Inspirational Landscapes

What inspires a creative person ?

Speaking as a photographer, there are many things that move me to take a photo. Light, shapes, human interactions and landscapes. Sometimes, a change of scenery will excite me to want to capture moments which is ultimately what we do as photographers.

My partner and I came back yesterday from a weeks break in Anglesey, North Wales. I was brought up holidaying in the Lake District primarily and only venturing into Wales once or twice. We never visited Anglesey in my memory although I’m told I went with my parents as a very young child. Snowdonia was not on our radar for some reason. My partner on the other hand is far more familiar with Wales and since we met 9 years ago, we’ve been there several times. Anglesey is an enchanting island with fabulous beaches, awe inspiring cliffs and amazing lighthouses on rocky promontories. The interior of the island is generally flat agricultural land but it’s the coast that brings the island to life. Its proximity to Snowdonia is very handy too. The image above is of Carnedd Llewelyn, a substantial mountain in the Ogwen Valley. The light changed every few seconds, bringing its own drama to the majesty of the mountain.

South Stack Lighthouse on the north west coast of Anglesey is a jaw dropping location for photographers. The 91ft high tower is dwarfed by the 300ft cliffs next to it. We have visited this place before but you get a greater sense of scale from this angle at Ellin’s Tower, a 19th century folly built as a summer house for the wealthy Stanley family from Penrhos.

All the while we were staying on the island and at our AirBnb, I struggled with my existing camera gear and what I should do. The minute I began taking photos wherever we went, those dilemmas vanished. My Nikon Z7ii behaved superbly, rendered some great photos and never once got in the way of my getting the best shot. I have two Nikon bodies and a few lenses plus the magical Ricoh GRIII X. I kept thinking, should I switch systems and have one mirrorless interchangeable lens body and a small selection of lenses instead of two. Sony would be the only move for me as they have a greater selection of lenses but then I edited the images from the Nikon and this dilemma diminished. I realised whilst out taking photos, I didn’t once consider the gear and concentrated on the composition and the moment. The camera didn’t get in the way of the creative process. It was a machine doing what I wanted it to, efficiently and with very little fuss.

The photographer and YouTuber James Popsys, describes his Sony A7RV as boring, because it does the job without any drama or complications. It is a very good camera in the same way as my Nikon Z7ii, more megapixels than either of us would ever need, top notch lenses and the ability to execute any action without a hint of difficulty.

Most artists, creators choose their tools on the basis of how well they perform not how they look. Photography is strewn with fashionable, highly priced, vintage inspired gear. We are fed the line that having a cool looking camera or one with great history and caché matters. There are those who buy into a system and then spend at least 50% of the time convincing you their choice is the right one. I arrived at where I am now by falling for the look a camera, the label rather than the ability to help me create really good images. I am not a Nikon fanboy but they do the job really well. I am sure equally, Sony would be great as would Canon but this is the system I’ve invested in and it helps me do what I need.

The takeaway from last week was an appreciation of some beautiful landscapes, amazing sunrises and a real feeling of relaxation. I enjoyed taking my photos because the location and the company were the main inspirations not how retro or fashionable my camera looked. I can shoot with the Nikon or Ricoh bodies and no one gives me a second look. They are like assassins, stealthy and effective. They allow me to love what’s in front of the lens and not fixate over what’s attached to it. I don’t doubt Leica or Hasselblad cameras are capable of producing brilliant photos but they aren’t so far advanced of mine purely based on the their street cred. I’m sure if Hasselblad came a knocking and offered me and X1D II and a couple of lenses, I would be more than happy but in the mean time, I’ll stick with enjoying the landscape, the street scene, the moment. They are what matters, not the gear.

Social Media Minefield

Many years ago when the world was maybe a more naive place, some of us thought that social media was going to be a liberating , creative experience.

I was on Twitter pretty early on and it was a fun place to be. No fascist owners or far right trolls in sight. Just mainly nice people communicating and sharing their work, experiences, terrible jokes.

Back in the day, Facebook was purely an extension of Friends Reunited; the place to reconnect with school friends and relatives. Instagram didn’t exist but even when that came along, it was generally fun.

Two things happened. Firstly, the possibility to monetise these platforms occurred. Creators of platforms became very wealthy by selling advertising spots. They designed algorithms to be embedded into the platforms in order to entice users to buy stuff they otherwise wouldn’t. These algorithms were then used by more nefarious people to politicise them in order to influence users how to vote, often against their own interests.

