Interview With Welsh Photographer Graham Williams

AmeriCymru spoke to Graham Williams a  Welsh photographer based in Bangor, Gwynedd. Graham's ambition is to photograph the world starting with his own small part of it in North Wales.

AmeriCymru: Hi Graham and many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru. What sparked your interest in/and passion for photography?
 

Graham: Thanks for asking Ceri. To be honest it was actually quite an unrelated (perhaps superficial) aspect that attracted me to photography. It was the sheer sense of precision and weight of a Canon AV1 that my Dad bought in the 1980s.

This fascination then evolved over the years as a consequence of the places that I travelled to; whether that be on package holidays to Spain, R&R with the Royal Navy, cruise ships in the Caribbean, or an eco resort in Byron Bay in Australia. The one feature these experiences have in common is that I was unable to properly capture the sights, which is a real shame, as I remember when I was 8 plotting my travels of the world on the Reader's Digest World Atlas and planning at that time of writing 'my book of the world'. I can recall wind-swept tropical beaches in Ghana, feluccas sailing on the Nile at Aswan, and the sun setting at Venice- I haven't got a single photograph of these scenes! There's only one thing for it: go back with a camera. I also vividly recall the evening light in the Sahara desert as the red sand melded in with the red sky, simply amazing. The problem was that I was doing the Marathon des Sables at the time, which meant that there was absolutely no chance of taking a 3Kg camera around; I had even sawn my toothbrush in half to save weight. Again though, I definitely want to return to photograph the desert because it has such simple lines in the sand created by the wind, together with vibrant primary colours.

What really inspired me was the work of some Western Australian photographers. They managed to capture the colours and movement of the sea in an almost dream-like way. I then decided that I too would try my hand at it and I have the benefit of living in an area where there is so much more diversity of subject matter.

AmeriCymru: What are the main criteria that influence your choice of shots? What are your favourite photographic subjects?

Graham:  The main criteria are that the image should invite the viewer to 'want to be there' and that it is aspirational. I find that strong composition and simplicity go a long way to achieving this. I don't have a favourite subject as such but I have found that on reflection water plays a major part in the pictures that I chose to show. This may take the form of lakes, seascapes, rivers, waterfalls, or snow. What I'm really looking for in the ideal photograph is a nice strong curving form that draws you in. Curves can be found by watching the movement of things; swaying grass, or the way water moves across rocks for example.

Slipping Away

AmeriCymru: What are the main advantages for a photographer in being based in North Wales?

Graham: The eye-opening experience brought about by foreign travel has enabled me to see North Wales in a different light. In the Whitsunday Islands I jokingly remarked to someone that it was just like the Mawddach Estuary in Barmouth. Now OK I was definitely joking but there was a grain of truth running through that comment and it only really occurred to me some weeks later. On reflection, the couple from Manchester that I made the remark to knew exactly what I was talking about and the irony was that we had flown 10,000 miles and found a common thread, namely sand, turquoise water, and mountains.

I can get in the car and within half an hour be on a beach, in an forest, by a river, in woodland, beside a lake, in the mountains, among sand dunes, or on a rocky cliff. The only thing I can't arrange is 28 degrees C with the occasional cloud for artistic effect!

Mawddach

Whitsunday

AmeriCymru: Can you elaborate on your connection with Australia?

Graham:  I was born in North Wales and in 1973 we emigrated as £10 poms to Adelaide in South Australia. I started at the infants school there and started to speak 'Australian'. After a few years we returned to live in North Wales and then 32 years later, I returned there with my wife as we were considering emigrating and even visited my old house - a weird experience! Since then we have returned on four other occasions taking in places like Sydney, Hunter Valley, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Albany, Perth, Shark Bay, Margaret River, Whitsundays, the Daintree, and the Great Barrier Reef. Despite the horrendous exchange rate for us Poms (it gets worse on every visit), it's still definitely worth going there! Interestingly, most of the time photography is best done early or later in the day as this gives greater colour and shape. However, it can often be the case in Australia that 12 noon with a polarising filter is the best time, particularly in the northern parts. This is because a polarising filter will work in almost any direction that you chose to look when the sun is directly overhead.

