For as long as I can remember cameras and photography have had a place in my life, that sounds a bit odd these days when we all have a capable camera at hand, but as many of us remember, that wasn’t always the case.
As a child I spent a great deal of time with my Grandma, who always had a little 110 cartridge film camera to hand, perfect for removing heads in family portraits, but which brought her so much joy, and when I could get my hands on it, I could soon run through a cartridge or two exploring my surroundings, not once did she complain (or at least that I can remember). I can however (fondly and to little effect) remember being told off for using a whole roll of brand spanking new film on my dad’s 35mm, following a hedgehog around the garden.
I remember spending hours poring through old, bent and faded pictures that my Grandad sent home whilst in the Navy during the second world war. These pictures indelibly showed me the hard work of the sailors of the arctic conveys, breaking ice from the ship’s guns, clearing mines, in full on battle mode, but also the happier times playing around with friends, holding the ships dog; they captured my imagination completely and I can vividly remember them many years on.
Photographs can be incredibly powerful, not just illustrating a moment in time but providing a window to emotion for all to witness, yet left to the viewers understanding and interpretation, the viewer is able to create their own narrative understanding influenced by our individual life experiences.
As a teenager my dad bought me my first SLR, a second-hand Canon T90 with a bunch of lenses which I loved and dearly wish I still had, not that I’d probably use it, nowadays I’m firmly rooted in the digital age, but I hoard.
I guess that my photography probably hasn’t evolved all that much since those halcyon childhood days, yes in terms of the boring stuff like technical ability it probably has, but the things that motivate me are ever present, the need and pull to explore, to understand, to create.
I am often drawn to connections, connections in nature, between nature and humankind. I like to think that my photography reflects and explores that, sometimes overtly, often less so.
I am a believer in following our own creative paths, to let others do any labelling and endeavour to remain open to and often hopeful that new paths will emerge.
As I become more comfortable in who I am and what my interests and motivations are, I am increasingly willing to let my nose lead the way, preferring not to pre-conceive and just see what instinct gives me.
I don’t know my ultimate creative destination, in fact I hope that there isn’t one, that change and evolution are what is ultimately ahead.
Like the flowing of a river from its source to its ultimate destination takes many and varied routes, some turbulent, some gentle, routes that meander and changer over time; some come to an end and are cut off, yet will for a long time, in some way, mark the landscape, others take on a life of their own, grow and ultimately lead to endless possibilities, where tides mix and run free.
Photography is a passion, a way of gaining a deeper understanding of both the world and myself, it is a way of telling my story, of expression.
Dale