Working as a commercial photographer, I get to photograph a variety of subjects and people and today was no exception. I was down in Newark to photograph violin maker and restorer Paul Gosling and his apprentice Florienne, a French girl living and working in Newark. Although the workshop was very small, and had little room for setting up lighting, I managed to get a speedlight in place in a small softbox and used this as a key light and matched it to the ambient light coming through the small sash window. It’s a real pleasure to see that craftsmen like Paul still exist and I watched in awe as he carved freehand the scroll for the top of a cello he was constructing from scratch by hand! Over on the other side of the room, Florienne was carefull stripping a cello down for repair using a tiny paintbrush and alcohol to disolve the ancient animal glue that held it together. Don’t get me wrong, I shoot with some VERY expensive cameras and lenses but my photography gear seems cheap and good value alongside the price of some if those vintage violins!!
Yorkshire Commercial photographer: Portrait of a craftsman
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