There is a hive of activity on our doorsteps and we simply have no idea. But photographer Brigitte Flock has got to the heart of a different side of life, as JANE HARRISON finds out

A FORGOTTEN world of saw mill and boat builders, among others, has been captured in a series of stunning photographs by Brigitte Flock in her first solo exhibition, Heritage, The Grand Union Canal from Southall to Brentford.

This virtually self-taught photographer focuses less on the chintzy side of our waterways, the decorative narrowboats. and more on its everyday life, which has resulted in an interesting juxtaposition of beauty and ugliness.

Brigitte, 57, of St Margaret's Road, Hanwell, said: "My focus is away from the obvious and much-covered subjects of leisure narrowboats and magnificent locks, but on how pockets of industry, such as the Brentford boatyard and Routemaster heritage centre, still remain at historic and new sites along that stretch of canal and how it provides living space, too, for hundreds of people. There is such a huge variety in only a four-mile stretch.

"Alas, among the beauty of houseboats, restored natural habitats, wildlife, refurbished towpaths, and monuments, there is also pollution, with stretches of towpath and canal covered with rather too

much rubbish, proving the term heritage is not being interpreted uniformly by all.

"I could have done a whole exhibition on rubbish. The mix is amazing, from mattresses to Calvin Klein knickers. I even saw a burned-out van. How did that even get down there?"

On the plus side there are Scheduled Ancient Monuments, such as the Hanwell flight of locks, Brunel's Three Bridges and the Hanwell Asylum boundary wall.

What amazed Brigitte was how few people, even those living nearby, knew about these hidden treasures.

"No one knew about Adelaide Docks. Even people who live there asked where it was," she says. "Even people who walk along the towpath don't look.

"Most people didn't have a clue what's there, even the mayor who came to the private view. It was quite an eye-opener."

Brigitte has just about recovered from the hard work of staging her one-woman exhibition at the Dominion Arts Education Centre in Southall. As a member of Ealing London Photography, part of London Independent Photography which brings together amateurs and professionals, she has taken part in four exhibitions in west London and Hampstead. But going it alone is quite a different matter.

"You veer from a state of sheer panic - is it good enough to hang, what will people think of your work? - to very optimistic. You are much more exposed than in a group exhibition," she says.

"Two years of work has gone into this and I am very proud of it. It was incredibly hard work, all the mounting and printing, but worth it."

Brigitte has come a long way from her first shot, taken with a camera given to her by her father when she was 11 years old.

"My father was an accomplished amateur so was a very good teacher. He taught me the basics," she says.

Brigitte came to the UK from Germany in 1978 and worked as a

PA at Glaxo, then took a Masters in sociology and politics at Birkbeck College and taught part-time at various colleges for 11 years, including Kingston.

She says: "I took photos on walking holidays but didn't really have the time when I was working 60-hour weeks. When I left work I picked up the camera tentatively, then seriously."

She went on some photography and dark room courses before joining London Independent Photography four years ago and then the Ealing group.

"They had a very good reputation and the annual exhibitions are usually themed, which makes you focus," she says. "It has really taken off in the past four years and become much more than a hobby."

Brigitte admits she became somewhat obsessed by the Grand Union Canal.

"I went at all times of the day. The light is best in late autumn - strong, low sunlight, so you get the best shots," she enthuses.

"The images shown are my own impressions and are not intended to be a complete reflection of all that is to be seen and explored on this stretch of the canal.

"I have walked it in all seasons and no view has ever been the same and I have not stopped discovering new things. Go and see what the canal has to offer and find out about its history."

* The exhibition at the Dominion Arts Education Centre, The Green, Southall, continues until March 29. It is open daily from 10am to 3pm and entry is free.