Charles Henderson but it wasn’t until he bought his first professional film has always been interested in cameras, camera about 20 years ago that he developed his love for photography. He has since produced an impressive body of work that revolves around his own rule of thumb: shooting locations within 10 miles of home. For Charles, who lives in Magherafelt, Northern Ireland, this means taking in the views from atop the Sperrin Mountains, watching the sun rise and set over freshwater lake Lough Neagh, and strolling through the Iniscarn Fores. And although it’s technically outside of his self-imposed radius, Charles admits that the rugged north coast can’t be beaten for photographic opportunities. These natural environments have inspired his work, which mainly comprise landscapes, wildlife, and flower photography.
Lough Neagh at Ballyronan, N.Ireland – Sunrise 02, 2015
Color Digital Photography
16” x 24”
As a civil engineer working in road construction, Charles shoots in his spare time on weekends, nights, early mornings and holidays. To help improve his skills, he has spent a great deal of time poring over photography books and magazines and studying the works of his biggest influences, Joe Cornish, Charlie Waite and Colin Prior to improve his technique, camera-craft and post-production which are fundamental to the making of high quality photographs. Charles feels strongly, though, that his work never looks like a carbon copy of others. He continues to search for unique locations and methods, always shooting what appeals to him rather than what he thinks might appeal to others. It is the taking of an image itself, Charles believes, that satisfies a craving deep within the photographer, and that the product of feeding that addiction – the final image – has the unexpected power to elicit deep emotions from others. That, he argues, is the beauty of the craft and why people like himself choose to pursue it.
Portsewart – Red Sky, 2009
Color Digital Photography
16” x 24”