PRISMA Issue 15

EditorialArticle OrientingYourself ThroughPhotography by:KaileeParsons

INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF PRISMA

Editor-In-Chief: Louise Anderbjörk & Tristan Sharman

Australian Birds: First discovering an interest in photography by entering a school competition, Ruhulameen Sheikh now captures images of Australian diverse bird life, sharing the little known species

Model Boat Club: Caroline Vining discusses an October morning spent with the Scottish Fisheries Museum Model Boat Club, learning about the maritime history of Fife and the rich personal histories of its members.

Unlocking New Perspectives: Using drones has allowed Bragi Thor to pursue brand new perspectives and angles in his photography, creating new compositions with varying light and shadow, depth, and drama.

Long Exposure: Dr Simon Powis explains some of the techniques for taking modern day long exposure photography, and how it can become a form of relaxation in today’s fast paced culture. Issue 15 - 30 April 2024

Night Skies: Don Cardy combined his passions for outdoor adventure and space by taking up astrophotography in North Wales. He hopes to inspire a better appreciation of the ‘natural world and heavens above us’.

Longing for Spring: Emilia Gillette explores the German landscape that her grandfather grew up in using photography. She shares her wonder at this luscious green landscape, and looks forward the spring’s return

Editor-in-Chief-LouiseAnderbjörk

Editor-in-Chief-TristanSharman

DeputyEditor-in-Chief-EleanorReid

EditorialEditor-AlexandraGodfrey

PhotographyEditor-KaileeParsons

PhotographyEditor-MaggieZhu

CopyEditor-RosieLeeson

LayoutEditor-EllaWong

WebEditor-IainCunningham

MediaManager-LucileBelorgey

editor@prismamagazine.co.uk

Photo:RuhulameenSheikh

Photo:BragiThor

Photo:DonCardy

Photo:CarolineVining

Photo: SimonPowis

Photo: EmiliaGillette

Photo: Hilde Christensen

ORIENTING THROUGH PHOTOS

EditorialEditor: Alexandra Godfrey

KAILEE PARSONS

Dear readers,

After four and a half years at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, studying English Literature and joining the PRISMA team as Photography Editor, my partner and I decided to move to Edinburgh. The first week of January, I stepped off the train with just a suitcase and walked for ten minutes to our new flat He was waiting there with our cat, having travelled down early to set up gas and electricity, and I set out to deep clean our house for the last time. I had visited Edinburgh many times as a tourist, having lived just 90 minutes away by train, but I knew the city would look different through the eyes of a local Practically, I hoped I would gain a deeper understanding of its geography I would no longer have to double check Maps to find my way around, and I would know where the best cafes were located and which alleyways to avoid. On a deeper level, however, I wanted to get to know Edinburgh like I knew St Andrews, or the town where I grew up. I wanted it to feel like home. To that end, I made it my mission on weekends to explore new neighbourhoods, and to orient myself within Edinburgh I started in my own neighbourhood, branching out, until I found myself exploring the other side of the city. I discovered that one of my favourite things about Edinburgh is that it is extremely walkable. As a bonus, I often brought my camera along to document what I saw. Although I love photography, and often use a camera for work (alongside my role at PRISMA, I work in digital marketing), the truth is that I hadn’t touched my personal camera in weeks, having precious little time and motivation around the festive period to set aside for purely creative purposes. However, with my weekends now free and most of Edinburgh yet to be explored, it seemed like the perfect time to reinvest in my photography As it turns out, exploring Edinburgh with a camera has infinite perks Because I was keeping my eyes peeled for a good shot, I noticed beauty in my surroundings that I might have missed otherwise. I visited tourist attractions, hidden gems, regular neighbourhoods, and even looked for shots within my own flat I jotted down places I wanted to revisit, at different times of the day, week, or year, to see how the image in my viewfinder changed A change of weather (always on the cards in Edinburgh where the weather changes several times per day) could make a shot look

completely different. Additionally, I pushed myself to walk that little bit further, to venture into new neighbourhoods for the sake of discovering something beautiful there that I could photograph Although exercise and fresh air are reasons enough to get out and about, the act of photography is the thing that often pushes me out the door. At the end of a long day of walking and getting lost, coming back home to upload and edit photos on my laptop feels like a joyful reward I revisit all the places I have been, remembering the day and committing it to memory While I try not to overdo the editing, I allow myself to be led by the memories and feelings of the day as I tweak things like exposure and tone. My goal with a picture is always to make it communicate how it looked and felt in real life, in the moment As I have written about before in PRISMA, one of my favourite things about photography is that it allows us to freeze a moment as we experienced it; another is that it allows us to see life from a new perspective. Whether you need to orient yourself within a new space or simply reimagine the scenery you see every day, I encourage you to get outside and bring your camera with you when you do

