On Thursday 15th October, we were delighted to welcome photographer John Gill to Pudsey Camera Club to talk about his long-running project, After the Coal Dust.
It was a fantastic evening. John was a fascinating speaker, and his approach to both photography and his subjects, along with his sense of humour, went down brilliantly with the members.
Photographing life after the pits
In 1984, Yorkshire had 56 collieries. Today there are none. The last, Kellingley, closed in December 2015, ending deep coal mining in Britain. After the Coal Dust, the work of John and his wife Bridget, looks at life in the former mining communities now that the industry has gone.
The photographs are honest and unfussy, and often funny. They show these places with warmth and without sentimentality. John took us through the project and the thinking behind it, and he made it clear that good documentary photography is about patience, curiosity and a real interest in people.
For many of us, the work also had a strong local resonance. Personally, as someone whose own photography is drawn to people, place and community, John’s work really struck a chord. Since moving back from Asia I’ve struggled to find my feet photographing closer to home, and his talk has shown me that there’s a rich subject right here on my own doorstep.
Why speakers like John matter to our club
Evenings like this are what we aim for at Pudsey Camera Club. We want our members to hear from photographers with a real body of work and a story to tell, whatever their level or style. A talk like John’s can change how you look at your own pictures, and it often sends people home itching to get out with a camera.
John has taken After the Coal Dust to camera clubs and photographic societies across the country, and the project is also available as a book. If you’d like to see more, you can find him online:
A big thank you to John for a wonderful evening.
Come and join us
Pudsey Camera Club welcomes photographers of every level, from complete beginners to experienced enthusiasts. Alongside guest speakers, our programme includes competitions, workshops and more. Come along as a guest and see for yourself: Meeting are held every Thursday evening at 7:30 a Pudsey Library.
