PHOTOGRAPHS showing the hidden and unexpected are being exhibited in Cumbria.
Artist Tom McLaughlan, 60, originally from Dumfries, has his first exhibition at Hallbankgate Hub.
His ‘ministract’ photographs, a portmenteau of minimal and abstract, are images of buildings and structures that shows their subjects in a completely new way.
A photographer of 15 years, Tom explained his passion: “It was really an attempt to get some balance into my life because I’ve got a very busy job, and I needed something else to do.
“I took up photography, my wife and I had a deal because she started running marathons, and she gave me a list of marathons around the world, and I picked the locations that I was interested in taking photos.
“For example, Milan, she ran a marathon there and I took a lot of photos.
“A group of five of us that were photographers from around the world would get together and would meet in European capitals and take photos together.
“It really was a hobby and it was only about two months ago when someone at the hub saw the pictures and said ‘Would you like to do an exhibition?’.
“I’ve never had one before. I had a photo in a hospital in Italy once where the consultant wanted to show a picture on the wall to help people who were in end-of-life care, and he felt they were soothing, but this is my first solo exhibition.”
He describes the photos as wistful moments that come wrapped in a blurry ‘schmocus’, which he said was another word for the more formal ‘shallow field of depth’, which in simple terms means intentional blurriness.
This exhibition is for charity as well, with all proceeds from sales going to Dementia Carers Count, which Tom said was a godsend for him.
His father, who lives in Kirkhouse, has dementia, and recently he has been taking care of him.
He explained: “Me and my dad would walk around the tarn until we couldn’t walk any further, just taking photos and having fun.
“He’s lived up here for 30 years and it’s been my second home for that long, but since last July I’ve been up here most of the time since December full-time.
“We call ourselves the odd couple, we have a great time, but I’m his live-in carer and the charity has helped me to understand how to go about it in the best way, they’re fantastic.”
The exhibition is running now until April 29, 2023.
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