Polarising Filter

AmeriCymru:  OK...the technical stuff. What is your favourite photographic equipment? What cameras do you use and why?

Graham:  In 1989 I worked in a camera shop in Cardiff and traded in my Nikon F401 for an F801 and thus began my brand alligience to Nikon. You tend to find this; once you become involved in one particular stable it becomes difficult to move away because you buy all sorts of extra pieces of kit that will only work with your brand. At that time I firmly believed that Nikon had the edge in terms of build quality. Due to the recession in 1990 I had to sell all my photography gear and it wasn't until 2010 that I reinvested in equipment and I suppose it was because of habit and the comfort factor that I bought back into Nikon once again. I bought a Nikon D5000. Some eight months later, as I result of people's comments, it became apparent that there was the potential to take things to a new level and so I took the plunge and went for an upgrade: a Nikon D3s. What I have found is that it is not the number of pixels that a camera has, it is how unique each pixel is able to be and this is very apparent with the new kit.

With regard to the 'digital dark room', I use a 27" iMac and Photoshop CS5. The Mac is callibrated and is the finest display I've seen so far. Whenever I send images for printing I use the printing company's ICC files and preview the image and adjust accordingly to ensure that the print is what I intended.

AmeriCymru:  How important a role do photographers play in creating and representing Wales image abroad?

Graham:  Things have now evolved to the stage where I believe the Internet can hold the key to the success of any business or even country; just look at what's happening in the middle east today. People read the internet differently from printed media; it takes them 25% longer to read it. They read out of sequence, they scan for hooks, headlines, and hyperlinks. The internet is a visual experience and it is therefore entirely logical that the value of a photographer has never been greater. When we speak of an image we can actually talk of two things; firstly there is the image in the traditional sense of a photograph, secondly there is the mental after-taste left in the viewers mind. The latter will have an effect on all manner of things from trade to culture to art. I believe the photographers' role has never been more important in this internet age- many people will know of Wales what we choose to show them. 2012 is going to be financially challenging for us all, so let's see if we can attract some of the Olympic visitors to Wales!

First Snow

Pensarn Turbines

Red Wharf Bay Morning

AmeriCymru:  Any major events coming up?

Graham:  I am really pleased to say that I've been invited to exhibit at Venue Cymru in Llandudno in 2013 Exhibition at Venue Cymru. I will be exhibiting between 1 May and 31 August. I am fortunate that photography is a passion, not a mortgage-paying enterprise and so we can develop things without worrying about sales figures or giving up the day jobs. This is great as the plan is just to get known currently.

AmeriCymru: Where can people go to view and purchase your work?

Graham:  Online at www.ImagesByGrahamWilliams.com We're also aware that many people want to see a printed image before buying, so we have also made a selection available at Electric Mountain visitor centre in Llanberis, North Wales. Hopefully, other outlets will follow later this year.

AmeriCymru: What's next for Graham Williams?

Graham:  I am really enjoying the photography and I'm learning all the time. We will be doing some more foreign travelling in 2012 although we haven't decided on where yet, somewhere in Europe and maybe the Canyonlands area, USA? In April 2013 we celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary so want to do something extra special. And then of course, there's the Venue Cymru Exhibition!

I intend to do everything I can to continue to promote North Wales positively. It really is a beautiful and diverse area which is often overlooked by Welsh, British and foreign travellers.

AmeriCymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?

Graham:  Continue to promote AmeriCymru to all your friends and family and participate openly and respectfully on the site.Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! Thank you for reading. Happy New Year!

