Lifestyle

Capturing our coastscape

WHEN he received a year-long commission to photograph the Welsh coastline, acclaimed photographer Roger Tiley decided Ceredigion would provide the perfect starting point for the project.
Roger, who spends much of his time in New Quay, is now two months into the year-long commission, photographing the way man-made structures have left their mark on the Welsh coastline.
The project, called The Manufactured Coastscape; a postcard from the Welsh coastline, has been commissioned by the Arts Council of Wales.
Roger, who is particularly interested in industry past and present, is taking images for the project during low light or at night time, using long exposures of up to ten minutes. During the exposure, light is being painted on to the subject, to highlight objects.
Commenting on the project, Roger said: “I’ve won a major commission from the Ar

ts Council of Wales to photograph the ‘manufactured coast line.
“The project will last one year and I will be travelling the length and breath of Wales to capture the industrial and architectural aspects that have been placed on or near the coast scape over the years.
“I am using a technique called ‘painting with light’. I used this technique whilst photographing in the south Wales coal mines in the 1980s and 90s.”
He went on: “I’m looking at the way ‘man’ has made an impact on the Welsh coastline. Industry, in all of its facets, has brought communities to congregate around employment. In some cases, life has changed considerably, to cater for the tourism industry and the influx of second home owners (I’m one of them).
“These pictures were shot in a relatively short period of time, whilst the light was fading.”
Shooting in Aberporth was challenging, as he recalls.
“Weather conditions were not kind, so I tried to photograph during the stormy showers and wind coming off of the sea,” he said.
“The light was dying quickly, so I was hoping to get more.”
Of Aberaeron, he controversially added: “Aberaeron is a popular tourist destination on the Ceredigon coastline. I’m fascinated by this place. It has a mystery of beauty meeting the ugly. It is an architectural mystery. You need to see it, before you make judgement.
“I love the place, but I hate it at the same time!”
Ynyslas was next.
“I came across a strip of land with an old crane, JCB, boat and other interesting objects to photograph,” he explains.
“There was a static caravan on the site. I thought it would be important to see if I could get permission to take some photographs.
“I approached the caravan and could see a man inside. He came out and I asked permission to take photographs later on that evening. He said yes and later on that evening, I made these images.
“The gentleman later agreed to be filmed for the DVD which will be shown at the exhibition venues to this body of work. He was an extraordinary entrepreneur, with a real passion for boat building on a massive scale.
“As well as having a passion for photography, meeting people like this makes my life so interesting.”
The 52-year-old started his photographic career at the age of 18, working as an apprentice industrial photographer for a company called Lucas.

“They made car parts and were situated all over the UK,” he said.
“I photographed for their brochures, industrial accidents in their factories and all their advertising.
“After working there for four years, I went to art college to study documentary photography, subsequently working for The Times, The Observer and The Guardian newspapers. I worked on many assignments, including the 1984/85 miners’ strike.
“I’ve travelled extensively and have been lucky enough to exhibit my work in UK, Europe and the USA. Indeed, I have worked on a number of commissions in the USA. I’ve been involved in photographic education for the past 25 years, but still regularly work on commissions for book publications and exhibitions. I have three books published to date.
“While I was at sixth form college, I wanted to be a drummer in a band. My tutor asked me to sign up for an A level photography course, as he was desperate for students to make the numbers up!
“I’ve worked in photography all of my career and could not have chosen a better job to do. I still have the same enthusiasm to press the shutter now as I did in 1977. Photography has given me the opportunity to travel, to meet people and witness events that I would never have been able to see”.
And the inspiration for his latest project?
“The reason I wanted to do this is because my work has always been linked to industry. I spend a large part of the year living in New Quay and I was thinking one day, over a glass of wine, looking at the sea, about what industry exists around the Welsh coastline.
“To date, I’ve photographed extensively in south Wales and I am working my way around.”
To follow Roger’s progress, visit www.rogertileyphoto.com.