Photo:KaileeParsons

Exploringnew neighbourhoods

Photo: Kailee Parsons

Issue 15 - 30 April 2024

BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA

PhotographyEditor:Kailee Parsons

RUHULAMEEN SHEIKH

My photography journey began with a school photography competition in October 2023 The topic was birds and wildlife on Dharug Country in Spring, and I won Cockatoo week! From that day on, I began to see the potential of photography as a hobby. It was very strange, for whilst I was aware of photography, I had never paid much thought to it Suddenly here I was, imagining all the possibilities that came with capturing images of birds After exploring social media and doing research, I found out that not many people know of Australia’s unique and diverse bird life. I decided this would be the focus of my work, to share the species of Australia that were usually otherwise unheard of. I have always been a huge fan of birds, and after living in the Blue Mountains for a couple of years, I have befriended a few of the birds that visit my garden I can recognise individual Crimson Rosellas, from their flocks of 20 that come to feast on the native plants, and although Brown Cuckoo Doves are hard to tell apart based on appearance, I have been able to recognise a few based on their patterns of behaviour. As soon as I started taking photos, my hard disk began to fill quickly, with photos of the charismatic Crimson Rosellas, timid Brown Cuckoo Doves, territorial yet sweet magpies, family centred King Parrots, brave Grey Butcherbirds, Honeyeaters and Bowerbirds, just from my garden alone. I even got a photo of the majestic and awe-inspiring Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo, feasting on pinecones during my holiday to Batemans Bay. I was ecstatic to achieve that personal goal My next aim is to capture a Gang-Gang Cockatoo, so watch this space!

Photo:RuhulameenSheikh

Photo:RuhulameenSheikh

Photo:RuhulameenSheikh

Photo: Ruhulameen Sheikh

UNLOCKING NEW PERSPECTIVES

PhotographyEditor:Kailee Parsons

BRAGI THOR

Embarking on the journey of incorporating a drone into my photography marked a revolutionary shift in my perspective and creative approach This new ability to explore the world from the sky provided me with an array of innovative angles that had been inaccessible before. Originally, I purchased a drone for my wedding work, which I thought could enhance my vision and give me new perspectives. However, I quickly realised that, on a personal level, a drone allowed me to document my environment in ways that were previously unimaginable It became a tool for self-expression, offering a bird's-eye view of my experiences and the world around me. The shift from traditional ground-level shots to aerial perspectives brought about a profound evolution in my creative approach. The drone offered a unique vantage point, enabling me to showcase the world in a way that was both novel and captivating, revealing intricate patterns and textures that were invisible from the ground I discovered the beauty of abstract aerial photography, creating visual narratives that transcended the boundaries of traditional photography. The dynamic interplay of light and shadow, coupled with the ability to shoot from varying altitudes, added a layer of depth and drama to my images that was previously unattainable In essence, the introduction of a drone into my photographic toolkit not only elevated the quality of my work but also redefined my understanding of visual storytelling. It unlocked a realm of possibilities, enabling me to capture the world in ways that were once restricted to my imagination.

Photo:BragiThor

Photo:BragiThor

Photo:BragiThor

Abird’seye view

Photo: Bragi Thor

THE NIGHT SKY OVER WALES

PhotographyEditor:

Kailee Parsons

DON CARDY

Having moved to Anglesey, on the northwest tip of Wales, some 20 years ago now, I was immediately taken with the beauty of the landscapes and diversity of the fauna Another bonus was the location’s proximity to Snowdonia (now Eryri) National Park. Being surrounded by this abundant natural beauty inspired me to take up photography, to capture and share this experience with others. Anyone taking up photography knows it is a steep learning curve, however the benefits massively outweigh the pitfalls It was the unrivalled dark skies offered in these parts which drove what has become my main passion in photography: astrophotography This is the art of capturing the night sky, which offers its own specific challenges over other forms of photography. My main interest was capturing the Milky Way, and more specifically the interesting and varied features offered by its Galactic Core I also wanted to photograph the Milky Way with a variety of interesting foregrounds, but this had to be in a place where little or no light pollution existed. Research therefore became an essential part of my hobby, whether it was planning composition, moon phases, time of year (for the correct positioning of the stars), and of course weather (clear skies required!). Photography has therefore taken me to places I would otherwise never have visited, and also given me a greater appreciation of the natural world and heavens above us As an outdoors person harbouring a passion for space, I hope my work inspires people to go out, explore, and really look at the natural world, whether it be on our own planet, or up in the vastness and beauty of the night sky.

