7 LECTURE: ‘Just Prints’ – with ERICA ORAM CPAGB AFIAP BPE3*.
Erica Oram started her lecture reminding members of what photography is really all about, prints. “Photography aways looks better in print” she said.
She described herself as an opportunistic photographer who tried to make ordinary subjects interesting. She covered a wide range of genres and encouraged photographers to seeing things differently.
“I like to work in themes and one of my favourite techniques is to take tiny bits of a bigger environment as my subject.”
“I don’t mind what I take a photo of, it’s all about the light and the colour.”
Erica included prints of an old prison on Shrewsbury featuring some emotive self portrait taken in empty cells.
Her pictures showed her keen sense of observation and humour. Some raise questions, the why.
“Anything that’s got good light, that’s what I like.”
She said her street photos often need a person in them, not that the person is the main subject but it adds some interest.
“I like symmetry and centrally framed subjects.”
To print her images she uses a Canon 300 printer
“My photos are not usually about being pretty but more about how they feel. Perhaps about how a depressing overcast day at the seaside feels. Paignton in the rain for example.”
“I use monochrome layers in photoshop to hold the colours back.”
“My street photos are mostly taken from the hip. I take lots of pictures and I’m often looking for interactions between people.”
“I like to photograph the normal, but the slightly off-kilter normal.”