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Alan Stott MA ARPS

   

Alan Stott lives in Gilesgate with his wife Karen. They have two sons and three grandchildren.  Alan is a former head teacher and, although now retired, he still works. Now however he teaches Photoshop for which many people have reason to be grateful. Since retirement, he has achieved an MA in photography completed at Sunderland University and has taken up the playing of the guitar.

Alan has been President of the Society in 2008 and 2009 during which time membership has increased by more than 25%. He plans to continue active service for the Society as Immediate Past President, including fostering our continuing relationship with The Sage Gateshead and Durham Clayport Library.

 

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MY PHOTOGRAPHY

Documentary photography is my main interest and I strive where possible to get the best from any particular file without bringing in part of another shot. While I have the greatest respect for workers who construct pictures from a myriad of sub-images, the truth of my pictures is important to me. I feel let down by images where a person is removed from their own location and inserted into another.

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THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE

This is a tough one. I have met a lot of people who have influenced me and to pick one would be an injustice to all the others. My wife, who is an artist, has always been a big influence. She has a great sense of composition. I learned a lot from the lecturers at Sunderland University and benefited enormously from their library of books covering every aspect of photography.

MY FIRST CAMERA

I was given a Coronet box camera for Christmas at age seven, but my first serious camera was a Fujica Auto M 35mm. This probably explains my reluctance to use the manual setting on my present Kit

 

MY FAVOURITE CURRENT KIT

I currently use a Nikon D300, usually with a 24-120 VR stuck on the front. I have been experimenting with the Nikon 50mm 1.4 as well as the Sigma 10 -20 mm. I have quite a collection of other stuff. Anyone want to buy a 5 x 4 MPP?!

MY FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHERS

The answer to this has to be the FSA photographers especially Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange. Currently the work of the Side Gallery photographers is interesting . I especially admire Pete Fryer and Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen.

ME AND THE DPS

I joined the Society in 2000. It has been an honour to be President for the last two years. I have won a few cups in my time but I am most proud of the Harvey Adams Trophy  won a year or two ago. To achieve this requires consistency over the whole year

THE THINGS I ENJOY MOST BEING A MEMBER OF THE DPS

I enjoy being in the company of like-minded people, I enjoy seeing other people’s work, and the important thing for me is to see and participate in the many exhibition opportunities that are available to us

AN AMBITION

I would like to get to grips with Digital AV. There was a time when this medium became a little hackneyed. The digital age has opened up possibilities that have yet to be explored and I want to try my hand at this.

THE PEARL (Advice to budding photographers)

I still hold by the old saying “f8 and BE THERE”!

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