Paul Gallagher interviews Michael Pilkington

'In order to be a successful photographer, you must possess both vision and focus, neither of which have anything to do with your eyes' – Kevin Russo.

Can you tell me about your photography journey?

Well it has been long! I remember having an interest in photography as a boy, having a number of cameras such as Instamatics and using my parents' Polaroid cameras. When I could afford it I bought my first SLR – a Canon A1. I still have it.

I remember being frustrated a lot of the time that my pictures weren’t any good. Well, that is to say, the failure rate was very high. Equally, I never had the courage to venture into the darkroom and had to content myself with very average development and printing of my images.

This frustration stayed with me for most of my photographic life until digital emerged. Suddenly, I had easy access to more control over my images. I could afford to experiment. I was quickly sold on this new technology. I have never been back to film. I have progressed through a series of Nikon DSLRs – D100, D200 and currently a D300 and a gaggle of compacts.

Whilst many of the so-called ‘old school’ lament the passing of film, I think it a marvellous phenomenon. It has totally re-invigorated my interest and more importantly my passion for photography and image making. What is true for me is surely true for many people, as is demonstrated by the sky-rocketing sales of compact cameras and DSLRs, and the number of photo-sharing sites such as Flickr. Digital photography is as much a revolution as was the advent of the personal computer.

Nonetheless, my digital journey, whilst exciting, has not been fast enough. Perhaps I want too much? I decided to invest time and money in pursuing what is, after all, a core passion. Just over a year ago I embarked on a ‘sabbatical’. My objective was to improve my photography to what may be considered professional level. At the very least I wanted to exhibit and sell at least one photograph to a complete stranger – this would be an independent test of my work. During this time I have had the great fortune to do lots of studying, travelling and meet some inspiring people. Many of these have, of course, been great photographers from whom I have learnt a lot.

What has been your key lesson over this time?

It’s ironic. Whilst fully and utterly embracing every aspect of digital photography (DSLR, Lightroom, Photoshop, etc), I am being more and more pulled back to the world of film. All this technology is simply a set of tools. Great tools, marvellous tools that far outstrip my capabilities. What they don’t do is bridge the gap of understanding of what a good image is, an understanding of why you would want or need to apply a specific technique to a picture. I won’t go back to film, but in some respects I am having to relearn or remind myself of the core of photography.

The other aspect of the digital revolution for me is printing. A couple of years ago a friend of mine introduced me to the capabilities of an Epson 3800. I was completely awed. As soon as possible, I acquired my own. I believe that this has transformed my photography. Obtaining a fantastic looking print is not so easy. What looks good on screen does not necessarily look good in print. What looks good in print usually looks fantastic on screen. Understanding what the print demands pushes your understanding and skill of photography even further. I believe that we should be pushing the print a lot more. Too many images simply end up on a hard drive.

So what type of photography have you decided to pursue?

I have always loved landscape photography. I love natural beauty and drama. It doesn’t have to be a magnificent vista, beauty and drama everywhere. There is never a shortage of material out there.

Do you think it is important to specialise?

Well, until recently, I had not really thought so. However, I do recognise that like any pursuit, there are benefits to this. The dilemma is what to specialise in. I am still very keen on a few related genres and cannot yet make such a final decision. The analogy is whether to only play the piano versus the guitar. They both give different kinds of pleasure.

Equally, it is important to ensure that if you specialise that you still explore your subject. Landscape photography can be very formulaic: pink tinted dawn and dusk shots, foreground boulders, long exposures, etc.

I came across this quote that is rather relevant: ‘In order to be a successful photographer, you must possess both vision and focus, neither of which have anything to do with your eyes’ – Kevin Russo.

Which photographers have influenced or inspired you?

I take my inspiration and influences from many different sources. Most importantly these actually change quite often. Of course I have admired and been influenced by the works of the great photographers. Equally, I have been inspired by images I see in the press or on the web. During the past year I have trained and developed with a couple of professional photographers who have really had an impact on my work and have really helped take my work to a new level.

Can you tell me about these images?

New England in the fall is something I have always wanted to do. I love autumn colours and this one place where it is supposed to be brilliant.

As is usual at this time of year, the weather was great, with wonderful blue skies and warm temperatures. I managed to drive 1,000 miles in 10 days searching out locations. Without doubt the spectacle of the forests changing colour lives up to its reputation. The range of colours is stunning, especially the reds of the maples. It is a destination I thoroughly recommend and I am sure I will go back.

As is often found in landscape photography, what the senses behold is almost impossible to convey in a photograph. The challenge for me was trying to capture coherent compositions within forests and woodlands. Saying that, photography is about abstraction and trying to convey a sense of what the eye sees and the mind experiences.

What aspect of photography do you enjoy most?

Fundamentally I am an artist (I started in watercolours), so for me it is the creation of images. A photograph, like a painting, is a moment in time captured; the play of light, the weather, the movement of trees and grasses, the reflected colours. To me, I am continually striving to capture an image that moves me emotionally, an image that I would be proud to hang on my own wall. It is this pursuit and the intermediate successes that I enjoy the most.

So what do you have planned next?

I recognise now, more than ever before, that this journey is never ending. It is conceited to think that you are good or know enough. Indeed, the more I discover, the more I know what I don’t know. I love learning and developing my skills so this conclusion is very satisfactory!

The most recent part of my journey has also convinced me that this is what I really want to do. To be near nature, to travel and to create are immensely satisfying. There are many avenues to pursue in this respect and I am already putting into action some ideas. So watch this space.

More of Michael Pilkington’s work can be seen at
www.michaelpilkingtonphotography.com