The Waters Edge with Tony Worobiec - Tuesday 27th November 2018.
On Tuesday 27th November, Tony Worobiec, a brilliant photographer and highly accomplished presenter, came
to Morpeth Camera Club with his presentation entitled, ‘The Waters Edge’. An author of 16 books, he studied
fine art at The University of Newcastle upon Tyne and spent 18 years as head of a large design faculty in Dorset.
A Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, his work has been exhibited in London’s Barbican Gallery, Bradford’s
National Museum of Photography, the Menier Gallery, London and the Talbot Museum, Lacock. Tony is a fine art
photographer with work in the permanent collection of the RPS, The Fox Talbot Museum and in numerous other
collections in the UK, Europe, Japan and The States.
©Tony Worobiec.
He opened the evening by saying that the Newcastle area is dear to his heart and that he had travelled to many
coastlines in this country and overseas but none can compare with the north east of England. From Alnwick to
Tynemouth he said, the variety of coastline in his view cannot be equalled. While displaying a wonderful selection
of his photographs he explained how he worked, the time of day or night and how he chooses to capture them.
He concentrates on taking photographs at dawn and dusk, and using the light he includes simple elements to
create minimalist seascapes. He said that at dawn the light enhances patterns made by sand ripples which are
pristine at this time of the day; he loves the gentle rhythm of the receding tide which leaves reflected light on
sand, and the beach at dusk where the source of light is blue producing a mysterious nocturnal hue. He said a
glimmer of light on the horizon reflected in the sea can provide a focal point in an otherwise minimalist pink and
grey seascape. Water is so reflective, he added, that it accentuates the rim light on rocks, adding that each beach
echoes the kind of rock indigenous to that area. We enjoyed examples of this with wonderful colourful gradations
of gold, grey and blue strata in rocks providing arabesque linea effects, and, with the inclusion of shining rock
pools each image is unique.
Minimalism is like Marmite he continued, but the secret is to get the elements right; a line of groynes, protruding
rocks or boat wrecks peeping out the water or one simple cloud adds a point of interest. His preferred placement
of the horizon in the middle and his use of a neutral density filter to erase movement in the water add serenity to
his scenes. Among his many beautiful images was a lighthouse on stilts emitting a glow of eerie light, stranded at
low tide on a massive beach which created a sense of openness, followed by a lido at high tide with protruding
railings radiating with light in subtle blues. There were images of piers at sunset in the rain with wet converging
boards and cast iron seats which reflected the glow from silhouetted Victorian lights, piers lit from below forming
eerie shadows and fire wreck skeletal piers in stark monotone against a pink setting sun. Tony went on to suggest
taking photographs with ones back to the light source; beach huts glowing below dark skies, rocks and sheer cliff
faces illuminated by the setting sun behind him were great examples of this technique.
Tony added that not all coastal scenes have to be romantic, coastal structures like groynes, bridges, wind turbines
and commercial ports have their place and add impact. Impoverished areas where the sea is dead, where patterns
are formed by scum or encrusted salt, can be barren but have their own beauty. Throughout the evening we were
treated to superb seascapes with a dreamlike, serene quality, interspersed with humorous anecdotes and useful
guidelines. Tony concluded by stating that no matter what the weather all light has value; be sure to experiment,
relax when walking along the beach and you will see more. The magic of the coastal photography is that every day
is different. Return often, look for new perspectives and remember there is always a unique moment to be captured.
The audience comprised not only of Morpeth Camera Club members but also of other photographic societies within
the area. Seasoned photographers, intermediary or beginners, they could not fail to be impressed by Tony’s stunning
images and his seamless and very informative commentary. Print Competition Secretary, Peter Downs, thanked Tony
for an excellent presentation before his photographs were displayed around the room for all to enjoy over refreshments.
Steph.
to Morpeth Camera Club with his presentation entitled, ‘The Waters Edge’. An author of 16 books, he studied
fine art at The University of Newcastle upon Tyne and spent 18 years as head of a large design faculty in Dorset.
A Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, his work has been exhibited in London’s Barbican Gallery, Bradford’s
National Museum of Photography, the Menier Gallery, London and the Talbot Museum, Lacock. Tony is a fine art
photographer with work in the permanent collection of the RPS, The Fox Talbot Museum and in numerous other
collections in the UK, Europe, Japan and The States.
©Tony Worobiec.
He opened the evening by saying that the Newcastle area is dear to his heart and that he had travelled to many
coastlines in this country and overseas but none can compare with the north east of England. From Alnwick to
Tynemouth he said, the variety of coastline in his view cannot be equalled. While displaying a wonderful selection
of his photographs he explained how he worked, the time of day or night and how he chooses to capture them.
He concentrates on taking photographs at dawn and dusk, and using the light he includes simple elements to
create minimalist seascapes. He said that at dawn the light enhances patterns made by sand ripples which are
pristine at this time of the day; he loves the gentle rhythm of the receding tide which leaves reflected light on
sand, and the beach at dusk where the source of light is blue producing a mysterious nocturnal hue. He said a
glimmer of light on the horizon reflected in the sea can provide a focal point in an otherwise minimalist pink and
grey seascape. Water is so reflective, he added, that it accentuates the rim light on rocks, adding that each beach
echoes the kind of rock indigenous to that area. We enjoyed examples of this with wonderful colourful gradations
of gold, grey and blue strata in rocks providing arabesque linea effects, and, with the inclusion of shining rock
pools each image is unique.
Minimalism is like Marmite he continued, but the secret is to get the elements right; a line of groynes, protruding
rocks or boat wrecks peeping out the water or one simple cloud adds a point of interest. His preferred placement
of the horizon in the middle and his use of a neutral density filter to erase movement in the water add serenity to
his scenes. Among his many beautiful images was a lighthouse on stilts emitting a glow of eerie light, stranded at
low tide on a massive beach which created a sense of openness, followed by a lido at high tide with protruding
railings radiating with light in subtle blues. There were images of piers at sunset in the rain with wet converging
boards and cast iron seats which reflected the glow from silhouetted Victorian lights, piers lit from below forming
eerie shadows and fire wreck skeletal piers in stark monotone against a pink setting sun. Tony went on to suggest
taking photographs with ones back to the light source; beach huts glowing below dark skies, rocks and sheer cliff
faces illuminated by the setting sun behind him were great examples of this technique.
Tony added that not all coastal scenes have to be romantic, coastal structures like groynes, bridges, wind turbines
and commercial ports have their place and add impact. Impoverished areas where the sea is dead, where patterns
are formed by scum or encrusted salt, can be barren but have their own beauty. Throughout the evening we were
treated to superb seascapes with a dreamlike, serene quality, interspersed with humorous anecdotes and useful
guidelines. Tony concluded by stating that no matter what the weather all light has value; be sure to experiment,
relax when walking along the beach and you will see more. The magic of the coastal photography is that every day
is different. Return often, look for new perspectives and remember there is always a unique moment to be captured.
The audience comprised not only of Morpeth Camera Club members but also of other photographic societies within
the area. Seasoned photographers, intermediary or beginners, they could not fail to be impressed by Tony’s stunning
images and his seamless and very informative commentary. Print Competition Secretary, Peter Downs, thanked Tony
for an excellent presentation before his photographs were displayed around the room for all to enjoy over refreshments.
Steph.