Find more photos like this on Americymru

Interview by Ceri Shaw Google+ Email

An Interview With Alan Evans

Since joining Americymru Alan Evans has contributed many interesting and provocative discussions, video clips and photographs. Today we thought our members would like to learn more about him and his photography. We’ll have to leave his many other interests for a later discussion. Americymru: Were you always interested in photography? What other interests do you have? Alan: I was given my first camera as a Christmas present when I was about nine years of age. Photography always interested me and seemed like a glamourous occupation. I was always experimenting but lacked the formal training. At forty I enrolled on a BA honours photography course at art college. I was still using film and the digital revolution was about to take off. The formal learning gave me more confidence and established a clearer identification of what my work was about. I have many other interests including sport, early childhood education and cookery. Find more photos like this on Americymru Americymru: What factors influenced you to become a photographer and chronicler of people and places? Have you always had an interest in photography? How did you prepare yourself to enter the profession? Alan: I always admired the work of French photographer Robert Doiseneau and saw his work as a benchmark to aim for. People have always interested me and I have found myself chatting to people from all walks of life. I believe that the social interaction is an important part in the process of photographing people. When the subject has relaxed you get a truer representation of the personality. I guess my preparation is based in my upbringing, one of four brothers brought up on a large working class council estate in Llanelli. There really was no place to hide and you had to deal with all sorts of life issues. Americymru: Do you have a favorite subject matter? Why do you like shooting this type of subject? My favourite subject mater is people. Alan: I find the human face fascinating. Everyone is equal but different. The human face can provide so much information about life itself. I love shooting portraiture because it allows me to look very closely at a fellow human being. I feel like a scientist observing the subject matter. Americymru: What is your favorite medium, digital or film and why? Do you shoot in both? Alan: I love shooting with film because it slows the process down. You have to think a lot more about the fundamentals of photography with a film camera. There is something that challenges your confidence when using film. There is no second chance, delete, re shoot. Everything has to be correct so you go through the technicalities over and over again. I still use film but the demand to provide images within minutes to a client means that it becoming unrealistic to use film. I tend to take digital and film only using film when things have settled down. Americymru: What is your opinion of photo enhancement programs as a photographer? As an artist? Alan: I am very snobby about photo enhancement. My bleief is that if you can't shoot it in camera then you're not up to it. I have not really got into photo enhancement programmes other than Photoshop for adjusting the curves which is similar to giving the negative more or less time at the development stage. Americymru: Your portraits are especially appealing to me, that is not to say that your other subjects are not appealing. How do you get your subjects to reveal their inner selves, to you? How do you choose your subjects? Alan: It takes time and some mutual respect for the subject. I love to chat with people and this is probable a contributing factor to the final image. I will be chatting for a while and then casually raise the camera and start taking photos. I usually keep chatting and the camera seems to become non threatening to the subject. I keep talking whilst taking the photos. Given time the subject drops their guard and you start to see the true personality. I guess it is the same for most people when you meet them for the first time. More often than not the people I photograph are not usually photographed. Americymru: In addition to portraits and commercial photography, you have exhibited a wide variety of landscapes and seascapes in both area and time. Do you travel to a specific area to shoot landscapes and seascapes or do you just keep your eyes open for a good shot when there? How much of your time is spent on looking for “the shot”? Alan: I tend to base my landscapes and seascapes around days out with the family. We arrive at a destination and if the light is right, I disappear for most of the day and sometimes most of the evening. we are lucky to live in an area of outstanding natural beauty so wherever we travel, there is going to be some form of landscape to photograph. I would like to spend more time looking for the shot but I am lazy. I prefer to lay on the beach all day. The window of opportunity for landscapes is early morning or dusk. Americymru: Based on your experience, what advice would you offer to a person who may be considering photography as a career? What do you feel separates the amateur photographer from the professional? Alan: I would say that you should find an area of photography which really interests you. Improvise with the equipment you have and fine tune your skills in your specialist area. Look at the work of the greats in your specialist area and learn from them. Experiment to a point and accept the limitations of your camera. The amateur takes photographs everywhere the professional sees photographs everywhere but only takes the ones which count. Americymru: The recognition that all artists seek is to share their art with others, and hope that they will buy your art. Do you have any planned or existing exhibitions? How do you sell photographs which have not been commissioned? Do you have a website where our members can view or buy your work? Alan: Like all artists I am tortured and suffer for my art. I have a continual lack of confidence in the quality and value of my work. There is a great fear of rejection when exhibiting work. I tend to stay clear of the exhibition space when my work is on display. If someone buys it then this is a bonus. My website is probably my main exhibition space although I have not really promoted my art based photography which tends to be the nude form. This is because my main website is accessed by people of all ages. Ironically it is these images which sell the most. I am passionate about the people and the area in which I live and work. I have a few websites. The Art Based work can be viewed at www.thebeautifulnude.co.uk My main site is www.alanevansphotography.co.uk My work documenting horse racing in Carmarthenshire is on www.ffoslasphotography.com Americymru: Do you have any final comment for the readers and members of Americymru? Alan: Keep you camera handy and the sun on your back Interview by: Howard Evans