Those of us who made posts were suddenly being commented upon by people who disliked something we said or posted. The legions of armchair experts and critics rose to offer their opinions whether you wanted them or not.

Then the big one was Elon Musk buying Twitter.

He instantly weaponised it, inviting hate speakers back into the fold under the umbrella of ‘free speech’. He changed Twitter to X, a subliminal nod to a far right propaganda outlet. We all know what’s happened since then as he sits on the throne of power with Orange Don as his puppet president. Mark Zuckerberg, always a doubtful human being, drank the cool aid and has now gone over to the dark side. His empire Meta, controls not only Facebook but Instagram and Threads. He no doubts mines the accounts of users to influence their thinking and drain their bank accounts .

There aren’t many massive global corporations these days who don’t have questionable motives. Jeff Bezos controls the world of online shopping through Amazon; Adobe try to control the world of creators through exorbitant prices for their software. Google is omnipresent along with their arch rivals Apple. Who can we trust to act with integrity and impartiality without sucking up to right wing dictators such as Trump? Who are the good guys?

I am now uncertain as to whether the owners of this website creator, Squarespace, are doing it with a degree of social altruism. No aspect of modern living is exempt from money corrupting the purposes of that which they claim to have. There are many small independent businesses and platforms trying to do the decent thing and have some principles. They rarely succeed because the giants know how to make us totally reliant on them. Where would content creators be without YouTube or small businesses selling crafts, without Etsy and Pinterest. Is there anything untainted by greed in existence.

I buy stuff off Amazon because it’s quick, cheap and convenient. I use Instagram to promote my photography. I have an Apple phone/IPad and Mac. I shoot with Nikon cameras, I am no beacon in the darkness of global domination. Maybe, we are all waiting for these global organisations to grow consciences or maybe we just done t care? As long as we get our deliveries the next day and post freely on Instagram/Threads/X, we are happy.

There will be those who opt out for ethical reasons or because the platform doesn’t meet their business needs. And all the while, Musk and Bezos will continue to build rockets to go into space because that’s somewhere they’ve yet to conquer. There are major players who attempt to do some semblance of good. Rich people have always sought ways to make themselves richer by exploiting those who are less well off. Greed has always driven the wealthy to keep wealthy. So what has this got to do with photography?

I could rely purely on my website for publicity, business or engagement. I could take photos, print them and sell them to customers at art fairs or through shops. The truth is for most creators these days is that we need social media to help promote our work. To get work, you have to have a social media presence. You have to be the dancing monkey to the Hurdy Gurdy man called Instagram. You need a website to sell, showcase and book clients. You have to play the game because everyone else is. Self righteousness and moral principles leave you in the dark in this modern era. You have to develop a thick skin for dealing with criticism, to be determined when unsolicited advice is offered on what you are doing wrong with your photography.

Being a photographer is an ever developing art. You can always try new ways to make and take photos. I learn from others, I critique others work but I try to always respect their creative choices. I want to take better photos because I love what I do. I love talking to other similarly minded photographers about their work. We lead often very isolated lives. We often work best on our own.

I am sure I’m not the only one who has imposter syndrome but I just have to keep going because I love what I do. Put a camera in my hand and I feel like I come alive. I would be empty without it. Yes, I have wonderful partner and family, I live in a Beautiful part of England but I need a creative identity. I hope the global oligarchs who control our social media, our creative tools both hardware and software come to see that money and power aren’t everything. I hope they remember why they started up and return to decent creative practices.

Winter in Calderdale

Winter has truly arrived in Calderdale.

Admittedly, this cold snap isn’t likely to last more than four or five days but it has certainly given us the true experience of a cold winter. It is for me, a blessing and a curse. I’ve managed to take some great snowy photos but given my rehabilitation following my ankle break last summer, it is also a challenge. This is both a physical and mental challenge, in that I’m more cautious about stepping out in snow and ice. I wish it were otherwise and I’m sure I’ll gain confidence the more I push myself.

Photographically, I’ve enjoyed shooting snow, mist and spectacular light. I have used my Nikon Z7ii and also my Pentax K3, which is made for cold, inclement weather. Often, some of my best shots have been from my street or at least, the top of it. The hillside with the tree lines have given me ice old woodland sometimes topped or partially obscured by mist. The sun hits the valley and deep patches of golden light reflect off the snow covered hillside.

