Argus Camera Club snapper focuses on Worthing and the Downs

Colin Clements

When and why did you get into photography?

I’ve always liked photography, since I used it in art at school (a very long time ago) taking lithographic photos. I love the artform now. I really only got into photography during the first lockdown. I walk a lot as the gyms were closed, on the Downs around Worthing and along the beach from Shoreham to Worthing.

What do you love about taking pictures?

Capturing the scene or the subject, whether one of the fishing boats on the beach or a macro shot of a beautiful butterfly up on the Downs. Funny thing, since taking so many photos of butterflies and birds, you get to know what they all are – likewise our beautiful wild flowers. I do manipulate the pictures a lot sometimes, I try to get the effect where they almost look like paintings. I get great satisfaction when someone comments that they look like that.

Eurasian teal duck at Brooklands in Worthing

Where is your favourite place for taking pictures?

Definitely split between the Downs and the beach, such a variety of subjects. On the whole there is nothing to beat the South Downs in the summer in all its glory. Always come across something new.

What equipment do you use?

Most of my shots are taken with my phone – a Google Pixel 3A. The only type of shot it lets me down on is long distance. Otherwise, it is a fantastic bit of kit, originally I chose it as at the time it had the best low-light camera which I wanted for taking pics in dance halls. It has a great camera and lots of filters to augment that – plenty to play around with.

A poppy field at Steep Down, Lancing – one of Colin’s favourite shots

What is the favourite picture you have taken?

Difficult, whichever one I choose today will be different if I did this tomorrow. On the whole, the picture I do like best is “poppies”. It is Steep Down, Lancing, no idea who the person walking up the hill is. I think it looks so quintessentially England in the summer. Intentionally my subject was the poppies, so bright and joyful against the golden wheat.

Why did you join The Argus Camera Club and what do you like about it?

A friend, Jacqueline Shevlin asked me to join. She always liked my pictures and thought I should share them with our local community. The Argus is our local paper so I went ahead. It’s been great when my pics have been chosen – sadly never been picture of the day/week but did have two pics featured one day which was a nice feeling.

A kingfisher at Brooklands

What tips or advice do you have for others who want to take up photography?

Sometimes it’s just about patience, I have an idea of what I want to take and it might be several days before I capture it right. Things just appear sometimes and you have to take a picture and see what you can do with it. I try and think outside the box to get dramatic pictures or maybe I can make them more so by manipulating them with filters etc.

A fishing boat at Worthing

Anything else you’d like to tell us?

Just enjoy the art and cheer other people up. That’s the nicest thing when people compliment you on your work.