Virtual Meeting, 'An Evening with Les' - Tuesday 23rd February 2021.
On Tuesday 23rd February Morpeth Camera Club held a virtual meeting to welcome guest speaker Les Loosemore
ARPS AWPF DPAGB. Les, from Bridgend, South Wales is a former semi-professional footballer and referee and is a
judge and lecturer for the Welsh Photographic Federation, as well as being a Fotospeed sponsored photographer.
Predominantly a slide & print worker, with the onset of the pandemic Les has adapted his work to digital primarily
so that he can give his images a platform to a wider audience.
He opened the evening with a selection of Triptych panels, choosing to photograph one subject in three different
ways, including nature, studio shots, street performers, race days, farm machinery, church interiors, sport, Cardiff
Bay dockland and the abandoned site of Blaenavon. Asked whether he thinks in ‘3’s, he says that he thinks about
themes, panels and bodies of work over a wide subject matter to appeal to most of his audience, he considers ideas
in the hope that they will stimulate a response and will inspire his audience to try out for themselves. He plays with
graphic elements of a subject rather than the whole. Using symmetry he likes to create images with engineering
aspects, a good example of which are detailed angular shots of the London Eye, rather than of the whole construction.
Les then proceeded to show his sports photography in various competitive environments saying that his involvement
in professional football has allowed him to gain accreditation to matches played in the Football Leagues. Images of
iconic footballers, mid air shots, facial expressions of fans, mud covered rugby players, jockeys at the starting gate,
surfers skimming the waves and speedway riders, all of which depicted speed and drama.
An audio visual presentation of the Brecon Beacons in early winter followed, with skeletal trees emerging from bleak
diagonal hillsides, snow laden skies over frosty dry stone walls, rushes poking from sparkling snow, ice patterns and
reflections.
Les went on to show images of the abandoned lime works at Tranch Pyle, South Wales. On privately owned land, the
lime works has been left to the elements of nature with rusting and derelict equipment, dirty ponds, tracked dumpers,
silos, and abandoned log books. He commented that it was a blot on the landscape but a paradise for photographers
who at least can document industry long gone.
He was asked if he uses Photoshop to which he said that he simply adjusts contrast, curves, hue, saturation, levels
and cropping, adding that in his view photography is ‘making before taking’; he pre visualises before taking a shot,
and always uses either a tripod or monopod. He added that Photoshop won’t make a bad image good but can make
a good image better.
Winter landscapes followed, of snow laden hedgerows, fences and gates, and watery sun over wonderful, mysterious
hoar frosted trees. Images taken during Storm Brian, of amazing waves crashing over lighthouses and piers, light
through spray, scenes of raging turbulence of the sea, scenes, Les said, that only nature can produce. In complete
contrast we then saw life at the Kenya Railways workshops; dark images of workmen at glowing furnaces, welders,
turning presses, spare wheels, kitchen staff and workshop tools.
To conclude his presentation Les presented an audio visual set on Ewenny Priory Church. With no access to parts of
the church which are condemned, Les was commissioned to photograph the interior as a record for the parishioners
to view. Images of oak doors, spiral stone steps, tiles, vaulted ceilings and the bell tower provided an atmospheric
view of this old priory.
Les stated that photography offers a huge variety of subject matter, full of interest and challenge. It has become
a passion that provides enrichment and satisfaction from something that is so accessible to us all. We forget the
Seeing Eye; look 360 degrees and see what is around you. If your images please you then that is what matters.
Ignore the foibles and disciplines which photographic judges adhere to as guidelines. There is just one simple rule
to observe, and that is to enjoy your photography.
Club Chairman John Barnes thanked Les for providing us with a huge variety of images, many from a minimalistic
viewpoint.
Steph.
ARPS AWPF DPAGB. Les, from Bridgend, South Wales is a former semi-professional footballer and referee and is a
judge and lecturer for the Welsh Photographic Federation, as well as being a Fotospeed sponsored photographer.
Predominantly a slide & print worker, with the onset of the pandemic Les has adapted his work to digital primarily
so that he can give his images a platform to a wider audience.
He opened the evening with a selection of Triptych panels, choosing to photograph one subject in three different
ways, including nature, studio shots, street performers, race days, farm machinery, church interiors, sport, Cardiff
Bay dockland and the abandoned site of Blaenavon. Asked whether he thinks in ‘3’s, he says that he thinks about
themes, panels and bodies of work over a wide subject matter to appeal to most of his audience, he considers ideas
in the hope that they will stimulate a response and will inspire his audience to try out for themselves. He plays with
graphic elements of a subject rather than the whole. Using symmetry he likes to create images with engineering
aspects, a good example of which are detailed angular shots of the London Eye, rather than of the whole construction.
Les then proceeded to show his sports photography in various competitive environments saying that his involvement
in professional football has allowed him to gain accreditation to matches played in the Football Leagues. Images of
iconic footballers, mid air shots, facial expressions of fans, mud covered rugby players, jockeys at the starting gate,
surfers skimming the waves and speedway riders, all of which depicted speed and drama.
An audio visual presentation of the Brecon Beacons in early winter followed, with skeletal trees emerging from bleak
diagonal hillsides, snow laden skies over frosty dry stone walls, rushes poking from sparkling snow, ice patterns and
reflections.
Les went on to show images of the abandoned lime works at Tranch Pyle, South Wales. On privately owned land, the
lime works has been left to the elements of nature with rusting and derelict equipment, dirty ponds, tracked dumpers,
silos, and abandoned log books. He commented that it was a blot on the landscape but a paradise for photographers
who at least can document industry long gone.
He was asked if he uses Photoshop to which he said that he simply adjusts contrast, curves, hue, saturation, levels
and cropping, adding that in his view photography is ‘making before taking’; he pre visualises before taking a shot,
and always uses either a tripod or monopod. He added that Photoshop won’t make a bad image good but can make
a good image better.
Winter landscapes followed, of snow laden hedgerows, fences and gates, and watery sun over wonderful, mysterious
hoar frosted trees. Images taken during Storm Brian, of amazing waves crashing over lighthouses and piers, light
through spray, scenes of raging turbulence of the sea, scenes, Les said, that only nature can produce. In complete
contrast we then saw life at the Kenya Railways workshops; dark images of workmen at glowing furnaces, welders,
turning presses, spare wheels, kitchen staff and workshop tools.
To conclude his presentation Les presented an audio visual set on Ewenny Priory Church. With no access to parts of
the church which are condemned, Les was commissioned to photograph the interior as a record for the parishioners
to view. Images of oak doors, spiral stone steps, tiles, vaulted ceilings and the bell tower provided an atmospheric
view of this old priory.
Les stated that photography offers a huge variety of subject matter, full of interest and challenge. It has become
a passion that provides enrichment and satisfaction from something that is so accessible to us all. We forget the
Seeing Eye; look 360 degrees and see what is around you. If your images please you then that is what matters.
Ignore the foibles and disciplines which photographic judges adhere to as guidelines. There is just one simple rule
to observe, and that is to enjoy your photography.
Club Chairman John Barnes thanked Les for providing us with a huge variety of images, many from a minimalistic
viewpoint.
Steph.