The series was done in black and white as a way to draw attention to the form of the site and help convey the sombre, neglected feel of the place without the distraction of colours. The life has gone out of these once thriving docks, that once accommodated the largest ships in the world, and were surrounded by busy shipyards and other docks right along the river - all but one or two of which have vanished, replaced by modern developments. A sad yet fascinating sight, the place feels frozen-in-time as a relic of a bygone industry and the idea was to somehow convey that in the photography.
In fact until recently most of the quays were covered with trees that have only very recently been cleared by the developers and it is only now that the entire site and the pump house building are clear to see. There used to be several buildings around these docks but all have been demolished except for the listed pump house.
Govan Graving Docks was an operational dry dock complex up until the late 1980s.
Bollards and derelict pump house at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
Inside the pump house at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
Bollard and lamp posts on the quay at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
The derelict pump house at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
An electrical junction box inside the pump house at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
Stairlwell on the quay at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
This stairwell leads to the bottom of the dry dock when it is drained.
Pacific Quay and the north bank skyline in the background.
Remains of electrical wiring box on a post on the quay at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
Gangway on a caisson gate across one of the dry docks at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
A capstan at the end of the quay at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
A capstan at the end of the quay at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
Gangway on a caisson gate across one of the dry docks at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
End of the quay at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland. The Glasgow Science Centre at pacific Quay in the background.
Remains of a valve on the quay at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland
Capstan on the quay at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland. The Science Centre tower at Pacific Quay in the background
A stairwell on the quay at Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow, Scotland.
This stairwell leads to the bottom of the drydock when it is drained. On the far skyline is Yorkhill hospital on the left and right of the centre the tower at Glasgow University.
