Camera Club Talks

These ‘Zoom’ presentations will offer something a bit different, from a photographer based in Morocco, immersed in the light, culture and landscapes of the region.

 

Specialising in portraiture and landscapes using film and digital, I’ve covered many angles in finding strategies to produce visually striking imagery.

 

I will be offering a choice of two camera club talks (2 x 40 mins for each). The first is on new ways of photographing the same location, developing projects and evolving your work. The second talk is about how to approach specific landscapes and people who you are visiting and experiencing for the first time.

Both presentations will feature my own photography with references to other relevant photographic work from notable photographers and include:

 

The decisions that inform the choice of aesthetics and approach.

Planning before arrival and on location.

Techniques with reference to lens choice and camera set-up.

Processing and sequencing, which I feel is especially important but undervalued.

 

ABOUT ME:

I’ve been talking about photos since I qualified as a lecturer in 1998 and have been teaching photography to adult leaners for over 10 years, reviewing and sequencing their images.

 

 

These are some of the magazines that have published my work:

• Landscape stories
• New landscape magazine
• On landscape
• Dodho
• The Eye of Photography

 

I have also written articles for:

• Picture Correct
• The Phoblographer 
• Luminous Landscape
• PetaPixel
• On landscape

 

CLUB TALK 1

 

First 40 mins – NEW WAYS OF REPRESENTING A FAMILIAR LOCATION

This is about making pictures of natural landscapes close to where you live, that you can return to through the years making distinctive and evolving imagery that engages your creativity.

There is potential all around us, we just need to refresh our ways of looking from time to time. For this talk I will present different visual approaches to the same small section of forest in Morocco, I have been photographing for the past five years. Each of image sets reveals a different location aspect and uses distinctive technical and visual approaches.

The talk is designed to leave the audience with a renewed interest in fully exploring a small area close to them.

 

 

The talk will cover:

• A brief overview of historical and contemporary local small scale projects.
• The best examples of intimate photography.
• My thought processes behind each set.
• The resulting books produced.

 

Second 40 mins – IN CELEBRATION OF PROJECTS

 

Projects work for a number of reasons, but the main standout is being able to make a location or theme your own by revealing its diversity. Gathering images over a longer period of time allows the photographer to see beyond the superficial and include seasonal changes that add shade and light to the series. With less pressure to quickly garner a haul of images, you can use downtime to reflect on and sequence your imagery. The presentation will include images of dunes, lagoons and man altered landscapes.

 

 

The talk will cover:

• Initially how to go about choosing a project.
• Setting project boundaries.
• Balancing concept with the freedom to freely explore and create.
• The importance of visual consistency versus including variety.
• Sequencing, finalising and presentation of your images.

 

CLUB TALK 2

 

First 40 mins – SHOOTING A LANDSCAPE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO GET GREAT IMAGES

For this I will be showcasing my landscapes from Morocco, Spain and Switzerland. Taken in 2016 & 2017, the images focus on more intimate views of river valleys, waterfalls, forests and coastline.

The first part will look at how I set about to photograph Andalusia from initially researching on Google to making a book. The decisions I took on what not to photograph and how used my influences to push me to make better work. Both imagery from Spain and Morocco will present a variety of different locations and my approach to realising each using on location review shape the work.

The presentation will provide a checklist for club photographers to use on location to go about getting high quality work from a first time visit.

 

The talk will cover:

• Balancing planning whilst keeping an open mind.
• Technical approaches.
• Adjusting your approach to suit conditions.
• Compositional strategies.
• Sequencing your work.

 

Second 40 mins – MAKING PORTRAITS OF STRANGERS

Capturing standout location portraits is perhaps one of the most challenging areas of photography but a highly rewarding one when accomplished well.

For this 45 min. talk I will present my images of nomads in the High Atlas taken across two trips in 2017 as well as photographs made whilst traveling around Morocco. Found portraiture as opposed to studio work is really about thinking on your feet when working with lighting, background, pose and message. The history of portrait photography follows our very move especially when we raise the camera to capture someone from another culture. Understanding how to represent someone faithfully but with photographic charm is a dance of interpersonal skills and technique.

 

The talk will cover:

• Choosing and approaching subjects.
• Strategies for establishing a rapport.
• Technical approaches.
• How different lighting conditions affect the message.

 

Both talks include a Q&A session afterwards.

Here is a sample PDF for these camera club talks and a link to a recent talk itinerary for Oxford Photo Society.  Please contact me for availability and fee.