Perrans Above

Cornwall ,s Aerial Photography Collective

As Cornwall’s photographers take to the skies more than ever, a collective of aerial pioneers have come together in an online gallery that showcases the very best of Cornwall from above.

Perranporth By Jamie Turnbull

Perrans Above is the latest online gallery that is championing Cornwall’s daring photographers. Inspired by the legendary tale of St Piran’s arrival on the shores of Perranporth, the name plays on the phrase ‘heavens above’ and looks to encapsulate the essence of discovery. Founded by photographer Jamie Turnbull, what started as a solo project soon turned into a collective effort to bring the works of Cornwall’s regional photographers together in one place.

“When it comes to photography, we mostly work alone. When I had the idea to open the gallery to others, I only knew one other aerial photographer. I had no idea that there were so many phenomenally talented aerial photographers in Cornwall – some of whom have worked on big projects all over the world.”

Amidst the pandemic, Jamie had found the opportunity to experiment with aerial photography and build an online gallery for his work with the aim of manufacturing it locally and delivering worldwide. However, upon finishing the gallery, he saw an opportunity to promote aerial photographs of Cornwall worldwide and that others could be part of it. Now, 10 photographers, each with their own distinctive styles, can be found at Perrans Above showcasing their work from across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. For such a solitary profession, the gallery has allowed the photographers to share ideas and feedback all whilst aiming to bring the diverse scenery of Cornwall, alongside its cultural and historical monuments, to a wider audience, captured in fresh, unique ways. For many of the Perrans Above photographers, presenting Cornwall in the novel style of aerial photography allows viewers to get a perspective of Cornwall’s sites, both unappreciated and popular, rarely seen before.

“I usually shoot coastal shots,” describes photographer Carl Brightman, “but due to the lockdowns I’ve had time to explore the moors, which is my local area. I’ve really enjoyed capturing the countryside in and around Bodmin Moor... I’ve been scouting a few new locations since, and definitely want to capture a sunrise over Boscastle and Rough Tor.”

Photographer Duncan Scobie hails from west Cornwall and trained as a professional drone pilot for five years. His passion for capturing the landscape and coastline has stretched across various mediums, from canvas to film and now more recently, from above.

“My most challenging shoot was definitely Wolf Rock Lighthouse,” says Duncan. “I fully anticipated losing the drone as launching from a sailboat is fraught with difficulties such as rigging, magnetic interference and the movement of the boat. It was seat of the pants stuff!”

As one of Perrans Above’s most southerly photographers, Gareth Tibbs moved to the Isles of Scilly 10 years ago and picked up his first drone in 2014. Having grown up in Cornwall, Gareth’s passion for photography came as a pastime hobby when conditions for water-sports were unsuitable, something that came in handy

Pendennis Castle By Charlie Newlands

after studying Marine Environmental Science, as the two now regularly go hand in hand as Gareth now specialises in aerial and underwater drone work.

“Even though most of my flying is around the Isles of Scilly, the constantly changing light and colours always amazes me,” describes Gareth. “There are so many hidden gems here on Scilly, but I love Bishop Rock Lighthouse. At sunrise the islands form a great backdrop…Luckily I don’t think I need to worry too much about this spot becoming over-crowded.”

This past year, Gareth was treated to an extra special aerial photography experience, “The humpback whale we had around the Isles of Scilly for a couple of months over the winter was, without a doubt, what I enjoyed capturing most this past year. Seeing it from the air, you get to appreciate its scale so much more.”

As a ‘golden hour’ photographer, Jamie can typically be found out and about just after dawn and just before sunset, capturing the low angle of the sun and the atmospheric highlights and shadows. From a PhD. in philosophy and a post-doctoral position in the USA, to a career in digital marketing, it wasn’t until 2018 when Jamie bought his first drone and looked to take his amateur photography to a professional level. With the creation of Perrans Above, Jamie has now opened up the world of Cornwall’s aerial photographers to others. Whether visitors to the online gallery are eager to explore individual artists, or areas, they can view a range of perspectives across Cornwall: from panoramas across a busy dawn at Falmouth estuary and Padstow Lifeboat Station from above, to more abstract pieces that capture the artistry of the shorelines and shallow waters of the coastline. Prints are available framed and mounted in a range of sizes.

“I think it’s [the gallery] great,” says Carl, “as when you see the other members work, it’s really inspiring and gives you the drive to get out and capture something equally inspiring. We also give each other help and advice.” adds Charlie Newland, a fellow Perrans Above member, “and speaking to other photographers about their techniques and what equipment they are using, as well as seeing the excellent work that’s produced.” As well as finding a beautiful photographic piece for the home, the gallery is also capturing parts of Cornwall rarely photographed and have new projects lined up this year already, “We’re always open to ideas for new locations to shoot,” explains Jamie, “...many of us can be commissioned for photography and videography projects across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

“We’re currently working on collecting images for Truro, Bude and the St Austell area. We also have two new products that we’re working on. The first is making images available as canvases, and the second is a range of greeting cards. They should both be available from the website in the very near future.” l

Discover more about the Perrans Above photographers and see their stunning collections at www.perransabove.co.uk