Member Profile: Frank Harley
©Frank Harley
About me:
Who are you?
My name is Frank Harley, I’m an amateur photographer, living near Southend-on-Sea in Essex. I’m 69 and have been retired for the last 3 years. When I’m not out taking photographs, you will find me watching Arsenal play, listening to records, or reading the latest Mick Herron thriller.
What has your photography journey looked like?
I went to night classes in my 20s to learn how to use and develop photographs with my Olympus OM-1. When I turned 50, I was gifted a digital camera and started to get interested in photography again. I joined a local club and have been on lots of workshops and courses over the years. I currently use a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV.
The subject of my photography is what interests me the most. I like visiting new places around the UK looking for an interesting or iconic shot. I enjoy the social side of photography as well – I’m often planning trips with other photographers or engaged with online groups, such as TSOP, where I can learn new information and gain valuable advice.
I first found TSOP whilst I was researching online for courses that would refresh my knowledge and make me more confident with my new camera. In the early days of TSOP, I met up with Marc for some face-to-face workshops, and I have since completed many of the online programmes including: the beginners course, complete guide to Lightroom, Photoshop course, guide to studio lighting, portrait retouching course, photographing cities at night, long exposure photography, the fine art landscape photography course with Trudy Kepke and the macro photography course with Oliver Wright.
What is your preferred genre?
My most recent photo that I posted in the TSOP members areas. ©Frank Harley
My preferred genre of photography is landscapes. I particularly enjoy shooting seascapes, usually at sunrise or sunset, using long exposure. Living close to London, I like to visit the city at night where I try to capture iconic landmarks with interesting light trails. During my travels, I also turn my hand to street photography and capture the locals as they go about their daily lives.
I try to use the time of day that I shoot to create an atmosphere within my landscapes. I aim to capture interesting cloud formations close to sunrise or sunset, so that my photographs are enhanced with dreamy or dramatic tones. This along with the effects of the long exposure can create a calming or moody effect which I personally like in a photograph.
I incorporate all the techniques that I have been taught by TSOP in my photography. Rule of thirds, leading lines and an interesting subject are the first things I consider when looking for a new landscape to shoot. I am a big fan of long exposure to blur clouds or water so that my subject is framed in an interesting way. I use Lightroom and occasionally Photoshop for my post processing, although I do try to get it right in the camera as much as possible, rather than relying too heavily on editing. I use this software more for my night photography, where I like to layer several images to create a dynamic photo with light trails.
What inspires you to create photography?
The location is the main inspiration for my photography. I like to capture natural beauty, so I often photograph along the Suffolk and Norfolk coastlines. I also enjoy photographing waterfalls and woodlands across the UK.
Who are some other photographers you’re inspired by?
I like the work of Justin Minns as he specialises in landscape photography in East Anglia. Martin Parr and Don McCullin are two fantastic documentary photographers whose work I admire. I’m also inspired by several other members of TSOP, in particular the work of Brian Nicholson, Adam Smyth and Brendan Lynch.
An early photograph. ©Frank Harley
My favourite photograph:
My favourite photo that I’ve taken - Walton-on-the-Naze. ©Frank Harley
Describe the first photo you took during your learning journey
One of my early landscape photographs was of a windmill surrounded by corn fields in north Essex. If I compare this to my recent photography, I realise how far I have come in my learning journey. Some of the issues with this photograph are that the focal point is wrong, it has an uninteresting foreground, the rule of thirds hasn’t been followed and there is no leading line. It results in a very underwhelming and flat photograph.
One way I have developed in my photography is that I have learned to relax and take my time composing a shot. When I first started out, I would take a lot of photographs, whereas now, I’d rather take fewer shots that are better quality.
What is your favourite photograph that you’ve taken?
My favourite photograph I’ve taken is a seascape in Walton-on-the-Naze. I used the groyne as a leading line so that the eye would be drawn towards the sunrise. The soft morning light is reflected onto the smooth sea, creating a calm and peaceful effect. I was just starting out using long exposure and this photograph required a lot of experimenting with my shutter speed until I produced the effect I was hoping for. Although it might not be my best photograph, it remains one of my favourites, because it was a learning curve for me.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from TSOP?
If you want to get a great photograph, then you need to take time to plan it. Thought needs to go into the location of your shot and what equipment you’ll need to capture it. As well as more practical things like checking the weather forecast, wearing appropriate clothing, and ensuring you allow plenty of time getting to the location (especially with sunrises and sunsets!). Once the planning is done, then you can take time to express yourself through your photography.
What’s next for Frank?
I’m keen to develop my astrophotography skills and incorporate them into landscape shots, so I will be starting Ben Bush’s course soon. I’m heading off to Iceland on a photography trip and want to be well-prepared for shooting the Northern Lights! I will also be visiting Yorkshire later in the year on the hunt for more landscape inspiration. I hope to embark on the North Coast 500 road trip in Scotland, stopping along the way to capture coastal scenery, mountains, waterfalls, and hopefully some wildlife!
Conclusion
I am a more confident photographer because of the TSOP. When I first started on my learning journey, I took on a lot of information and suggestions from other members of the group. Having completed a lot of TSOP’s courses over the years, I now feel in a position to offer advice to other photographers. Like everything in life, photography is a continuous journey, and so I think it’s important to keep completing TSOP courses. I also think it never hurts to go back to the beginning and refresh everything that I have learnt, so that I ensure I’m always applying those lessons to my photography.
One of the biggest enjoyments I get from photography is printing off and displaying the photographs I have taken. Every year, I create a calendar of my favourite photographs and I enjoy gifting them to my friends and family.
Where can people follow you?
You can view my photographs on Instagram @frankharleyphotography
Frank’s Gallery:
All images ©Frank Harley
