Vivien Cotton – Landscape Photography and Castles
Landscape photography is very difficult, indeed it’s one of the most challenging areas of the medium. The lighting is vital. Dull grey skies lacking directional lighting mean that the textures and undulations in a landscape and its features are hidden. Similarly, a summer sun high in the sky flooding the landscape with even lighting doesn’t help either. What we need is good old British weather with all four seasons in one day, sunlight periodically shining through broken cloud creating directional lighting on areas of the landscape with light and shade.
Of course, a photographer with imagination and skill can then introduce other aspects. Enter Viv Cotton ARPS EFIAP, a frequent Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year award winner who visited our club last week. The first designation being awarded by the Royal Photographic Society for artistic and technical accomplishments, the second by the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique for success in International Salons and Exhibitions of Photography . Viv has been working on a project to photograph castles, and also to compile a record of their history.
Obviously Scotland is not short of castles and the technical description on what constitutes a castle is, in itself, interesting. A surprising number are still privately owned, so to properly learn about their history means working with the owners. Not too far from here the House of the Binns, Airth Castle and Dalmeny House all featured as did Cambusbarron Abbey. Rowallan Castle and Culzean Castle were instantly recognised by this Ayrshire born writer as Viv travelled further afield both north and south.
Viv’s technical approach brought a new dimension to her project. She uses a digital camera, but one with a sensor adapted to Infra Red. Depending on the ambient lighting and the colour of the stonework, this gives a differing and particular tone to each castle. The foliage and surrounding landscape too vary in appearance and when everything is presented in Black & White Infra Red the effect of each individually presented image is stunning.
Viv’s commentary on the history and ownership of each building through the ages was a bonus adding interest to a fascinating evening.
Exhibition – Falkirk Writer’s Circle and Falkirk Camera Club
Now on, in the ground floor turret in Callendar House, is our joint exhibition with Falkirk Writer’s Circle. The theme of the photographs, poetry and prose is Autumn in Callendar Park and shows the autumn colours, the wildlife, and the way the park is used.