The World Above

I first caught the Photographic bug whilst serving in the forces out in Aden in 1965. My first camera was a Practika and later, I purchased two Pentax Spotmatic 1000s, together with a selection of lenses. I was very fortunate to have the full use of the unit darkroom with all the facilities, so I quickly learned the art of B/W processing and printing. Before leaving Aden, I made a further purchase of two Mamiya C330 medium format cameras and, posted to Germany in 1967, I was able to further develop my photographic skills when covering military events.
Posted for my last two years to Colchester in 1973, I joined the local camera club, the Colchester Photographic Society, and have now been a member for 40 years. In the mid-70s, I became heavily involved in the increasingly popular production of Slide Tape Sequences, (known as Audio-Visual, A-V or as Diaporamas on the continent). My club was one of the first in the EAF to set up an A-V group and, as Chairman, I organised an annual show to the public, later running a regional event, which then led to involvement in the organisation of several RPS International A-V Festivals and later the PAGB National A-V Championships.
During this time I gained my Associateship of the RPS, and also of the BIPP, as I had by now set up my business as a Professional Wedding and Portrait Photographer, which lasted 24 years until my retirement. Pressures of the business led to my giving up A-V, although I continued to serve on my club’s committee in a variety of roles. I am currently in my third term as President and for the past 10 years I have held the job of External Competition Secretary. I always attend most external competitions, which helps keep me keep abreast of current trends in photography.
Over the years I have used many equipment systems, including Olympus OM1s and OM2s and Leica R8s. My professional cameras were Bronica SQA’s and SQAi’s, but my current equipment is Canon 7D, with a selection of lenses.
I began judging local club competitions in the mid-1980s. My federation (The East Anglian Federation of Photographic Societies) ran judges’ workshops where you could get training and after my first course I was invited to join the ‘C’ panel of judges, subsequently being promoted up to the ‘A’ panel. I travel around East Anglia, judging club, inter-club and exhibition work, and have also sat on the selection panels for Championships and International A-V Festivals, both in the UK and abroad. I enjoy judging and the chance to see other photographers’ work in a competitive environment. I enjoy all genres of photography and do not specialise in any particular area in my own work, so can appreciate a wide variety of photographic expression, from the traditional to the highly creative.
In February 2013, I was elected to the Executive of the EAF as PAGB Awards Officer, my role being to promote the PAGB distinctions around East Anglia. I organised an advisory day in September, resulting in a wave of applications from members of EAF clubs to try for distinctions. Anyone else who wishes to apply for these can contact me. Three levels are available, ‘C’ Credit – equal to good club photography, ‘D’ Distinction – equal to open exhibition standard and ‘M’ – the highest standard of UK amateur photography. This role is an enjoyable new challenge.