HUGH MILSOM M.F.I.A.P. (Published Mar 2007)
The morning post - the usual big envelopes - probably bills or junk mail. But no - a request for a Celebrity (!!!!) Profile for the Northern Focus magazine.
Floods of nostalgia - it took me back to the start of my club photography at Newcastle PS in 1965. Back came the memories. My introduction to the darkroom was at school, where as Physics Laboratory monitor I was able to use the darkroom facilities at lunchtime. More serious attempts began after National Service but were banned by my mother after leaving chemical stains in the bath. So when we moved into our new home in Fawdon, my photography began in earnest.
The first years at Newcastle PS - what on earth did they mean by 'Print Quality' and what was good or bad composition ? I must have learnt something as I won the Intermediate section in prints in the second year and two years later came second in the Advanced section. I still didn't feel that I was getting adequate advice from the competitions and one of the members, Aynsley McDonald, suggested that I joined UPP - and in particular Circle 11. This was probably the major influence in those early years of photography and I was to remain a member for 26 years. During those years I became friends with a number of photographers who since have gained 'celebrity' status.
We left Newcastle for career reasons and came to Ware in 1969 - even at this time a prominent member, Don Morrison, earmarked me as going on to greater things.
What are the highlights of my photographic life? Every success is important in it's way. Winning the Intermediate trophy at Newcastle was just as pleasing as gaining an FRPS in 1980 – the goalposts just move along. There is the first gold medal, winning the PAGB Print Championships, gaining my MFIAP, getting my first book published. Also, there is the acknowledgement by one's peers - the invitation to join 'The London Salon' and 'The Arena Group'. Perhaps the pinnacle was to have a book on infra-red photography published and have it acknowledged as the definitive book on IR Photography. What lies ahead - will it be going ahead or looking back?
What are the influences in my photography? In a way it is life itself. Shortly after moving to Ware, my wife, Janet, was diagnosed with MS and a particularly difficult time followed. In many ways it can be seen in my photography - many prints being very dark and sombre while during easier spells they adopted a light airy style. Her disability has limited our travel and so most of my photography has been done in the UK. I love being in the landscape - in many ways it is an escape from the routine pressures. I have many favourite places and many memories - dawn on Rannoch Moor at minus 15 - early morning mist over Inch Strand - sunset from Laig Bay on the Isle of Eigg - the colours of the Harris beaches - snowstorms moving through the Cheviot Hills. Then closer to home there are the chalky downs near Royston and the mists over the marshes at Snape in Suffolk. Beyond the open landscape there is the intimate landscape - tiny little sections of rocks particularly in Northumberland - such beautiful subtle colours. Then there are the amazing sand patterns on the beaches of the Western Isles. Nature's beauty is all around us
I have always been known as a monochrome worker - I had a quick stab at colour in 1988 to try to get a few more points for my EFIAP. It was ironic that my first ever medal at an international was for a colour print - it was a shot of Janet in her wheelchair on the beach at Newton Bay in Northumberland - she complained bitterly that I took a long time, it was cold and the wheelchair was sinking in the sand. It was the computer that really changed my photography and turned me almost completely to colour - here was a tool that could give me the subtle pastel colours that I wanted - and on a consistent basis.
Having gained so much from photography, I have always tried to put something back. I was Treasurer at Newcastle PS, stints as President, Vice Chairman and Programme Secretary at Ware PS, members representative on the UPP Council, Secretary of North London Federation and Programme Secretary for Arena. Beyond this I have been lecturing and judging since 1980 - well over 500 lectures in this time and I am proud to have been a selector at the majority of British International and National Exhibitions. For the past nine years I have been running Landscape Workshops as it is good to be able pass on ones thoughts and enthusiasm to other people - but sadly this is coming to an end - age and health is not on my side.
So, photography has been kind to me and we both have made many friends and had some marvellous times. Celebrity status? - a much overused term these days - I always liked the icon of UPP - The Little Man.
Hugh Milsom