Mike Martin
Photography specialism:
General
Favoured papers:
Fotospeed Platinum Gloss Art Fibre 300gsm and PF Lustre 275gsm
Club / Regional activity
Mike is a member of Kingswood PS and Bristol PS.
A keen participant in Club photography he has won numerous awards for both prints and projected images. An avid supporter of regional competitions he has enjoyed success both individually and representing his club, with numerous acceptances, commended images, several judge/selector’s ribbons and best to date, a bronze medal. His images have also been used by the WCPF at national PAGB level on multiple occasions.
In the 2018-9 season Mike has quickly established himself as a valued member of Bristol PS winning half of the major awards (Quarterly prints, annual PDI and Print panel) as well as representing the Bristol PS in the regional and national competitions. Following co-instructing a successful creative Photoshop course in April, Mike is now taking a lead on image processing (Photoshop) and studio work in their annual photography course.
Salons and Exhibitions
Mike is also an active participant in International Salons, supporting those in the south west primarily, having regularly gained acceptance in the Bristol Salon, as well as Southampton, Cheltenham, Frome and Wessex, the Welsh Internationals when entered. He also had a print accepted into the London Salon in its centenary year.
Mike has also supported the Mono Only national battle since inception, receiving a highly commended for his print in the inaugural competition.
Mike has also had prints exhibited as part of the Bath Fringe festival 2017.
Most recently he was awarded the Salon Medal in the GB Small Print Salon 2018 hosted by Solway CC and multiple acceptances images in the Bristol Salon 2019.
Magazines, print and on-line
Beyond the club / regional scene, Mike is a keen contributor to magazine competitions, winning on a number of these, as well as writing features for a number of photography magazines. Photos or features have appeared in Amateur Photography, Practical Photography, Advanced Photography, Digital SLR, Digital Camera, Photography News, The Photographer Academy yearbook. On-line (including websites with print on demand publications) Vogue Italia, Femme Rebelle, Jazzy Girl, Nephilim, Dark Beauty, etc.
Mike is a member of a number of local, national and international on-line photography communities and has won a number of awards including runner up in the Wilkinson Digital Splash photographer of the year 2018 featured on their blog in February. Work was exhibited on Creative Background and Appleton Travel stands at the Photography Show. His work also is included in the current (July 2019) issue of Photography News.
Judging
Building on Mike’s success in monthly competitions for the National Photographic Society, Mike was invited to join the judging panel and since the beginning of 2018 has lead the judging for their monthly competition.
Mentoring
Mike enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience and does so freely and often. Over the last year he has taken a more formal role as one of the mentors for the NPS and now assists on workshops instructing on lighting and using the location.
Volunteering
Mike was approached by the Photographers with Disabilities charity last year to organise their monthly portrait shoots and assisting those with physical and learning disabilities both on studio practice / lighting / tuition and with general knowledge of photography and Photoshop.
Lectures – “Shooting People and other stuff”, “The making of……”
Since taking early retirement at the end of 2016, Mike has focused his time on developing his creative approach to photography, something he enjoys sharing, whether knowledge and experience of studio lighting, portrait photography or use of Photoshop. In the last year this has developed on a more formal basis as a club speaker with his lecture “Shooting People and other stuff” illustrated with many of his prints.
Visit Mikes Website to see more of his work here
Follow Mike on Social Media
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