The month swings round with alarming speed and it’s time for the switch over at the Tea Amantes cafe and gallery. This time a very different photography follows on from the street snapping of the last show. David Simper popped along to see it.
For once, the service 61 bus let me down and, while I had time to walk to catch the service 3 instead, this meant that I was later than usual at the Tea Amantes gallery. However, on entering, there was still plenty going on and plenty of nibbles, mostly featuring chocolate, which is always good.
I straight away took a turn around the pieces. When it comes to travel photography, and these include a lot of urban landscape pics, there is a fine line between holiday snaps and art. George has landed firmly on the side of art.
The show is described as showcasing stunning landscapes captured during George’s travels to some of the world’s most remarkable places. It aims to highlight the essence of exploration, from wilderness to mountain peaks. The pictures capture the excitement and beauty of the natural world.
George was close to besieged by his adoring fans, not to mention discussing tattooing with Shamack. However, after consuming quite a weight in nibbles, I managed to grab him for a few questions.
Was your odyssey a planned tour, or a spontaneous thing?
A lot of the collection is spontaneous, but I do have a list in my head of pictures that I want to get in my lifetime. A lot of them are ticking off that list of ideas that I’ve had, that I want to achieve. There are a lot I would still like to go to – whether I do, now we’re doing the house up, we’ll see. South East Asia is a big one – there’s a lot of pictures that I’d like to get with wildlife. There’s a whale shark picture that I’d like to get in the Philippines for example. I’ve actually just had a tattoo of a whale shark.
What was you first inspiration to take up photography?
When we went to family parties as a kid, my parents used to send me round with a camera and say ‘get pictures’. So I always used to be wandering round getting pictures and always had a camera.
Favourite photographer?
I actually like a lot of Instagram photography. There is a Hawaiian guy who does a lot of cool stuff. I feel like the lifestyle he has, where he just goes to the beach and goes surfing on his lunch break, it’s just very cool.
Film, digital or both?
I wish I knew how to do film – we never got taught it. I’d like to do metal plate photography, darkroom stuff, that would be cool. I like the idea of film, but I’ve never really tried it enough. I take disposable cameras round with me, so that’s the furthest I’ve got, but for ease of use I’d say digital.
How do you see the future?
Keep travelling, keep taking pictures – keep trying to show the world animals and nice moments.
Is this a career or hobby?
I’d love to make it a career, that would be great. I’ve always said tourism would be fantastic to get into – for somebody to say, ‘we’re going to send you here and we want you to get as many cool pictures as you can to sell our country’, that would be fantastic. But for now it’s a hobby.
Thanks to George for taking the time to speak to me.
These are excellent photographs. In the most beautiful places, the choice of shots can be overwhelming, but George has chosen well. He’s made the most of his opportunities. While I’m a dedicated monochrome film man, these work very well in colour. Ten out of ten for getting to these places, I have never been so intrepid.
With the Tea Amantes team clearing up, it was time to leave and catch the service 3a home, for a supper of soup and bread. Another pleasant evening.
The exhibition is on display until 4th May 2025. I don’t think I’ve said for a while that Tea Amantes is sited on the corner of Albert Road and Coronation Street, to the rear of the Houndshill Centre.
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