The contrast between pure white snow and bright sunlight can be challenging for photographers. There’s always a chance that your images will either come out as very blue or highlights will be blown. Also, snow has a habit of smoothing the details of a landscape. You have to work a little harder to get a decent shot. I try to add features whether they natural or man made to break up the whiteness of the scene. Luckily I live in an area that has both woodland and rocky moorland. I like to use features such as roads or pylons to give a focal point.

The sunrises have also been spectacular with pinks and oranges bursting over the hillsides. I find myself scuttling up to the top of our street, trying to catch the brief moments of intense light. They contrast with the grey/white of the shadows, woods and buildings. I’m trying to embrace this cold winter with all its challenges. I like to see the opportunities and grasp these brief moments in time. I hope you like these photographs as much as I enjoyed taking and editing them.

Gibson Mill.

Gibson Mill near Hebden Bridge is like a film set. It is much photographed, in all weathers, at all times of the day and evening. It sits below Hardcastle Crags, next to Hebden Beck which would have originally been the source of power for the mill. The estate including the mill, was donated to the National Trust by Lord Saville in 1950.

It is a regular spot for me and my partner to visit. Given my current situation, it also has limited disabled parking spots which enabled us to actually get there! Autumn is probably my favourite time of the year for photography and the estate and mill look fabulous, particularly on a sunny autumnal day. I travelled light, taking my Nikon Z6 II, two Viltrox primes and an adapted Pentax 100mm f2.8 vintage lens. The three primes covered the focal range from 20mm to 100mm and still I had to work for the shots.

I could have taken the 24-120 with the FTZ II adapter but weight was important. Even though I have become accustomed to shooting with large DSLRs, I am still taking it steadily using a single crutch so excessive weight unbalances me. The Z6 II and a small prime is roughly half the weight of my D700 and 24-120 lens. It makes you wonder if going fully mirrorless is the long term goal but I love shooting with DSLR cameras.

You go all in with a camera manufacturer and it has many benefits. Batteries, menu systems, lenses (even if adapted) all sync and you choose the camera for the look it produces. The D810 has more megapixels but also a different look to it than the Z6 II. The D700 is like no other camera I have ever used but the operational essentials are Nikon. I know my restriction is temporary and I’ll be back shooting with the heavier gear soon but until then, I am more than happy using the mirrorless camera. I went from film to mirrorless, only discovering the joys of it a couple of years ago.

Ultimately, It doesn’t matter what gear you use, It is down to the landscape/subject/location you are shooting. Gibson Mill is a joy to shoot at. Combine that with great company, excellent weather and decent accessibility, It proved to be worth the visit.

Return.

It’s been a while. In relation to my normal shooting schedule, it has been a positive lifetime. Many photographers will plan shoots and maybe go once a fortnight to do a specific shoot. I’m not that guy. My normal is 3 times a week in different locations. As I’m lucky enough to live in a spectacular part of the world, there is plenty of opportunities on my doorstep.

This was the case up and till the 2nd August this year. My accident and subsequent recovery has taken its natural course for a broken ankle. I’m now two weeks into using a boot and can now drive. This has opened up a whole heap of possibilities for me as a working photographer. I’m still a few weeks off returning to regular shoots and a couple of months walks and shoots.

The photo above was taken at my favourite lay by above Hebden Bridge. I’ve captured this view of Stoodley Pike so many times but this one felt special. I was able to drive myself up to the spot and take a photo standing unaided.

I’ve posted a couple of times about my recent experience, the frustrations I have had and ways of working around those. To be able to go out and take photos of the valley, moorland and towns is immensely satisfying. You know a complex fracture isn’t the easiest thing to deal with and part of that is working out how. The health professionals give you loads of support but you don’t always know if you’re on track with a full recovery. There isn’t really a timeline as every fracture is different and we all respond differently. I have never broken a bone before so have no frame of reference.

What is great is that I can start to think as a photographer again rather than a patient. I am still a way off a full recovery but I’m getting there. I can stand and hold my cameras again and use them in a way I am comfortable with. I can look at a landscape or building and see how light or cloud interacts with it. I was interviewed this morning for a magazine feature and it felt really good to talk about my photography rather than my ankle. I am loving using the Nikon d810. It’s such an intuitive machine and does exactly what I want it to. My images will improve as my mobility returns but I’m capable of doing this wonderful camera more justice than I have in the last couple of months. I want to take my d700 out and play with that as it is truly a one off in the world of digital cameras. All these monochrome images are taken with the d810 as I prefer to shoot the d700 in colour ; mainly because the sensor renders colours so beautifully, it would be a shame to deny it the chance to shine.