Calling All Bloggers

Are you a Poet, Short Story Writer or a Photographer?...then read on.... For the second year running the Left Coast Eisteddfod is being held in Portland Oregon. What is an Eisteddfod?   An Eisteddfod is essentially an arts competition and the Left Coast Eisteddfod is an online arts competition. It features four categories:- Poetry, Short Story, Photography and Video.  The first Eisteddfod was held in 1176 in Cardigan in Wales. The National Eisteddfod and Bala Eisteddfod are held in Wales every year and more all over the world, wherever Welsh people settled. The competition is open to both Americymru members and non-members and submissions need not have any Welsh relevance. Why should this be of interest to bloggers? Cash prizes of $150 dollars in all competition categories! Submissions judged by experts with international reputations! Winning submissions and other entries stay on a heavily trafficed page-rank 4, social network site for more than a year together with backlink! No registration fee! Two ways to submit your entry If you have an original poem,short story, photograph or video that you would like to enter you can either, Join the site. Americymru is an American Welsh social networking site on the Ning network BUT if you have no Welsh heritage fear not. You can simply check the Eisteddfod option when categorizing your profile or copy and paste the following ....'I am here to compete in the Eisteddfod', in the 'About Me' field. Registration only takes a minute or two. Please remember that in order to qualify your blog must have some literary, poetic or photographic content. If this is the case please feel free to include a link to your blog on your profile page. To join Americymru go here. If you prefer not to join but still wish to compete, email your submission to americymru@gmail.com. We will post it for you together with your backlink. You may request that your submission be removed at any time and we guarantee to respect your copyright. Your content will not appear on any other page than the submission page. The winners will be announced at the Left Coast Eisteddfod in Portland Oregon on Oct 6th 2010. Winners will be notified via email and checks mailed shortly after. Why are we doing this? Welsh culture is rich with artistic tradition in poetry, song and story.  Our mission is to promote art in the Welsh tradition in North America and to bring the Eisteddfod and the Welsh love of the arts and the art of the word to artists around the world. ( Submissions deemed to be of insufficient quality may be rejected by the Eisteddfod Organizing Committee.Please enter your best work. Blatant link-dropping will not be tolerated. ) To all our contestants both current and future we wish the very best of luck:)

Wales DVD's

WWW.WALESDVD.COM
Hiraeth Productions

Visit this website to purchase the DVD's: www.walesdvd.com


For those of you who have not visited Wales, Hiraeth Productions has two DVD’s available to help you plan your future adventures into ‘the land of your fathers.’ Once you have visited Wales, you will want to keep coming back for more of the ‘Warm Welcome’ that awaits you as you experience the beautiful countryside, historic monuments and the wonderful, welcoming Welsh people.

“Welcome to Wales” covers the areas of South Wales.
“Wales, A Warm Welcome” covers the areas of South, Mid and West Wales.

Here are customer’s comments about the two DVD’s.

“Absolutely wonderful, I see you went to Saint Fagans too, a great place for Welsh history, Caerphilly and Cardiff castle are very close to where I live, and Rhossili bay is breathtaking, this video brought a flutter to my heart, and with a Welsh male voice choir too, Thank you.”

“I received the second disc “A Warm Welcome”, thank you very much. It’s wonderful. I must say that you are a very good photographer and the shots you have taken of Wales were fantastic. You have a keen eye for good composition and the colours in some of the photos were just beautiful. You certainly covered a good bit of Wales when you were here. You have probably seen more of Wales than a lot of Welsh people.

View a video clip here of "Wales, A Warm Welcome":

Find more videos like this on Americymru
View a video clip here of "Welcome to Wales":

Find more videos like this on Americymru

To view more video clips on my Americymru site please visit: www.americymru.ning.com/TamRyan

Other Links of Interest for Wales DVD's

Please visit Huw Davies' AmeriCymru link at:
http://www.americymru.ning.com/profile/HuwDavies