Photographer’s solo exhibition at Erina

At the age of 71, Terrigal photographer Norman Haskell is set to launch his first self-funded solo exhibition at the Erina Centre on July 18.

“When I was in first year at uni a long time ago, in 1970, a camera was given to me by my mother,” Haskell said.

“It was an old German camera which had belonged to her mother and I began to experiment with black and white photography.

“Eventually I even had my own darkroom.”

After putting photography on the back burner for several decades, Haskell reignited his interest when digital photography started to take off in the early 2000s.

“I began getting serious about digital photography and have taken more than 300,000 photos over the years,” he said.

“I describe my style as eclectic.

“I shoot a lot of landscapes, flowers, insects, animals, people – but I always look for subjects which have a story to them.

“I look for the message in the image and that’s what drives me.”

Haskell said having his own exhibition had long been on his bucket list.

“I will have between 20 and 30 images on show, with most of them for sale,” he said.

“I know there are a lot of photographers out there but I like to think my work is really creative.

“I try to capture subjects which are not standard and use unusual methods such as incorporating metallic paper and shooting with a wide-angle lens from unusual angles.

“I am absolutely over the moon to show my work.”

Haskell recently took second prize in the inaugural Robertson Photography Competition, which attracted more than 50 entries.

People living in the electorate were asked to take striking photographs of areas on the Central Coast and to send them into the office of Member for Robertson Gordon Reid.

Haskell’s photo Morning Sun on the Skillion will take pride of place on Reid’s office wall, along with works by first place winner Alan Murray of Woy Woy and third place getter Merrillie Redden of Koolewong.

“This was basically the first competition I ever entered and I was absolutely stoked with second place,” Haskell said.

“I was blown away when I got that phone call.”

Reid said it was a difficult process selecting three winning prizes because the quality of every entry was beyond our expectations.

“Every entry was spectacular, and it was a challenging process choosing three that would receive a prize,” Reid said.

“We certainly live in one of the most beautiful regions in the country and these photographs definitely demonstrate that.”

Norman Haskell’s exhibition Retrospective will show at the Erina Centre gallery from Tuesday, July 18, until Friday, August 4.

It will include a selection of Australian and Central Coast photographic images on various media.

Opening hours are 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 9am-1pm Saturday.

Terry Collins