Gallery

The pieces presented on this website are photographs taken by Luke Gradkowski Gould which have been damaged and manipulated in order to abstract from their original form. The main abstractions are of interactions with scenery or architecture; persons observing scenery or architecture; and persons observing persons.

This process requires photography to be degraded using a unique method and then manually reformed in order to interact the beautiful effect of the chemistry with the original image. As little of the original image is preserved as possible. This allows for an alternative perception of the images to be experienced where scenes are reframed with the abstractly decorative colourisation that the chemical degradation provides.

Price for original pieces available on request and A2 framed prints from high resolution scans are available at £300 each. Additional courier charge will apply.
Please contact for details.

First Wave Abstractions, 35mm film photography

These pieces were photographed, developed and chemically manipulated between approx. 1998 and 2011. The photography and developing occurred up to 2001. In 2011 I discovered the degrading process and started to develop the technique of manipulating the chemistry for interesting and beautiful effect.

These were largely taken between living in Warwickshire and Scarborough, UK; holidaying in North Wales and attending various festivals between age 10 and approx. 18. Approx. 75 pieces total.

Second Wave Abstractions, 35mm film photography

These pieces were photographed, developed and chemically manipulated between approx. 2013 and 2019. The photography and developing occurred up to 2017.

For this phase the degradation effect was approached more deliberately at each stage. I emulated and developed upon the factors that had propagated the original degradation process. This was successful and was achieved in an accelerated time following a less than satisfactory attempt. The technique of interacting this with the pictures also developed. Photos were taken whilst living in Salford, Greater Manchester (UK) which is also where I achieved the end result.
Approx. 50 pieces total.

Third Wave Abstractions, 35mm film and digital photography

These pieces were photographed, developed and chemically manipulated between approx. 2020 and 2021. I became interested in digital photography for the first time and after relocating to Liverpool in July 2020 I spent much of my time exploring and photographing. I produced these between November 2021 and August 2022 and consider these to be the most refined examples of my work so far.
This phase is currently undergoing the finalisation and curing process.
Approx. 200 pieces total.

Examples coming soon