At the Junkyard - a project Inspired by the work of Ray Metzker

Ray Metzker was a master of black-and-white photography, known for his bold use of contrast, abstract compositions, and the graphic play of shadow and light. His images often turned everyday subjects—city streets, staircases, fences—into rhythmic, almost musical visual forms.

As part of my RPS Mono course assignment, I was challenged to explore Metzker’s techniques within my own genre. Although still life was not his chosen field, I initially attempted studio shots but found them too static. So, I took my camera out to the junkyard at Wadswick Farm, where discarded materials offered rich opportunities for abstraction and form.

Here are five images where I tried to channel Metzker’s approach:

Stacked Pallets and Pipes

A tunnel of timber and tubing becomes a layered exercise in light and geometry. The crushed blacks and sharp tonal contrast compress the depth, echoing Metzker’s urban work.

Twisted Cage

This discarded metal structure rests like a collapsed sculpture. The interplay of chaos and shadow allows the eye to explore abstract negative space—a key hallmark of Metzker’s street compositions.

Reinforcing Mesh

Harsh linear grids create a visual rhythm. The high contrast compresses detail into a unified graphic plane, reminiscent of Metzker’s architectural studies.

Precast Concrete Forms in Shade

The angled slabs create a sculptural presence in the dappled light. There’s a meditative stillness in this one. Metzker often found beauty in overlooked spaces like this—quiet monuments to utility.

Sleeper Stack

Ends of stacked timber sleepers resemble cryptic symbols. The repetition and close cropping flatten the image into a visual code—an accidental typography of utility.