articles/Nature/interviewsmichaelpilkington-page2

Paul Gallagher interviews Michael Pilkington - part 2 of 1 2 3

by Paul Gallagher Published 01/10/2009

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.

• Paul Gallagher interviews Michael Pilkington page 1
  
• Paul Gallagher interviews Michael Pilkington page 2
  
• Paul Gallagher interviews Michael Pilkington page 3
  

There are 37 days to get ready for The Societies of Photographers Convention and Trade Show at The Novotel London West, Hammersmith ...
which starts on Wednesday 17th January 2024