Photography
My photography
I use photography to show something about where I’ve been or people whom I’ve met. As well as trying to see the beauty in a scene or situation, I’m also trying to convey ideas and feelings. My photography is about me and what I do, who I meet and where I go. All my photography tries to be contemporary and creative. I’m resistant to being fitted in to a taxonomy by categorisation such as “travel” or “conceptual” or “nature”. All image-making is political simply by the act of selection and hence exclusion but I am not campaigning for any particular point of view, except to try to see the positives and to live life to the full.
I use 645, 35mm and DX formats plus a handy little digital compact that shoots RAW files. I’ve experimented with non-lens photography - do ask!
I first worked in a monochrome/silver wet darkroom at age 7, helping my Father with scientific prints; I’ve used colour negative materials since age 21 and digital since 2005. I use Photoshop (Adobe) and Photopaint (Corel).
A study of horizons: the junction of sky, sea and clouds.
This series started with a sunset that reminded me of J.M.W. Turner’s sunsets. Then I started noticing natural gradients and transitions around me in Menton, some of which I am presenting in this series. The last image is from the plane flying to the North.
The face of the Moon rising over the Chaîne de l’Étoile, Marseille while the sun is setting in the opposite direction, almost making the eclipse.
Fine view of one of England’s highest mountains, Skiddaw (931 m.), over Bassenthwaite Lake, one of Cumbria’s largest lakes. St. Bega’s church, Bassenthwaite is on the lakeside opposite.
Dramatic dawn over Skiddaw (931 m.) and Latrigg (268 m.), seen from Keswick. A thunderstorm developed very soon afterwards so truly “Red sky in the morning, shepherds’ warning”.
BR Standard Class 7 70000 Britannia at Platform 1, Victoria station, London
Hot, steaming and still running on coal, the 4-6-2 steam locomotive pulling the excursion train in to Platform 1 is Britannia, back running on the mainline rails after replacement of a connecting rod which failed during one of last year’s rides. Quite a contrast to the sleek electric commuter trains usually at this London terminus.
Photography note: one of those subjects where my camera’s exposure suggestion was wrong by more than two stops. Those old-time railway photographers had some quite specific skills to get the shots they did.
