Welshot Focus - Issue 1 - January 2017

member FOCUS
MEMBER SINCE: 4th APRIl 2009
ACADEMY EVENING:
CHESTER ACADEMY EVENING –
Crowne Plaza
BUSINESS & BLOGGERS ACADEMY EVENING –
Chester Crowne Plaza
POST PROCESSING ACADEMY EVENING –
Chester Crowne Plaza
FAVOURITE GENRE: FASHION AND PORTRAIT
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
Tim Charlesworth
Hey Tim, you’ve been a Member of Welshot since
the very beginning – you attended our VERY first
Open Day which are now called our SnapShot Days,
what was your first thought when you walked in
the door?
Lots and lots of people, I was very nervous and it had been
difficult to get parked so I was running late. Luckily I got
talking to another delegate and felt more comfortable. Then
it all began and found myself watching Will Cheung in the
lecture room on studio shooting - he was known to me via
magazines and I was a bit starry eyed.
After the SnapShot Day – you started coming to Academy
Evenings on a very regular basis, would you say this was the
best way to get the most from your Membership and if so, why?
The academy evenings are a good way to get to know
people, I have made many good mates via Welshot.
Academy evenings are a great way of getting to know
your camera and how it works. This will lead into gaining
confidence and the going on the full day events.
What is the biggest single thing you’ve learnt within your own
photography over the last 8 years?
To be yourself and to take your time. You may end up
venturing into genres that you hadn’t even thought that you
would like. (See later on in this article)
We know you love Fashion and Portraiture, both in a Lifestyle
and Studio environment and you are obviously confident and
very capable of organising your own shoots, from conception
to completion with stunning results – what would you say to
someone who was just starting out on their journey.
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Learn your camera settings inside out and how to shoot this
style. This is most important.
Take inspiration from sources other than photo magazines,
such as fashion magazines, Sunday papers, follow others on
social media. Analyse images for lighting and composition
and overall style and try to recognise/develop your own style.
It won’t be immediately obvious but will develop over time,
and continue to develop, it will never end. And if you want to
plan a shoot, give yourself time, plan locations and style, it
doesn’t come “all on the day”
And don’t think that the more expensive camera will give
better results, it won’t, it’s just a box of electrics, the person
dialing in the settings and composing the image will only get
better results in the first instance. If you want to move on with
“kit”, firstly think about lenses
Above all have fun, laugh a lot
Were you scared at talking to models and asking them to pose
when you first started out at Welshot?
I wasn’t scared at all, I was terrified, and many other people
have said this to me. However this is normal and as time
progresses you will be more comfortable, but the nerves for
me are always there in some way even when you are shooting
with models you know. To me that’s a good thing as it will
show that you care about the models and images you are
getting.
Do you think it is important to learn, or at least try, other genres
of photography?
Very much so, this will help you learn your camera and how
to use it. And like me who never even thought of fashion/
portraiture when I started, it may take to areas of photography
that you will enjoy.
What other genres of photography do you like?
Land/seascapes, especially when you can be experimental
with using filters to get good effects
We know you’ve spent a lot of time doing Street Photography
and indeed, you’ve got quite a story behind the image that is
now being exhibited at Venue Cymru in Llandudno – can you tell
us how that came about and what happened because of you
taking that picture.
The Jaques Verts image came about towards the end of my
first street photography day with Mark Scholey, and as have
many other member have commented, that day was a game
changer for me and others. I was sat on the wall behind M&S
in Manchester with Ade Wilson, when what looked like a
mother and daughter with dad trailing behind came walking
across with Jaques Verts bags.
I had learnt to shoot with a wide angle lens, pre-focused with
1600 ISO using a remote release, as they came into shot I
took the image. The image that is on display has been edited
and levelled in LR ( more skills learnt and Welshot ) to make
it as it is. The image was offered to Jaques Verts who were
very interested but as no model release was available they
couldn’t take it.
Where else has, your photography taken you to, have you been
asked to photograph anything special?
I did a charity event for a friend and some work for my
Mums Church. I have also been published in Advanced
Photographer and provided promotional images for my local
pub. I have also photographed Lady Captains day at a golf
club. I have also photographed a couple of fashion designers
friends work along with my good mate Tracy Edwards.
Do you print your work? Have you ever had a book of all your
images put together?
I always provide printed images for models I have personally
photographed. I had an exhibition a few years back and have
made a book of my favourite images that sits on the coffee
table at home.
You are now a very well-known Member within the Welshot
community – how important is it for you to interact with fellow
Welshotters?
This is very important to me, in-fact more important than
taking images on an event. I like to go for the chat and the
friendship it brings, both in person and online.
Finally – what is your most treasured image, we would love to
see it…
My most treasured image, not sure, but the one of Jaime and
Georgia on the street style event Tracy and I organised with
the girls probably is, as it is a fashion image with a street style
emphasis. A large canvas of the image now hangs in their
Mum and Dads house. They sent me a lovely note to thank
me for the image when I sent it over to them.
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