Photography by Tom Lane

Home Page | Intro | Photo Index

Introduction

 

Born in Leigh, Lancashire in 1948, this 'lad' became interested in photography after buying a 120 format camera, whilst on a school trip to Belgium, in about 1962. I enjoyed taking the actual photographs but in those days could rarely afford to get them developed.

All that changed in 1966 when I went to work with VSO/Save the Children Fund in Jordan. I bought a Yashica 35mm rangefinder camera and started to shoot Kodak Kodachrome slides. Whilst in the Middle East, I obtained a Yashica-Mat 120 Twin Lens Reflex and discovered a love for black and white prints.

The inevitable upgrade to Leica 111a and double-wind M3 came in 1968, along with a 'box room' to 'darkroom' conversion.

In 1975 a job opportunity came up in Zambia, Central Africa and with an aim of changing careers, from engineering to photography, the Leica's were replaced with an 'almost new' Nikkormat and a second-hand Nikon Photomic F, plus an array of lens. The tennis and social life on the African continent was wonderful and I'm still an engineer!

A five year stint in Dubai was next stop and I couldn't afford not to update the Nikons with the 'give-away' prices in those days. F3's and a series of zoom lenses became the work-horse of the eighties. Having raced motor-cross in the Middle East, when it became time to leave, it seemed sensible to sell the 'bikes' and buy a Hasselblad 6 x 6 outfit. The system is wonderful, but because of the weight and size mine is still in showroom condition.

I still had fond memories of the Leica quality and justified or not, whilst in Tokyo, bought an M6 and 50mm lens for my 25th Wedding Anniversary; don't ask what my wife got! For me, there is nothing like Leica M's for build and image quality and during a seven year stay in Asia, based out of Singapore, a second M6 body and numerous lenses completed a comprehensive outfit.

Since 1998 we have lived back in UK but still travel extensively. The 'panoramic' format became a fascination and the Hasselblad xPan has produced some great images. It is used selectively as the elongated pictures can become tiresome and if not careful, a 'trade mark'.

No-one would have ever thought I would have gone digital, but with Nikon's impending introduction of the D2x I got a great deal on a D1x around Christmas time 2004 and I love it. Digital has opened up a new world; without spending hours in the darkroom I can produce prints, projected images and web pages, in fact, do anything that any of the other formats can do; all with one camera.

The Leica lenses are polished and waiting for the arrival of the digital M series body, that's going to be some combination, if and when it happens!