Photo:DonCardy

Photo:DonCardy

Photo:DonCardy

Photo: Don Cardy

SCOTTISH MODEL BOAT CLUB

PhotographyEditor:Maggie Zhu

CAROLINE VINING

Once a week at the Cellardyke Tidal Pool in Fife, Scotland, various models of trawlers, steam drifters, battlecruisers and the like, zoom, chug, and sail as part of the Scottish Fisheries Museum Model Boat Club. I met six members of this club last October and they were generous enough to let me steer a few boats (which I promptly directed straight into the stone embankment by accident) and tell me more about the history of coastal Fife Four of the group were fishermen during the period when fishing was a booming industry in Fife, less than a generation ago. Today, fish stocks are greatly depleted, if not gone. “The likes of [trawlers] cleaned the sea,” said Jim. “The common market didn't help,” added another voice. Each model boat has a unique story to tell about those that sailed them For Charles, the Nimrod III is a model of the trawler he used to work on catching plaice and lemon sole in the North Sea The model of the HMS Invincible, or rather the not-so-invincible battlecruiser sunk at Jutland in WWI, is a nod to Jim’s love of history and his previous life as a schoolteacher. Colin, an engineer in his day-to-day life, repaired his model of a steam drifter, Twinkling Star, with the help of his wife who does the vinyl lettering for a few of the other models in the club Colin is now building his first model boat which will be named after his grandson. In every way, the model boats are a testament to the passion, artistry, and camaraderie of the members of the Scottish Fisheries Museum Model Boat Club and the rich maritime history of Fife

Photo:CarolineVining

Photo:CarolineVining

Photo: CarolineVining

Colinwith ‘TwinklingStar’

Photo: Caroline Vining

LONG EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY

PhotographyEditor:Maggie Zhu

DR SIMON POWIS

Long exposure photography is, of course, not new The original processes of Fox Talbot and Daguerre, invented in the 1800’s, required exposure times of tens of minutes to several hours, such was their low sensitivity to light. Not great either for any selfie-obsessed influencers back in those days. By comparison, a new Nikon D9 can take an image at 1/32,000 second, so things have moved on somewhat And yet long exposure photography is still a popular genre, with beautiful images produced by artists such as Michael Kenna and Josef Hoflehner, whose work I encourage you to seek out online or in books Nowadays, with digital cameras, it is also a far more accessible technique to try than when using film. Instant feedback for exposure times and composition helps immensely. You also don’t need expensive kit. Most basic digital cameras have shutter speeds up to 30 sec, which is fine, but bulb mode, where you can keep the shutter open for minutes, often works even better Then just two more things will have you set up and ready to go. Firstly, a tripod, and secondly, a neutral density filter of typically six or ten stops in strength to cut down the light reaching the sensor. These are available quite cheaply online in most filter sizes Subject matter is up to you, my own preference is for seascapes, reducing and simplifying (hopefully) a landscape to a few key elements The soft light of overcast days works best – luckily fairly frequent in Scotland. It is also a very slow way to make an image, which in today’s fast paced, on-demand culture, is a nice way to disengage from one world and instead re-engage with the actual environment in which you are standing

Photo:SimonPowis

Photo:SimonPowis

Photo:SimonPowis

Simplified seascapes

Photo: Simon Powis

LONGING FOR SPRING

PhotographyEditor:Maggie Zhu

EMILIA GILLETTE

While the slightly dreary winter weather and storms entice us students to say home under layers of blankets and hot chocolates, I find myself longing for the spring flowers to bloom. Last May, I was lucky enough to travel Germany with my older brother. Getting to visit the town in which my grandfather grew up, and walk the same cobbled stones as he did, provided some well needed closure after losing him in the autumn of 2020 While travelling across Germany, I was in awe of the German landscape I understood why my grandfather had been drawn to the green of northern Ontario, Canada There were many similarities between the two, such as the mixture of evergreens and deciduous trees. While in Bavaria, my brother and I also visited Neuschw Castle. While Neuschwanstein is known for inspi castle in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty and for the mys circumstances surrounding the death of its own Ludwig II, I knew it as the castle from the poste bedroom when I visited my grandfather. Desp torrential rain that flooded restaurants and the t overhead, visiting this castle and seeing the Germ was one of the highlights of our trip. Desp weather, I found wonder and awe, not just wit architecture, but also within the vibrant colours Bavarian landscape In the mist and fog, and stuffing my camera under my raincoat, I took s my favourite photos. I look forward to the soon t adventures once the snow in Ontario thaws. W weather is a powerful force, the people we are w the experiences we have matter a whole lot more

Photo:EmiliaGillette

Photo:EmiliaGillette

Photo:EmiliaGillette

Photo: Emilia Gillette

Hohenschwangau Castle

PRISMA PHOTO COMPETITION

It is our pleasure to congratulate the winner of PRISMA's April Photo Competition: LaluMuhammadHafidNaufal "“EmbracingSunset:ASymbolofPeaceonLombok'sEasternCoast”

Thank you to St Andrews’s Visualising Peace Project for helping us organise this special competition edition. To enter for your chance to be featured in our upcoming issue, submit a photo through the link on our social media!

Photo: Louise Anderbjörk

Cover art: Don Cardy