Personal Profile _ Arnold Hubbard

       Arnold first became interested in photography during his service in the RAF. As Arnold says, imagine the scene - 1947 in an RAF billet, he and his friends pushed three beds together, draped them with blankets, they then crawled under the beds and watched in amazement as a friend developed a quarter plate negative using a little packet of Johnson's developer. This event caused Arnold to become interested in photography and had a profound effect upon him.

      The following year he was moved to the desert in Egypt and like many others before him he had a Box Brownie camera with which he took many pictures of aeroplanes, people and a few places, though the latter was dangerous, Arnold still has the photographs today. They were developed in the station darkroom on RAF paper in RAF chemicals so it must have been good stuff!

      Before he left Egypt in 1949 Arnold bought a "better camera" a Super Elgy, although he found it was totally useless, the camera even had its own size of film!

      Arnold became involved with club photography when he joined Sunderland P.A. in 1950. He left after one year, his love of many different kinds of sport was greater than photography in those days! But photography was not forgotten as he did hundreds of weddings, children and baby photography to support a growing family. Arnold was also in a postal portfolio so he did keep in touch.

      In 1970 when his knees gave up he went back to his one and only photography club Sunderland Photographic Association.

     During his time at Sunderland Photographic Association Arnold has held the post of President, he was Programme Secretary for fourteen years, and has been a committee member for thirty years. He is now Hon. Vice President.

      Arnold's photographic career has steadily developed since 1970. During the late 1970's he started to do some lecturing and judging. He gained ARPS, in 1980, followed by a very busy decade for him. He was a founder member of the Images Group and was invited to join Gamma Photoforum. Arnold was awarded AFIAP in 1985, followed by an award of EFIAP in 1988 (This was the first EFIAP in the North East). Arnold taught photography at evening classes. He gained his FRPS in 1993. Arnold has been an International Exhibiter in prints and slides from 1980 to the present time.

      Arnold has never used anything unusual, as he is not the person to be constantly changing his gear. He has used Mamiya medium format twin lens reflex cameras since 1969, but he has never had a single lens medium format camera.

      Arnold has always been interested in both slides and prints, but he is sad to see the current decline in slides. As most people realise, his very first love without a doubt, has always been mono prints. Arnold's main photographic interests are landscape, people, still life, infra-red, Lith printing and toning. He is very interested in his computer and especially in getting darkroom quality mono from it. Arnold's outstanding quality prints are well known worldwide.

      Arnold does not have any personal dislikes in photography.

      When the Editor asked Arnold about how important competitions are to him, he thought that it is a greatly discussed and controversial question. He admits to being very competitive indeed. Competitions can encourage people to take photographs, to improve their photography, to have something to aim for, to give a measure against other photographers. Arnold has tried his utmost to look at and attempt to understand all kinds of photography by visiting hundreds of exhibitions and lectures over the years. Being competitive helps as International and National exhibitions are still thriving as are club competitions in the majority of clubs. All photographers however must enjoy their photography in whatever way pleases them the most.

      The competition results which have given him the most satisfaction are;- One - A Japanese competition with 10,000 entries, 137 accepted images and he got one accepted. Two - Winning the Kentmere Awards Open section for professionals and amateurs.

      One of the most satisfying photographic moments for Arnold occurred one October day when he stood in Rydal Water in his wellies at 9.00 a.m. on a beautiful misty day, exposed a roll of 120 FP4 and on developing it he found that all twelve frames had a "black sun". He has asked all over the country and only found one other person who has experienced this effect - oh! and Ansel Adams did also. Prints of these were very successful. Another satisfying event was having a print of his requested for inclusion in the RPS Tyng Collection.

      He has always looked upon his Winter photography, Infra-red photography and lately his unfinished Lith printing as projects. Arnold feels that it is always a good idea to have a few projects, large or small in mind to help your photography along.

      Photography is Arnold's main interest and he manages to take some wonderful images. Although Arnold has no long term objectives he hopes to keep on enjoying his photography and finding out what to do with all of his prints stored in a wardrobe which he fitted out to retain them.

      Over the years there have been quite a number of unusual occurrences that have happened to Arnold. The story of the mistaken identity on Santorini which was published in the last edition of the Northern Region RPS Newsletter is one. Arnold also remembers the time he was photographing rocks on the seashore at Maryport and a chap leaning on the promenade railing shouted "Is it safe to swim in there?" Arnold's reply was "I do not know but it probably is" He then said "You should know, you are from Sellafield aren't you?" "No, I am not from Sellafield" Arnold replied. "Well what's that you have got there?". Arnold had his Mamiyaflex camera in his hands. "It is a camera" he said. "Oh" said the man and walked away!

Editor