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Since joining Americymru Alan Evans has contributed many interesting and provocative discussions, video clips and photographs. Today we thought our members would like to learn more about him and his photography. Well have to leave his many other interests for a later discussion.

Americymru: Were you always interested in photography? What other interests do you have?

Alan: I was given my first camera as a Christmas present when I was about nine years of age. Photography always interested me and seemed like a glamourous occupation. I was always experimenting but lacked the formal training. At forty I enrolled on a BA honours photography course at art college. I was still using film and the digital revolution was about to take off. The formal learning gave me more confidence and established a clearer identification of what my work was about. I have many other interests including sport, early childhood education and cookery.

Americymru: What factors influenced you to become a photographer and chronicler of people and places? Have you always had an interest in photography? How did you prepare yourself to enter the profession?

Alan: I always admired the work of French photographer Robert Doiseneau and saw his work as a benchmark to aim for. People have always interested me and I have found myself chatting to people from all walks of life. I believe that the social interaction is an important part in the process of photographing people. When the subject has relaxed you get a truer representation of the personality. I guess my preparation is based in my upbringing, one of four brothers brought up on a large working class council estate in Llanelli. There really was no place to hide and you had to deal with all sorts of life issues.

Americymru: Do you have a favorite subject matter? Why do you like shooting this type of subject? My favourite subject mater is people.

Alan: I find the human face fascinating. Everyone is equal but different. The human face can provide so much information about life itself. I love shooting portraiture because it allows me to look very closely at a fellow human being. I feel like a scientist observing the subject matter.

Americymru: What is your favorite medium, digital or film and why? Do you shoot in both?

Alan: I love shooting with film because it slows the process down. You have to think a lot more about the fundamentals of photography with a film camera. There is something that challenges your confidence when using film. There is no second chance, delete, re shoot. Everything has to be correct so you go through the technicalities over and over again. I still use film but the demand to provide images within minutes to a client means that it becoming unrealistic to use film. I tend to take digital and film only using film when things have settled down.

Americymru: What is your opinion of photo enhancement programs as a photographer? As an artist?

Alan: I am very snobby about photo enhancement. My bleief is that if you can't shoot it in camera then you're not up to it. I have not really got into photo enhancement programmes other than Photoshop for adjusting the curves which is similar to giving the negative more or less time at the development stage.

Americymru: Your portraits are especially appealing to me, that is not to say that your other subjects are not appealing. How do you get your subjects to reveal their inner selves, to you? How do you choose your subjects?

Alan: It takes time and some mutual respect for the subject. I love to chat with people and this is probable a contributing factor to the final image. I will be chatting for a while and then casually raise the camera and start taking photos. I usually keep chatting and the camera seems to become non threatening to the subject. I keep talking whilst taking the photos. Given time the subject drops their guard and you start to see the true personality. I guess it is the same for most people when you meet them for the first time. More often than not the people I photograph are not usually photographed.

Americymru: In addition to portraits and commercial photography, you have exhibited a wide variety of landscapes and seascapes in both area and time. Do you travel to a specific area to shoot landscapes and seascapes or do you just keep your eyes open for a good shot when there? How much of your time is spent on looking for the shot?

Alan: I tend to base my landscapes and seascapes around days out with the family. We arrive at a destination and if the light is right, I disappear for most of the day and sometimes most of the evening. we are lucky to live in an area of outstanding natural beauty so wherever we travel, there is going to be some form of landscape to photograph. I would like to spend more time looking for the shot but I am lazy. I prefer to lay on the beach all day. The window of opportunity for landscapes is early morning or dusk.

Americymru: Based on your experience, what advice would you offer to a person who may be considering photography as a career? What do you feel separates the amateur photographer from the professional?

Alan: I would say that you should find an area of photography which really interests you. Improvise with the equipment you have and fine tune your skills in your specialist area. Look at the work of the greats in your specialist area and learn from them. Experiment to a point and accept the limitations of your camera. The amateur takes photographs everywhere the professional sees photographs everywhere but only takes the ones which count.

Americymru: The recognition that all artists seek is to share their art with others, and hope that they will buy your art. Do you have any planned or existing exhibitions? How do you sell photographs which have not been commissioned? Do you have a website where our members can view or buy your work?

Alan: Like all artists I am tortured and suffer for my art. I have a continual lack of confidence in the quality and value of my work. There is a great fear of rejection when exhibiting work. I tend to stay clear of the exhibition space when my work is on display. If someone buys it then this is a bonus. My website is probably my main exhibition space although I have not really promoted my art based photography which tends to be the nude form. This is because my main website is accessed by people of all ages. Ironically it is these images which sell the most. I am passionate about the people and the area in which I live and work. I have a few websites. The Art Based work can be viewed at www.thebeautifulnude.co.uk My main site is www.alanevansphotography.co.uk My work documenting horse racing in Carmarthenshire is on www.ffoslasphotography.com

Americymru: Do you have any final comment for the readers and members of Americymru?