It feels like a return but not a full blown one. That is good enough for me right now and to not have to talk ankles or using crutches will be a relief. I can’t recall how many times I have had to explain how it happened and to have to relive a moment I really don’t want to. For the first few weeks, I experienced a sort of ptsd every time I thought about my accident. I am better now and don’t have the same reaction but you meet so many people who don’t know how it happened so you have to recount the story. I’m much happier to talk about photography and cameras with people.

Keep On Keeping On

Week three of my enforced quarantine.

I have spent the last 6 years going out taking photographs at least once if not twice a week. Everywhere I go, my camera bag is in the car or on my back. It feels alien to not be going out, to not be able to go out but I understand the situation I’m in. This time has allowed me to revisit images both recent and some from my archive of photographs. I’ve edited them with darker, more dramatic effects. I’ve gone for softer dreamlike styles. Because the limit of my world at the moment is the garden and that has been only achieved today; I recognise my creative limitations.

I go through a whole gamut of emotions each day. Mostly, these moments are fleeting and I quickly talk myself out of feelings of despair, regret, a sense of foolishness for getting injured in the first place. We all get injured at some point in our lives but it’s how we adapt that helps us keep going. I feel a wave of disillusion coming over me and straight away, I tell myself this is temporary, this won’t be forever. I feel frustration and take a moment to stop and think, I can overcome these obstacles. I am grateful for the little victories I achieve, thanks to the help of my partner and my family. I can’t allow myself to feel self pity because that helps no one especially me.

As a photographer, I look for new opportunities, new angles, how to work within the confines of my current state. How can I create when I can’t just walk out the door and go and taking photos. I hope to do some still life studies, some domestic photos that document my lived experience. Making the most of what is around me should be the best I can do.

My forthcoming exhibition with fellow photographer Will Lake has been postponed until such time that I can hang my prints on the walls of our exhibition space and spend the weekend in that space. It was hugely disappointing to reach the decision to postpone but it’s the right one. I need to concentrate on recovering and regaining my mobility.

Now is not the time for giving up, resigning my career as a photographer. I have spent the whole of my adult life doing jobs, gaining qualifications that didn’t really sit easily with me. I was good at them (or so I’m told) but they didn’t light a fire in me. Picking up a camera and capturing moments in time does that. It is what I am not just what I do. Why would I turn my back on the thing that partially defines me? I have much to learn, many techniques, creative ideas to discover.

Using my Nikon cameras is a joy. Both my D700 and D750, bring the joy out in my work. Yes, they are just tools but they make me want to take photos, to explore what is possible. I still have my Panasonic S5II which I use for photo shoots but I will introduce the Nikons to that part of my job. I have jobs lined up with very patient clients for autumn and winter. My artist studio shoots are great fun and I love working with other creatives, capturing them doing what they love doing.

I believe in what is yet to come. I love my work and want to carry on for many years to come. It’s taken me 40 years to find the creative purpose and I’m not about to leave it be. Watch this space because there’s more to come!

In Awe

I recently did a post about unpopular camera brands where I made the case for those that went under the radar of some photographers. The big beasts of camera technology these days are Sony, Canon and Nikon. They dominate the professional world, making gear that is used the world over to produce much of our photographic content. They have all focused their attentions on mirrorless camera systems and are gradually leaving the DSLR behind. It is amazing to see how technology has moved on in the 10 years since the camera I am focusing on was introduced.

The Nikon D750 is a 24.3mp full frame DSLR introduced in 2014. It was seen as the prosumer model below the flagship D4 and D810. A good friend of mine and professional photographer Andrew Fowler, is a long time Nikon user. He owns this model and always rated it.

I have used pretty much every major camera brand apart from Nikon over the years. In the last 2 years, I have grown to enjoy using the ‘older’ technology of the DSLR . The optical viewfinder, the better ergonomics, the lightning fast start up time and of course, what some are capable of. This camera however has blown me away. It is the most comfortable, reliable, rugged camera I’ve ever used. It produces some of the nicest files I’ve ever seen. The detail it retains is amazing. The battery life is the best of any camera I have owned. The native lenses are superb and not expensive. It isn’t overly big and bulky. The grip is deep and moulds to my hand.

