John McaPherson was Cromarty Camera Clubs guest speaker tonight and put on quite a show. Not only is he a great photographer, but he is also a superb speaker with loads of character and enthusiasm for his job. All this was great but what struck me about John was his story, or part of it. He used to work in a shipyard in the west end of Glasgow. I did too although I was on the opposite riverbank. He was also a Social Worker for a few years, which, by coincidence, is my current job.
The last bit of the link is that he, like me, has a passion for natural history photography and all the add-ons that go with it. John is part of the 2020Vision team and has the task of bringing the Moray Firth Dolphins to our living rooms as part of this mammoth multi media masterpiece that will appear in newspapers, exhibitions, TV shows and who knows what else over the next year (hopefully more). Now don’t get me wrong, I am not for one second comparing myself to John, far from it. What I am saying, I think, is that I would love to have the same skills and knowledge in my photography toolbox that John has. I’d also love a job like Johns; maybe I just need a break. John spoke about Chanonry Point and obviously feels the same way about the place as I do. I’ve met his before, shared a BBQ with mutual friends but I don’t know him. We know the same people and as I said, we are both mad about dolphins and everything that goes with watching them at Chanonry.
John had judged The Highland Challenge back in November, which is a photography competition between all (almost all) camera clubs in the Highland region. I never went but feedback from those who did go told of John being harsh in his scoring and ruffling a few feathers. John isn’t afraid to break the rules (of thirds) in his photography and his advice to CCC was good advice, take photographs for yourself, to enjoy, to share but not for judges and not by the rules.
Wise words.
Happy days.
James
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