Tony Cobley Lecture

We were fortunate enough to have Tony Cobley visit the College to lecture us on his experiences in the photographic world. He started trading in April 2005 and has since then become a fully qualified associate of of the British Institute of Professional Photography. He offers creative contemporary photography to a wide range of businesses in the Devon and Cornwall area. He was also a student at PCA he gained a lot of experience by assisting various photographers in the field.  This led him to start his own freelance work and starting his own business.

I found the lecture very interesting as it gave me knowledge into what freelance work is available and the various directions it could go. After the lecture we were lucky enough to have a workshop with him in where we would swap roles and act as professional clients, assistants and photographers in the workplace. The workshop included using portable flash lighting like the ones he would use when going to a clients location.

The settings on the camera were ISO 100, F8 at 1/60.

We used two elinchrom quadra flash heads for this shoot. The key light was focused on the subject while the fill light light up the background.

I was the photographers assistant and had to help set up lighting (which included taking light meter readings) and taking notes of the action at hand.

I thought this was a really fun exercise in which I learnt about composition in the workplace and use full potential of the environment around you. It also made me realise that sometimes you need to adjust to the limited space thats around you.





I thought it would be nice to get ask a few questions to the man himself to go along with the lecture. I emailed him and was grateful that he got back.

Why did you choose photography?
Always been into it since 12 years old as a hobby. Decided to do it as a job and retrain in my 30's. 
Because it is what I love doing.


Who was your main inspiration?
Here's some:
Ansel Adams: Combining landscape photography with ecological and conservational views that were ahead of his time.
Joe Cornish: His meticulous  yet "organic" approach to the landscape and representation of colour.
Martin Parr: Documentary irony and satire.
Henri Cartier-Bresson: that moment!
Marcus Davies: Formal qualities and compositional techniques- I often think about what Marcus taught me.


What area of photography do you prefer the most?
Landscape/ wild unspoilt places.
Documentary- run down/ spoilt places.
People- capturing beauty and personality.


Do you prefer to use film or digital?
I love film- fast grainy B&W and the colour you get from colour tranny.
But I don't get too worried about this- it's all about the image rather then the medium.


What advice would you give to a photography student?
Be passionate
Shoot loads
Enjoy it
Show your work to others
Visit every exhibition you can
Never miss a chance to talk with Marcus Davies