I bet you think you’ve heard this from me before. In fairness , I do tend to say this sort of thing ; but ‘sort of’ is the operative phrase as I’m trying to convince myself a purchase has been worth it! This Nikon was comparatively inexpensive and isn’t all sparkling new.

I have heard and read that camera technology has in some ways, advanced dramatically in the last 15 years and in many ways it hasn’t. A top of the line camera in 2010 is still a great camera if it takes great pictures and is reliable. It is around the edges that cameras have advanced. They make your life slightly easier as a technician but don’t dismiss the older models as they have something to offer. If I had been with Nikon for the long haul , maybe I would have seen how newer models improved the shooting experience and image quality. I had a moment the other week whilst using the D750. I was taking a few sunset photos , last of the light shots up at a reservoir high up on the top of the moors. I finished and put my camera back in the bag and said to myself “I really love using this” . That is a first for me.

I’ve come to realise that camera body aesthetics don’t really count for much. I owned a Leica once and felt conscious that if I was out taking photos, people were looking at my camera rather than what I was looking at. That didn’t make my photography better, it just drew attention to the gear I was carrying. No one looks at a 10 year old DSLR because they think it’s yesterday’s technology. Taking thousands of images and learning from that experience, makes me a better photographer. Practice and time improves your photography. Having a camera that can realise my expectations is important but having one that exceeds them is a gift.

I am doing more photo shoots using my Panasonic S5II but I will also be using the Nikon as it may offer a little of the magic I’ve discovered in my general landscape and documentary work. I am told, combined with the 85mm f1.8 g lens, it is a great camera for portrait work. I know it’s excellent in low light and its colours are great. In conclusion, don’t write off older technology. They knew a thing or two about making professional equipment back in the day. Would I recommend a D750 ? Yes of course I would. Would I try the D780 or D850? Yes I would but do I need more bells and whistles ? Not really no. I am though, in a state of awe.

Vintage

Panasonic S5II + SMC Pentax M 28mm f2.8

You know you’re old, when the word ‘vintage’ describes items that were made 20 years after you were born. technology moves at a pace these days hitherto not seen in the last 100 years. Camera technology and new models of camera body and lens are being brought out every year and with increasing levels of tweaking what is already there. Sigma for example, have released an update version of their 24-70 f2.8 dg dn art lens in the last couple of weeks. This replaces a lens created only a few years ago which was itself, considered excellent. Every camera manufacturer is forever updating their bodies and lenses to improve on what came before. I have the Panasonic S5II which replaced the S5. There was gap of a few years between models and the camera is a big improvement on what was a great camera.

Panasonic S5II + SMC Pentax M 28mm f2.8

‘Invest in good glass’ is a phrase photographers advise newbies into the world of photography. It is sensible advice and a good lens will make a good composition into potentially, a great one. What if the lens you are using is 50 years old though ? Did the camera companies know a thing or two about producing high end quality lenses back then? I have been user of old manual focus lenses for nearly 10 years now. To be fair, I used some of them when they were new releases back in the late 70’s and 80’s but that’s beside the point. The advent of mirrorless cameras and adapters have enabled photographers to experiment with film era camera lenses. I have tried a few mounts and different manufacturers in recent times. I am a fan of Olympus Zuiko lenses (beautifully made, generally very contrasty and sharp), Canon FD lenses good too but the manufacturer I always return are Asahi Pentax. Their SMC (super multi coated) lenses produced from the mid 1970’s to the late 1980’s are always my go to choice.

Panasonic S5II + SMC Pentax A 50mm f1.7

There is something about the process of taking a photo that is enhanced by using a manual focus lens. They make you feel more at one with your camera and the advent of focusing tools such as focus peaking, make capturing photos relatively easy. They can be quicker than autofocusing lenses as they don’t hunt for focus. You set the focal distance and everything will be in focus. Pentax made some lovely prime lenses back in the day. To be fair, they still make lovely lenses now but their film era glass have a certain quality about them. The colours are punchy but not lurid. They are slightly cooler than say Olympus Zuiko but attractive. The out of focus areas are very well controlled and you can get some beautiful bokeh with them. The biggest plus for a photographer however is the price of these lenses. The three focal lengths I use are 28mm, 50mm and 135mm. You can get a really good Pentax M lens in all these focal ranges for well under £40.

