All Things Great and Small

Each of Peter Warburton’s pictures tells a story. He shared his photos with us on Northern Life Creative Group’s Facebook page, a place for artistic northerners to show off their work.

WHEN DID YOU START SNAPPING?

“Lytham Windmill. Everybody takes a photo of Lytham windmill, I think? This is from the back of it, using the sun to line up with the top of it.”

I started practising on poor-quality cameras at a young age while I was still in school. I have three brothers, and two are into photography. They interested me in taking pictures and have each provided useful tips and much-needed inspiration over the years. The photographs I took back then were never very good, but I was figuring things out, finding out how much I loved photography. Now I’m 56, and everything I’ve learned has been self-taught.

I didn’t know anything about photography when I started, but I improved with every picture I took, and I’m still learning even after all this time behind the camera.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

“Summer in Blackpool. The water was absolutely still with a perfect reflection of the pier. Just as I was taking the photo, a seagull decided to walk across it. I’m sure it looks guilty!”

Honestly, I get most of my inspiration from looking at the work of other photographers. A lot of people tend to specialise in a certain type of photograph, be it wildlife, scenery, insects, or whatever it might be, and I take inspiration from all of them. When I see photos I like it makes me want to go out and take similar ones, or better ones if I can! That’s one of the main reasons I joined Northern Life Creative Group’s Facebook page, to be honest – to look at other people’s photos. I work at Tesco, in the bakery, and my colleague Stephen Johnson introduced me to the page, so that’s how I got into it, and eventually, it became a great platform to get my stuff out. It’s a great community that covers a big area, meaning you get to see and hear about things happening all over the north.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT SHOOTING NATURE?

I think it’s just that it’s on my doorstep. Living in Burnley, where you’re surrounded by nature, you can take for granted that it’s all around you. But it’s right there! Photography is a way for me to appreciate it more, I think. You certainly don’t have very far to go to see some amazing scenery.

“Gawthorpe Hall. I have taken lots of photos of Gawthorpe Hall. But a while ago, I saw a different angle of it taken by Lee Mansfield and tried to take one from his position.”

FAVOURITE STORY BEHIND A PICTURE YOU’VE TAKEN?

That would probably be an amazing snowy morning in April 2021 when I went to Cliviger. Everywhere I looked was a photo waiting to be taken. Everywhere the snow was covering every leaf and branch, every wall. It was amazing, and the pictures I took there remind me of how magical that day was. The seasons can really change a landscape and make for new and interesting photographs.

FAVOURITE LOCATION TO SHOOT?

Currently, I’m very interested in photographing the Lake District. I’ve taken a lot of pictures in Buttermere, and I’m going to visit Ashness Bridge soon, which is an old bridge overlooking Derwent Water. It’s supposed to be one of the most picturesque places in the Lakes.

WHAT MAKES THE PERFECT PICTURE?

I’ll tell you when I’ve taken one! But it’s all about composition, that’s what I’ve been trying most to improve over the last few years. You can take five different photographs of the same thing, and only one will be any good. But I think when you’re just beginning, that can be the beauty of inexpensive digital cameras: you can take as many photos as you want and mess around with the composition each time. It doesn’t matter if the first 50 are rubbish. You can always take another.

“Spring Wood Whalley. If you have never visited before you need to go to experience this view for yourself. Almost the entire floor is covered in Bluebells, and the best time is usually around early May.”

ADVICE FOR BUDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS?

I’m hardly an expert, but I think a lot of it is not being ashamed of looking to other photographers’ work to improve your own. You can learn a lot just from looking at good photographs. And don’t be afraid to start, because nowadays it’s easy to start small with a cheaper camera and work your way up. You can take hundreds of pictures and delete all the rubbish. I used to have a little compact camera, a 35mm one, which took decent photographs, and phones these days take good quality photographs. Whatever you’ve got to work with, use it and develop from there.

“Mycena (I think). It can be hard to get down low enough to get a photo of the underneath unless you are fortunate enough to find them growing on a log like I did.”

HOW HAS TAKING UP PHOTOGRAPHY IMPACTED YOUR LIFE?

Sometimes, going out on walks can be less than exciting, but when I’m looking out for certain colours or scenes, searching for an animal or plant, it makes the experience much more interesting. Photography is great for a positive mental state.

“Slater Terrace Burnley. A piece of local history renovated a few years ago was taken from a different angle.”It makes me appreciate the beauty around me and inspires me to go on walks more often.

NorthernLife Jan/Feb 23