'Hilltop Ruins' - Corfe, Dorset (2010) Photography by P. J. Collins

Landscape Photographer

Biography: 

Born in the UK, Paul J. Collins lives in the historic market town of Ringwood on the edge of the beautiful New Forest in Hampshire. He has had a lifelong passion for photography which began in his teenage years, being drawn to this creative pursuit as a means of expression; he bought his first 35mm SLR film camera when he was seventeen.

Completely self-taught and with a strong desire to produce interesting and dramatic images, black and white film became his preferred choice of medium which he then learnt how to develop and print using the bathroom of the family home as a darkroom. 

During his late teens and early adult years Paul found inspiration in a wide range of subjects, photographing people, places and public events but eventually through his love of walking and climbing found that photographing the landscape was a subject closet to his heart; exciting and inspiring him the most and so became his primary interest.

Now in his senior years he continues to fulfil his creative spirit and devotes as much time as possible to photography. He still likes the traditional method of creating photographs and currently uses a 35mm Nikon F100 SLR camera loaded with colour or black and white film to photograph the landscape in the most naturalistic way possible, desiring an accurate representation of the scene composed through the lens, limiting any digital post production work to that of 'old school' darkroom editing techniques.

Having recently retired from a successful career as an engineering design draughtsman Paul is looking forward to the future in what will be a post pandemic world where some things will undoubtedly change but the beauty of the land, sea and sky will always be there to enjoy.

Statement: 

As a landscape photographer I’m inspired by nature and all its manifestations. I combine my passion for photography with my love of the outdoors which gives me a calmness of spirit and an affinity with the land. When I’m in a place which maybe unfamiliar or one which I have decided to revisit I will absorb all the sensory experiences and observe everything around me with expectation, before I create a composition through the lens. There are times when the beauty of the land is enhanced by magical lighting or a dramatic sky. These are the moments I continually strive to capture. Very often they are fleeting. When I venture out to create photographs there are no preconceived ideas in my head but I try to choose those times of the day when the lighting is favourable, working with what nature offers, understanding its unpredictability and applying the technical skills I have learned. I return home foot weary but with exciting thoughts of the photographs I have taken. This creative pursuit is a means of expressing not only the way I feel and see but also to communicate to the viewer of my work a sense of wonder and a feeling that we are all part of what is being viewed.

• Nationality: UNITED KINGDOM
• Date of birth : unknown date
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary British Artists