Panasonic S5II + SMC Pentax M 135mm f3.5

If you were to only use manual vintage lenses, you could have a complete lens kit (including maybe a 70-210) for under £150. That is half the price of a modern secondhand standard Panasonic kit lens. What you get for that money are high quality metal lenses with beautiful glass. Yes, in tests they don’t perform to modern standards but you learn to work around that. The double advantage for someone who also happens to own a modern Pentax DSLR is that these 50 year old lenses will fit your modern camera without the need for an adapter, That is a huge plus and I continue to take my hat off to Ricoh Pentax for that.

I still use my modern autofocus lenses on both my S5II and Pentax K70. Sometimes, I need their autofocus, their sharpness, their weather sealing. I love the modern lenses but I have more fun with my older ones. They can be unpredictable but that can also be a bonus. You get effects that you would otherwise not with a modern one. If you have never used vintage lenses, I urge you to do so. They are an affordable way of creating interesting photographs. Many filmmakers are now using vintage lenses to get a different, more creative look. I would recommend Pentax or Olympus Zuiko but classics like the Helios 44m. It is an amazing focal length lens, that produces wild swirly bokeh and pretty sharp detail. Get yourself an adapter to fit your camera body and choose according to what lens mount your vintage lens has. Remember to make sure your camera is switched on to shooting without lens. This allows you take a photo. You won’t get exif data but you’ll just have to remember that! Go and have fun and you might get hooked like me!

Start of Summer

It’s beginning to feel like Summer. I was never really a big fan of the season but in recent years, I’ve grown to love it. I embrace warmth, long days, sheltering from the hot sun in cool shade. My photography seems to be reflecting that which is around me. Fields and meadows bursting with delicate flowers.Long grass dancing in the summer breeze.

All the images on this post are made with the Pentax K70 and various lenses. It is a joy to use, reliable and with great image reproduction. My main gear is as ever, evolving. I won’t be updating on any changes in gear as I would prefer my work to be judged on its creative merits rather than any fancy camera or lens. You see the world through the eyes of a photographer as you do with a painter, illustrator and in general, all artists. It is an interpretation of that world which the recipient is able to make a connection. Photography is as much of a valid art-form as any other. We as photographers, try to capture moments and produce our interpretation of that moment.

These images aren’t all the sharpest I could provide. The camera, lenses and photographer are all capable of producing pin sharp photos but I chose to not go for that. Summer isn’t always the sharpest season, in that light and nature are sometimes more of a feeling than an observation. A field of wildflowers with a hazy background can be as evocative as a clinically in focus photo of a flower, tree or landscape. Cloudless skies, strong shadows will make sharp images and I’m a fan of those ; but just because of that admiration, it doesn't exclude more subtle images. Maybe this is part of my creative evolution? I know I can do sharp, I choose not to do so.

The other thing I’ve noticed in the last week or so is how much green there is. All shades of green, some subtle, some vivid but there’s a lot of it. We endure winters where trees and shrubs are stripped of foliage, preserving their energy for surviving in cold, dark inhospitable conditions. These couple of months when trees come into full bloom are the greenest they will be. Later on in summer, the trees show signs of having too much of a good thing.

I like summer. I really like summer, it’s probably my favourite season partly because autumn follows on from summer. Autumn, with its oranges, yellows, browns is often thought of as the top landscape/nature photography season. So many Lightroom presets are created to help you find the perfect edit for your autumnal images. I get that, I understand the allure of those photos. I love capturing them, eating them, printing them. Summer however, is a great time to be out in nature. You wear less, you have longer days to work with. I am fair skinned and the sun likes me. I burn easily but these days, I learn to live with it and compensate for it. I really love observing hot sun from a shady spot. I get all the visual benefits of summer without the downsides of being out in full sun. Ultimately as creatives, we have to work with what’s available and within the confines of our environment and season. The start of summer is a good time for me and let’s hope it continues for the next few months!

Studio Session

I spent some time at my partners’ studio last week. Kate Boyce, is a painter based in Hebden Bridge who works in mixed media. It is a very particular style of work and she is a well known, long established artist. She and I wanted to do some studio work that not only showed in her studio but also some close ups of her handling the materials she uses to create her paintings.

