May 30, 2024 by Mark Tweedie

The Parsnip (Photogravure)

The Parsnip was a superb specimen as thick as my arm grown at Five Acre Community Farm nearby. The detail in its flesh and its magnificent beauty made me want to photograph it and then print it as a photogravure. This medium preserves some of the physicality of the vegetable. I chose to light it and pose it as if it were a film star or a delicate jewel. This is perhaps my favourite of my Derby Print Open entries this year.

This print was recently awarded the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Derby Print Open exhibition. The small, insignificant objects around us every day have their own distinct natures which make excellent subjects for the tonality and texture of a photogravure to reveal. Even though the humble parsnip may not be as spectacular as a deep-sky object it has a dignity and beauty which is very similar. As above, so below…