After spending 14 years as a Metropolitan Police Officer, in 2014 I finally escaped; disillusioned with the organisation meant to serve public interest and empty Government promises. During my time I experienced a wide range of duties, from being on response team to standing on the door of a hospital for the birth of a member of the Royal Family (with a massive audience of press/tv on the other side of the road) and I suppose my ability to engage with people whilst taking pictures is partially in thanks to the experience that I gained in the Police. My photography preference is therefore unsurprisingly street photography however I do occasionally delve into landscape, drawn by the lure of that perfect sunrise. Gautama Buddha said that nothing is forever except change and how true that statement is, my life hugely different from the days of the Police Service and in every way better.
Life is a collection of masks, smoke and mirrors. Imagine that West End play with its fantastic props and scenery. For the audience it’s an amazing creation intended to wow and entertain but look behind the scenes and its planks of wood, nails and tape holding it all together. This to me is a metaphor of life, we all have a public presentation on display to onlookers, delve deeper and foundations of what makes us what we are is very different. I try to show these foundations in much of my work.
My focus is on the Northeast of England, my birthplace and where after 40 years of being in the South East I was finally able to return to, showing the intrinsic beauty and community spirit that exists in places forgotten by the previous Government. My current project “Tough on the Tyne and Wear” is a work in progress, documenting the claims of “levelling up” by the Conservatives.
Amongst documenting events, my work has been exhibited in the Edan Gallery and moved to “Motion 4 the Ocean” exhibited in October 2023. I am also a regular photographer for Colliery Championship Wrestling. I am a Buddhist layperson.
Tim Wilson 