It was the first outing of my Canon RF 35mm f1.8 is sim macro lens (they do make long names for lenses!). First impressions are that it is a fabulous lens. I need to learn how to get the best out of it as do all photographers with new bits of kit. I wanted to focus on her hands manipulating the laser transfers she uses to add detail to her paintings. It’s an unusual process whereby she paints the background and some detail in acrylic before adding the transfer photos over the paint layer. it allows her to not only add detail but also a sort of texture by using small sections of foliage, trees and stone. I have a potential commission from another artist who has seen my work on social media. It will be my first of this type and hopefully not the last!

‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’ is the ancient Chinese proverb and it appears to be so in my case. It has taken me 40 years to arrive at that first step but it’s exciting too. I do plan to do some more studio work with local artists once I know I can replicate the results from the other day. I gave a talk a few weeks ago to photography group. Little by little, I am gradually picking up tiny bits of work. Hopefully, these will create momentum and increase sales of prints. It is incredibly tough to sell prints at the moment unless you’re a well established and highly visible photographer. It is tough for all creatives at the moment what with the fallout from Covid, the cost of living crisis in the UK and general financial insecurity. Art is seen as a luxury, an indulgence. I believe art is essential to help those who don’t create, have a little bit of joy in their lives. We work to not only pay bills but to obtain things that make our lives a little more bearable.

Wish me luck on my first assignment and I hope it is the first of many more!

Kates website is kateboyce.co.uk

Out of Hibernation

Winter tends to feel like a long season. Longer than others given the temperatures, the absence of daylight hours and the incessant rain. In winter, most plants go into a period of hibernation. We need these cold months to enable germination of seeds dropped from the previous year. They allow new growth to appear and carry on the cycle of life. Trees shed their leaves in autumn in order to prepare for the long cold winter months. They preserve their energy in order to resume when the temperatures increase and available light is more plentiful. Now I guess you probably all know these facts about the life cycle of plants.

People adjust to winter as well. We behave differently because of the weather and light conditions. Many photographers relish the low sun and the bare trees. I love taking photos in winter and not just of snow or frost. Spring is and always has been a welcome relief for me but a tricky season to take photos in. I love blossom. new growth, longer daylight hours but it is an unpredictable season. I feel as if I should be doing more, of feeling renewed but this doesn’t always follow. I’m a complex kind of guy, you could say contrary. I love photography and everything surrounding it. I have learned and hopefully improved over recent years but am left with the nagging feeling of having left it all a little late in life. This feeling won’t stop me pursuing my passion and career but it is as if I am playing catch up and to much younger photographers.

All the photos featured in this post are shot in or around Hebden Bridge. It has been my permanent home for a couple of years and it is a good place to live. The artistic community is vibrant and allows me the opportunity to join in with my work. Times are tough for freelance artists, makers, creatives at present. Finances are stretched and people are prioritising basic needs above art. I have an exhibition on at Old Town Post Office currently and I love showing my work to the general public. I could have sold more, have had more at my private viewing but I am grateful to Sarah for giving me the opportunity to show my work. I am participating in the town’s Open Studios this year and have another exhibition with my photographer friend Will booked for early September.

I see my current exhibition as part of my emergence from a creative hibernation. I should be out more often, taking photographs. I should be pushing my work and offering my professional services to small businesses. I should be doing all these things but I am not. That’s not to say I don’t intend to. I am in that place that most burgeoning professional artists find themselves of not quite believing it’s all worth it. The photography I love, the resultant prints look beautiful even if the images aren’t Magnum Photos calibre. I find it hard to say what type of photographer I actually am which is difficult in this age. We like pigeon holes, categories, niches to place people in. Customers, other creatives want to know what you are in one sentence. Long explanations can be pretentious or misleading. They give the listener/reader a sense of uncertainty in the artist or worse, a feeling that to be pigeon holed is to stifle their creativity.

When people ask what sort of photographer I am, I know what sort I am not more than what I am. There you see, he is being vague so he’s either pretentious or amateur. The best description I can come up with is an ‘outdoor and documentary photographer’. I remember trying to write mission statements in my previous career and struggling with it. I know I am not currently a studio portrait, full time landscape, sports, photojournalist photographer. I do all the bits left after those are taken up. Going back to hibernation and emerging from it; I guess I need to be more business like, more goal oriented. I need to set up future work, plan future projects. I just have to believe that striving will produce results. I am not alone in that I’m fully aware. I have no intention giving up and saving myself the effort. I have spent 40 years trying to find a job I love and I am not about to give up!