Just to show that not all exhibited photographers are professionals, an exhibition at the end of the month has been scheduled to celebrate two amateur photographers from Southampton. ‘Through the Lens’ is an exhibition of the amateur photographers Phil Green and Helen Plant. Both photographers are members of the Camera Club in their hometown of Southampton.

Usually to become a professional photographer you’ll need to complete a degree in a course such as documentary photographer or photo art, and will be required to possess at least a 2.1 or 1st, holding a Bachelor of Arts. However neither Helen nor Phil have any such qualifications, as they are both self-taught photographers. They have both been awarded the Distinction from the Photographic Alliance of Britain though.

Helen Plant talks about her passion for photography.

I am fascinated by the shapes, colours and textures of nature in close-up as well as on occasions a more abstract approach to the wider landscape.

My preference is for subtle colours and lighting and relatively simple compositions.

Phil Green’s love of taking pictures came about through his use of a traditional SLR film camera, though both Phil and Helen now use digital cameras.

Most of my photographs are of nature subjects taken within twenty miles of home. I cover my local patch with an emphasis on the welfare of my subject. This is a major factor and one of which I am fiercely proud.

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