Photography News issue 19

Profile

INTERVIEW David Healey ARPS Increasing interest in analogue photography has led the RPS to establish a new group dedicated to the genre, we talk to member David Healey to find out more

BIOGRAPHY

Years in the photo industry: Almost 40 Current location: West Midlands Last picture taken: Thanksgiving service Hobbies: Walking, writing, family history When youwere younger, what did you want to bewhen you grewup? Photographer, but I wouldn’t have been as good as Steve McCurry or Ansel Adams so probably best I didn’t try! Dogs or cats? Neither

Toast or cereal? Porridge Email or phone call? Call

You had your inaugural meeting for the newRPS analogue group in January, how did it go? 35 passionate-about-film photographers travelled significant distances to photograph Lichfield’s 13th century cathedral, enthusiastically discuss the new group and hear that film (black & white especially) is thriving! Su Fahy of Wolverhampton University highlighted film’s creativity and archival significance – timely in the light of Google’s warnings about bit rot and digital impermanence. TheRPS’smembers have used filmsince the very beginning, why did you feel now was the right time to launch a specialist group for analogue? Film is not dying, though some think it no longer exists. Increased interest in film and alternative processes, like Van Dyke, and the growth of ‘hybrid’ imaging, eg. shooting film and scanning, prompted the initiative. Understanding photography’s foundational technology is key to the art form. I learned to print at school and now tutor film and digital photography in a school. I work part-time for Keyphoto so regularly meet photography teachers, technicians and lecturers who teach film alongside digital. Shooting landscape with a medium-format film camera makes me rely on skill, not automation. Film is as old as the art form and as new as the age. What’s your background in analogue and what’s the appeal for you?

Have you had much feedback or support from manufacturers? Stephen Brierley of Harman Ilford spoke at our inaugural meeting. Tetenal has been supportive and Keyphoto is making the group known to educators. Film-using pro photographers have sent messages of support as well. What do you hope that group meetings will achieve? Creativity always involves some solitary activity, but meeting others stimulates us. Meetings provide creative stimulus and impart skills: digital automation has deskilled essential aspects of photography. What do you anticipate to be the future of analogue? Film’s renaissance and the popularity of Lomo, Impossible and Fuji Instax amongst younger people should alert makers to the need for new 35mm and 120 SLR cameras to complement DSLRs. Film cameras and high-end scanners will help analogue prosper, as will the transmission of RPS members’ passion and expertise to younger photographers!

What’s your role within the RPS and the group? I gained my LRPS when teenage and later an Associateship for research into the Advanced Photo System; the Society invited me to write an article for the RPS Journal proposing the group’s formation and I am its first chairman. What has the response fromwithin the RPS been to the new group? Very significant and wholly positive, and from as far afield as Brazil and Mozambique. What are the prerequisites for joining? What kind of users are you looking to attract? Anyone who uses film and alternative processes or simply wants to learn can join. Complete beginners to experienced practitioners, and digital photographers who want to explore: understanding film improves digital photography. Although analogue is now a niche genre, it is broad in its nature. How do you plan on pleasing a broad spectrum of film users? Through our newsletter, web presence and events we hope to encourage the use of emulsions from Velvia to infrared and wet collodion to liquid light. What can photographers expect to learn or experience from participating in the group? Sharing ideas, images, encouragement, advice, information, the chance to question, learning from others, understanding film’s unique qualities and exploring the history. Are there any highlights to look forward to within the group? The Society’s monthlymembers’ competition inMay will be for images shot on film. We have approached leading practitioners to speak at events.

Shooting landscapewith amedium- format film cameramakes me rely on skill, not automation. Film is as old as the art form and as newas the age

π To find out more, go to www.rps.org.

Get involved If you want to learn more about the group and its activities, go to www.rps.org/special- interest-groups or see the Events section of the RPS website for details of upcoming meetings. To join email membership@rps. org or call 01225 325743. David Healey can be contacted via analogue@rps.org.

ABOVE Snowy landscape at Kandersteg, Switzerland. ABOVE RIGHT Flowers at Beatenberg, Switzerland. LEFT Memorial on Iona, Scotland.

Photography News | Issue 19