George Robertson DPAGB EFIAP BPE4* is, as those distinctions illustrate, a highly distinguished and accomplished photographer. He is also a mountaineer and adventurer whose photographic expeditions take him well away from the beaten track. A member of Milngavie & Bearsden C.C. his lectures on photography are particularly popular.
His topic at our club last Thursday was his unsupported 450km walk, above the Arctic Circle, through northern Sweden. His starting point was Kiruna City, 120 miles above that Arctic boundary and a location not without its own interest. Due to mining, parts of the city are sinking so buildings of interest are regularly lifted onto platforms and moved to more stable locations. It is literally, a city on the move. The snow covered landscape in that part of the world is as near to monochrome as we have seen. Temperatures range from -5º C to -25º C with George regularly photographing around -20º C which frequently coincides with the best lighting conditions.
Interestingly George included a short movie sequence in his presentation. It was shot during a snowstorm in 60km winds with the temperature at -23º, we’ll try to think of that in the depth of our own ( hopefully mild ) winter.
The Aurora Borealis was another of George’s expertly photographed subjects. For those he used a 20mm f1.8 lens, an ISO rating of 1,600, and an exposure time of between 8 and 10 seconds. Something to remember if the Aurora reaches Falkirk again this winter. Particularly notable was when George’s photographs of the Aurora included a shooting star moving through its midst.
Returning to civilisation George concluded his talk with photographs of old Stockholm. Normally considered a modern city its older districts are full of character and the remnants of a bygone age.
The evening concluded with a full Question & Answer session with George generously providing much helpful information.
Thanks for looking in.