Alan: Keep you camera handy and the sun on your back

Interview by: Howard Evans

There is a word that allows for poverty to become extinct, for war to be eradicated and famine to cease to be. There is a beautiful, brilliant word for this it is PEACE. Alex Pasley (16), Llangollen Peace Message Winner, 2009.

Terry Waite is a well-travelled man but few journeys have meant as much to him in recent years as his recent visit to Gaiman, Patagonia. This small village (population 6000) in the Argentinian heartland was founded in 1865 when 150 Welsh immigrants arrived here on their ship the Mimosa and now, in the twenty first century, the community has retained much of its inherent Welshness.

Its incredible when you walk the streets and hear this wondrous mixture of Spanish and Welsh, says Terry. Im convinced that Gaiman is a unique place in terms of its linguistic and cultural make-up and, I must admit that I was completely entranced and enchanted by it.

Being a predominantly Welsh village of course, music was very much in the air and Terry Waite soon encountered the sweeping tones of a local choir.

What a sound! Those voices were absolutely amazing! And the peculiar thing is- if you closed your eyes, and tried your best to ignore the heat, you would have sworn that youd just been transported back into the Dee valley!

There was an important reason for Terry Waites pilgrimage to Gaiman because Terry is the President of theLlangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and he took with him a message from the Festival- a message of goodwill, peace and (appropriately enough) harmony.

I think people sometimes forget that Llangollen was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize back in 2004, says Terry. The Llangollen peace message has become an integral part of the festival and I thought it would be marvellous to deliver a message of my own, from Llangollen- in the heart of the homeland- to other side of the world. My words would hopefully echo the noble sentiments of the famous Llangollen peace message.

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod takes place between July 5 ^th and 11th and, this year, the festival expects to attract competitors from Patagonia. In addition to the competitive events and the pageantry and colour a series of Gala Concerts this year will feature such luminaries as Nigel Kennedy, Only Men Aloud, Karl Jenkins and Bond.

The Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir invites you to celebrate St. Davids Day on Monday, March 1st, 2010, beginning with the annual raising of the Red Dragon at Toronto City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, at 4 pm. The oldest National flag still in use will fly proudly celebrating the Patron Saint of Wales. Being a land rich in tradition, music will ring out as members of the TWMVC join the community to sing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

The Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir creates the unique sound of four part Welsh voice harmony, performing a variety of songs from the coal mines of Wales to North American spirituals and much loved opera choruses with the passion and reverence for music that has made Welsh choirs famous for over a hundred years.

The St. Davids Day Concert ~ Cyngerdd Dydd Gwyl Dewi ~ featuring the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir and Guest Soloist, Shannon Mercer, takes place on Monday, March 1st, 7:30 pm at 3050 Yonge Street, Suite 206T, Toronto, Ontario M4N 2K4. Enjoy the rich culture and heritage of Wales with a bounty of music under the baton of William Woloschuk, Artistic Director, and Julie Loveless, Accompanist.

Wrapping it all together is Christopher Thomas as the Master of Ceremonies, who is proud of his Welsh heritage and contributes to the evenings festivities celebrating the Land of Song.

The Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir was founded in 1995 to preserve in Canada the rich culture and heritage of a small country with only approximately 2.5 million people, roughly the population of Toronto spread over a geographic area the size of Lake Ontario, The Choir sings with a purpose believing that The world just wouldn't be the same without music.

For more information or Tickets to the Concert, please contact www.roythomson.com or 416-872-4255 or 416-410-2254, www.twmvc.com .

Most of our members and readers will be acquainted with Geoff Brookes excellent blog on this site. Likewise most of you will be aware that he is the author of 'Stories in Welsh Stone' . One reviewer described the book in the following terms:- "This book hits on the clever, evocative idea of retelling fifteen of Waless most infamous murders or mysterious deaths by focussing on the gravestones. The graves and landscapes around them are depicted in beautiful photographs and each story is accompanied by directions to find the grave."

The Western Mail described it as:- "a colourful and handsome book about passion, drama, injustice and tragedy."

We are challenging our readers to answer the following three questions in order to win a copy of Geoff's book. The answers can all be found in one or other of his blogposts which you will find listed on this page:- Geoff's Blog .

1. What was the name of the fighter pilot who died when his Hurricane crashed on the beach at Llanddona in Anglesey in January 1942?

2. Which town in Wales owes its name to a spring called Ffynnon Llwynygog?

3. The parish of St Ishmael lies on the estuary of which Welsh river?

The competition is open to everyone. You do not need to be a member of Americymru to participate. Please send all entries to americymrucontest@gmail.com and title them Stories in Welsh Stone in the subject line. Only one entry per email address is permitted. Duplicates will be disqualified.

The winning entry will be selected randomly by line number from the email address above and announced onsite on St Davids Day March 1st 2010. The winner will be contacted by email. Best of luck:)

An Interview With Geoff Brookes

'Stories In Welsh Stone'