Photography News 06

Advertisement feature Weathering the storms EPSON PRINTERS

Nigel Millard spent years photographing the RNLI, a project that eventually turned into a touring outdoor exhibition. The crews withstand the harshest conditions and it was only right that the prints could do the same

The bright orange livery of the RNLI lifeboats is a sight that can be spotted all around Britain’s coastline. The crews, made up almost entirely of volunteers, work relentlessly in some of the most challenging weather conditions and it is this striking imagery that initially intrigued reportage photographer Nigel Millard. “I watched a lifeboat launch from one of the RNLI stations on the Wirral and I was just amazed by this brilliant splash of colour,” Nigel explains. “There was this huge boat trundling down the beach like a dinosaur, its striking colour standing out against the grey skies. Compositionally, it was a strong project for any photographer to approach and there was a lot of subject matter to get into.” What started out as a personal portfolio project turned into amuch larger project to spread theword of the important work that the RNLI does. Nigel began visiting lifeboat stations around the country, creating an ever-increasing back catalogue of images. One image in particular (above) resonates not just with the RNLI, but also the public. “It just shows a splash of orange and a huge wave breaking around the boat. It’s about as dramatic an image as I can get and was taken in about as

The prints hold incredible

detail, in both the highlights and the shadows, the colour range is just phenomenal

ABOVE Winter in the North Sea provides a tough test for the Buckie Severn class lifeboat William Blannin. BELOW Porthdinllaen’s new Tamar class lifeboat gets its first coat of paint in RNLI colours. BOTTOM RNLI lifeguards up early for a morning’s training session on Perranporth beach before going on duty for the day.

challenging and difficult conditions as you get out there,” Nigel recalls. “I wasn’t there to sensationalise everything, but to just document the work that the RNLI do in order to raise money and awareness for their cause. I actually ended up joining my own local RNLI crew.” The images began to garner more attention and eventually led to the publication of a book, The Lifeboat: Courage on Our Coasts (rnlishop.org, £25), from which a touring exhibition Courage on Our Coasts was created for the RNLI. Printed by Epson on a SureColor SC-S70600 large-format printer using Ilford’s waterproof NanoSolvent Satin paper, the prints stood outside in various city centres around the country for six months. It rained, snowed and even shone a little, but regardless of the weather the prints remained in as good a condition as the day they were printed. “The prints were just less than two metres wide and I thought we might have to lose a little of the quality in order to get the exhibition outside, but there was absolutely no compromise,” he says. “I was absolutely astounded by how amazing it looked; it was outside for 24 hours a day, seven days a week in every condition and the prints have not degraded. They’re still as strong in colour, still as contrasty, still as detailed – it was fantastic!” Each of the final images were test printed by Nigel beforehand on an Epson Stylus Pro 7890 on Ultrasmooth, Fine Art and Hot Press Bright paper. “I was amazed at the quality. The prints hold incredible detail, in both the highlights and the shadows, the colour range is just phenomenal,” he says. “Seeing my images on my computer screen and then getting a print that looks exactly the same is just amazing.” A range of limited edition prints was also created on Epson’s Fine Art paper, enabling Nigel to sign them in pencil, a quality that standard waxy

photographic paper doesn’t allow for. Being able to produce such high-quality images was crucial in allowing both Nigel and the RNLI to create an impactful print exhibition that was as hardy as the RNLI crews themselves. The exhibition might be over now, but for Nigel the project continues as he works with the RNLI on their various campaigns – visit www.nigelmillard.co.uk for more details.

To find out more about the entire Epson range of inkjet printers, go to www.epson.co.uk where you’ll also find details on the cashback offers available on the Expression Premium and Photo ranges between now and 31 March 2014.

Photography News | Issue 6