The Artist/Photographer
Photographer
Mark Davies, who sometimes goes by the name of 'SilverStealth',
has made it something of a personal mission to record the last
vestiges of once proud buildings and locations of interest in
the north-west region which are not readily available to the
general public.
The process
of compilation is undertaken carefully and quietly as the attraction
of decaying historic structures often find him crawling through
cold, dark, lonely places risking life and limb to enter.
To this
end he admits to having acquired the skills of avoiding trespass
or illegal entry and of showing respect to a site and it's contents,
taking or leaving nothing behind but his footsteps.
Mark is
constantly adding new locations to his portfolio - places that
once played a part in the evolution of our society, whether
grandiose or sentimental, and is permanently on the lookout
for any sites requiring a little SilverStealth before they disappear.
Of himself
and his work, Mark says:
"Exploring
the unseen, capturing the forbidden and rescuing the ravaged
beauty of the past from the jaws of dereliction is my passion.
History is a game that decay always wins, but before the bulldozers
raze or the developers rape, I hope that my endeavours will
preserve some small victory and convey to you an atmosphere
before it is lost forever".
Amongst
his works are photos of the dilapidated and crumbling former
Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Harpurhey Swimming Baths, Whittingham
Asylum, Preston and High Royds Pauper Lunatic Asylum in West
Yorkshire - all abandoned and slowing dying of neglect.
His website
has a large portfolio of his photographs, many, if not most,
destined in time to become historic documents.
Mark's SilverStealth
website can be found at:
www.silverstealth.co.uk
... and
he can be emailed at:
mark.mdavis@gmail.com
