FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

In 2013, you gained your ARPS. How did you approach the challenge of producing a cohesive panel of images?

Moving away from traditional flower photography, I wanted to create a panel of images that capture the hidden beauty that lies beneath the surface of a flower on its journey to decay. To record through the panel the subtle changes in colour and textures as the flowers dried out. I even experimented by placing the flowers in the microwave for several seconds (trying to avoid exploding flowers!), which enabled me to manipulate and twist them to fit my compositions. Using a tripod and extension tubes, my camera became my microscope into another world of shapes and forms.

You followed up your ARPS by gaining your Fellowship in 2015. How did you meet the challenge of creating a larger panel of work which satisfied the RPS requirements that “the photography produced should fulfil the creative vision of the photographer in expressing and sharing perceptions or emotions”. Having lived by the coast for a number of years, I was inspired to look at ways of conveying the ever changing interaction of sea and land in a creative way. The West Country provided plenty of opportunities for me to visit local harbours and fish markets and it was there that I was drawn to the colours and textures of the fish. I felt that some close-up areas of their bodies might prove interesting, but I wanted to explore further options. Using extension tubes and natural light, viewing the surface of a fish gave in parts an illusion of their environment, the sea, cliffs and the sea bed.

The panel developed over a period of two years and at times it was quite challenging trying to create the illusion of the coastal environment.

A successful fellowship, Where now? Have you any ideas or plans to develop your photography in other areas?

After a challenging two years to gain my fellowship I just went out with the camera with nothing in mind for quite a while. I did think of taking up the challenge of Photoshop but decided to give it a miss.

I have recently started to experiment with double exposure in camera. Not easy as you have to think about how the light, the colour and the shadows work together to form the image.

After visiting a Cornish cove with its colourful shale cliffs I decided to gather some of the shale that had fallen onto the beach and take it back home.

As the surface had dried out I used an old pastry brush dipped in water to bring the bright yellows, blues and brown colours back out again. This gave me the idea to experiment and to use the shale as a background.

I placed the shale onto a piece of card which I used as a turntable. This combined with found objects that I have collected over the years, shells, seaweed, driftwood and even skulls to say the least.

I have also used flowers from the garden, which I feel compliments the colours in the shale.

Where my photography takes me next does not really matter, I am just enjoying the journey.

Susan Hendrick www.susanhendrick.co.uk