Silhouette Photography
| Last Updated: September 25, 2014
Tom Harper - Seascape Photography
Tom Harper - Seascape Photography
This showcase series features the seascape photography of Tom Harper.
Tom told us how he got started in photography:
Hi my name is Tom Harper, I am currently in my third year at Blackburn University studying Photographic Media. My interest in photography started around the age of 14 when I was a keen BMX rider and would always carry a digital SLR camera which I received one Christmas, capturing days out to the skate park etc. The passion progressed from there studying the subject at A level and now on through University.
Can you tell us more about this shipping forecast series?
My whole project is based around the idea of the Shipping Forecast being visceral. Visceral means deep inward feelings or visions. These can be sparked off from any sort of familiar sounds, tastes and sights etc. To many people, The Shipping Forecast was a familiar sound which they grew up with.
These feelings can spark of vivid images of childhood experiences or fond memories. My intentions throughout the project were to place reality where the imagination was of the famous Shipping Forecast. To bring this project to life I traveled around the various weather zones of the forecast and produced seascapes. These zones were located around the UK and as far as Iceland.
Patience and planning was key to this project as tide times and weather conditions played a major part, as well as standing for several hours on beaches in full waterproof gear experiencing the full force of the sea first hand. All the cold nights and early mornings made the series worth while when all images were placed together.
What equipment do you use for your landscape photography?
My main camera for the landscape work is a Canon 7D
with three lenses; a Sigma 10-20mm, Canon 24-105mm and a Canon 70-200mm. These are the lenses of choice as I can be very versatile in any landscape situation and can be comfortable in knowing I can achieve the best shot.
The setup I use is incredible durable and fully weatherproof so I have no restrictions braving the elements and getting stuck in to the situation that I am presented with, whether it be gale force winds or torrential rain. In terms of post production and editing I like to keep my images as natural as possible so editing and manipulation are kept to a minimum to ensure that the images are as pure as possible.
The style for this particular project was monochrome images with split tone highlights to add suitable colours in to the image. This approach was chosen to fit in with the age and history behind the Shipping Forecast.
Do you have any new series planned for the near future?
Later this year I’ve got a month trip planned traveling to Thailand and Vietnam where I will be visiting various locations. This will be a new project focusing ideas on landscape and culture around these beautiful countries.
You can see more Tom’s work via 500px, or connect with him via Facebook.
Photophique has express permission to publish these images and Tom Harper retains full copyright to all photographs featured in this showcase series.
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