Caroline Fraser- the movie

Alisdair Kitchen filming Caroline Fraser through a bush....

​I was asked to make a movie. About my art practice.
This request came out of the blue, from a film maker Alisdair Kitchen, who was appointed by Rye Arts Festival Digital Fringe.

I did not know of him, but liked what I saw on his website very much; he has worked with opera singers and is himself a musician. His style appealed to me, so I said 'yes'.

We arranged to spend a day together, in my studio and out on location.

My main worry was what to wear.  I am clearly vainer than I realised.....

A rusty boat at Rye Harbour

We talked in the studio, and he watched me sewing a book. The notice board and windowsill featured highly; Alisdair liked the wind blowing papers around. I admired his setup, and realised that I would probably never make a video again.....

Then we were off to Rye Harbour. 

A visual desert for my type of photography. Old buildings and boats. Way out of my normal comfort zone. 

​I walked, he followed. I wondered why I had forgotten a belt to hold my trousers up. 
​I felt acutely self conscious.

Seagull. Rye Harbour

I saw a seagull on a chimney. 

Some cracked mud.

I pretended to take photos.

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parched earth, Rye Harbour

But mostly I saw Alisdair, and felt so self conscious that I snapped wildy at anything that I passed. This was for show; except  that it was not.

Alisdair decided that photos I took were to end up in the film. I was not keen on this idea; I don't make images when being followed closely by a cameraman. I like to be alone, quiet, getting into a rhythm by walking and thinking.

The film maker at work

The harder I tried, the worse it felt. Alisdair was happy because he was outside, and the wind was blowing my hair.... seems he likes wind.

Old railway shed, Rye Harbour

But I should not have worried.

Because Alisdair is a pro. The film that he made is gentle and beautiful.

Out of all the nonsense that I talked, he picked out the key elements of my story, and put them together in a way that I feel is completely true to my practice.

​You can watch it here......

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Caroline Fraser, photographer from Alisdair Kitchen on Vimeo.