SHOOT LIKEA PRO
LIGHT, CAMERA, CREATIVITY!
Peter Fenech joins Bill Ward for exclusive access to his Light &Land workshop to learn the secrets of shooting great abstract cityscapes
Pictured
Moving in Tyne
“With ICM, some like images where the subject is clear. Others use it as a starting point and turn it into something different,” says Bill
Main images © Peter Fenech
Cityscape and landscape photography can often be quite literal genres of photography. When you arrive at a new location, most of the key landmarks are fixed and your compositions are therefore largely defined by what is already in front of your camera. This point of view doesn’t really inspire creativity, however, and it can be tempting to simply shoot the classic scenes as they are, just like the many thousands of photographers who have likely shot them before you. With a little thought however, it is possible to find exciting and energetic new perspectives by looking more closely at the colours, shapes and textures of the urban environment, using these to create collage-like effects with an abstract twist.
Today, I’m attending a shoot that is slightly different from the normal Shoot Like a Pro sessions we feature in the magazine. I’m joining photographer Bill Ward and three other enthusiasts for a workshop in my home city of Newcastle. This is part of the hugely popular Light & Land workshop series and I’m honoured to have been allowed to tag along and gain some amazing insights into the world of abstract and creative photography. The group meets on a frosty winter morning in the shadow
of the famous Grey’s Monument, right in the heart of Newcastle city centre. Bill greets us with enthusiasm and it’s clear he is passionate about the genre of photography we shall be learning throughout the day.
Bill Ward
Born and raised in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Bill is an acclaimed photographer and actor. When he isn’t running workshops for Light & Land, he is a full-time professional actor, having appeared in many films, plays and TV shows, includingCoronation Street,Emmerdale,CasualtyandVera. More recently, he appeared in the successful stage adaptation ofThe Full Monty. To see more of Bill’s photography or to book a one-to-one workshop with him, visit his website or Instagram: billwardphotography.co.uk @billwardphotography
Light & Land
Light & Land was established by the highly regarded duo of landscape photographer, Charlie Waite and nature photographer, Sue Bishop. It has since grown to become the biggest and most popular landscape photography tour company in the UK, offering tours both at home and to far-flung locations around the globe. For more information or to book a workshop visit: lightandland.co.uk
After a quick chat about safety – Bill reminds us that we are shooting in a living, working city complete with the usual traffic hazards and practical challenges – we dive right into the first part of the workshop, intentional camera movement (ICM). “Regarding movement, the camera can do anything you can do so there are lots of opportunities” Bill tells me and my three fellow students Carolyn, Tim and Barbara. “Follow the contours of the subject. Try twisting, flicking and moving the camera up and down to vary the effect.”