Debut exhibition for self-taught photographer

1:17pm Friday 25th May 2007

ANYONE can take a picture these days. Digital technology has made it so simple for us all to capture an image at the touch of a button and if we don't like it we can bin it immediately and start again. It all sounds perfectly easy in theory, but to render a photograph so it takes on the texture of a painting or the gloss of an advertising promotion, or even the intensity of wildlife in close-up, requires definite skill.

Finding Beauty In Obscure Places, is the name of a particularly inviting debut exhibition by 29-year-old, self-taught photographer, Anthony Lewis.

He says: "I try to find everyday still life, landscapes or flowers to photograph. But with some clever angles and lighting the viewer has to ask questions of themselves and the photograph itself. As a result, some of my photographs may appear to be quite abstract but they also allow the viewer to figure out what they are looking at."

There's a picture in Anthony's collection that reminds me of a Turner landscape. A pale sun sets behind a harbour wall with the light lingering on the wet sand at the shore's edge. I could look at it for hours. Anthony tells me how he waits for the moment to be right.

"My girlfriend goes nuts when we go on holiday," he says. "She'll be walking along and I'll be a mile away still trying to wait for the sun to come round to the right spot. I have to wait for the light. Some people can take perfect pictures, but I'm not at that stage yet."

That said, Anthony has spent five years pursuing his craft after being given his uncle's camera as a present. He has since traded in the 35mm for a digital camera.

"I never thought I'd use it but it comes with me everywhere I go now. I try and find symmetry and shapes in what I do. My photographs are mostly what I see when I'm out and about but I haven't tried portraits yet."

Originally from Southend, Anthony works as a computer programmer at the University of Hertfordshire and in his spare time, produces prints from a makeshift studio at his home in Borehamwood.

"I try not to alter the images too much," says Anthony. "I might just use the computer to get rid of dust and clean up the images or do a colour touch up. I like producing solid colours and bold images to give the viewer something to think about."

Some of his more detailed pictures of flowers, leaves and crayons would look particularly good as greetings cards. I wonder if Anthony has intentionally arranged them this way?

"I've never been arty at all, it's not natural to me," he says. "It's been quite interesting so far because I get in a bit of a muddle sometimes. Right at the beginning I found it difficult to get my head round the perspective of things and working with the depth of field."

For his debut exhibition Anthony has produced around 24 photographs mounted and framed, which represent the range of his work, from landscapes to still life.

"I haven't had anyone professional look at the work but I'm less concerned with what does and doesn't look right. To me it's about how it feels.

"My work has grown from nothing, but now I need to have a camera with me wherever I go. I want to get to the stage where the camera is more than just an extension of my arm. I'm not there at the moment so I have to keep practising."

Finding Beauty In Obscure Places is at The Radlett Centre, Aldenham Avenue, Radlett from Tuesday, May 29 to Saturday, June 30. The Apthorp Gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Details: 01923 859291, or www.anthonylewisphotography.co.uk