family and the city in which my brother chose to settle. Little did I know, these pictures would act as a time capsule from a distinct period before the outbreak of Covid19. Wuhan used to be relatively unknown to the west, its sad to think that it could forever be known as the source of a virus turned pandemic.

Through this series, I hope the viewer can get an unbiased view of Wuhan's character and a brief insight into the daily lives of its inhabitants. 

If you could travel back/forth in time, what advice would you give your younger/older self?

My older self would tell the younger one to get on with it, while my younger one would probably tell my current self to chill out.

What do you prefer saying: «to take a photograph» or to «make a photograph», and why?

Make a photograph if the cameras on a tripod or when «making» a portrait with somebody.

What is the most interesting experience you have had while photographing?

I stayed with a group of cowboys in the Nevada desert, the experience was unforgettable and by chance made one of my most iconic images.

If it wasn’t for photography, what would you be interested in doing instead?

I've always been fairly hands on and constantly find myself working on some form of project on the side. I'm currently renovating the house I live in. Once completed, it'll go on the market, I'll buy another and repeat the cycle once again. 

How would you describe one of your pictures to a blind person?

A warm, heavy smog looms over the evening view south to Hankou Bund; a largely paved recreational area of Wuhan which hugs the north bank of the Yangtze River. On the horizon sits the gargantuan Greenland Centre, Chinas tallest building. In front of it, container ships transport cargo downstream. In the foreground a lady wearing a long orange and white dress poses for two photographers. Small figures close to the waters edge distort in the evening haze. 

What are you currently working on, and—if there is—what is your next project or journey?

I'm currently working on a long term project called The Randonneurs: Randonneur is the traditional name given to a cyclist who covers long distances, often during mass participation events called Audax. Events are timed with distances starting at 200km, though they are strictly not a race. Riders gain points throughout a yearly season that can then go towards various awards. The gold standard being a Super Randonneur, which incorporates rides of 200km, 300km, 400km and 600km, all within one calendar season. Longer events often require participants to cycle through the night with little to no sleep, making it as much of a mental challenge as it is a physical one.

I had been riding Audax events for around four years when it suddenly dawned on me—this should be my next project! As a photographer, you can easily miss whats directly in front of you. I had unconsciously built up a growing network of cyclists and event organisers that made it easy to begin work. Some events I ride with a camera in my bag, others I'll take a van filled with studio kit. I find the two approaches compliment each other well. The final key event of the project will be next year, when I hope to participate in Paris Brest Paris, a 1400km endurance event that acts as a mecca for randonneurs worldwide.

Thank you, Fergus!

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Photography: Fergus Coyle
Location: Wuhan, China

Links: Website, Instagram

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