Gillian Allard has been involved in photography for many years, so we asked her to explore in a illustrated photo-talk how both her creativity and approach to making photographs has evolved in a way that is inspiring and is an entertaining experience for NDPS members.
Gillian has called her talk tonight Through the Looking Glass’ - the talk will, however, be in some ways be retrospective and will explore how our creativity evolves with us and the how relationship between all facets of our experience is a part of our life 'through the lens’.
Gillian Allard is a photographic artist and educator based in Suffolk, UK. She studied Photojournalism at the London College of Printing in 1988, going on to work as a freelance photographer. In 1990 Gillian began studying for her Masters at the Royal College of Art, graduating with a Distinction. In 2017 Gillian won Sky Arts, Master of Photography, an 8 week television contest based in Rome.
During lockdown Gillian worked on a portfolio of colour landscape photographs entitled Close to Home and further developed the process of printing photographs and archival imagery onto alternative surfaces such as wood, concrete and flint.
Gillian began teaching photography in 1995 and qualified formally in 2013. She has taught in school, college and university settings. Since 2108, she has also designed programmes for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, adults with learning difficulties, created on-line programmes during lockdown for all ages and abilities and collaborated on sessions for adults with diagnosed mental health needs. Gillian works for public sector organisations and charities to deliver her programmes. They include Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Artlink, Suffolk Libraries & NEACO.
“Without really understanding how she does it, I’ve seen Gillian support young people who’ve never taken photography before to create beautiful images that also speak of the reality of their lived experience, their dreams for the future, and their reflections on their past. She is an exceptional artist with the rare ability to share her practice without ever compromising on the complexity or the quality of the work that she empowers others to create. ”
About NDPS Special Presentations
Every month at Norwich and District Photographic Society there is the opportunity to hear inspirational photographic talks by photographers who are recognised to be at the top of their game and renowned specialists in their field of photography. The quality and range of subjects included in these Special Presentations are we believe unequalled both here in Norfolk and much further afield. Further, arguably alone they more than justify the cost of becoming a member of the Society.
The annual programme for the 2021-2022 Season that begins in September and runs through to the end of June 2023 is well advanced and has been designed to offer a broad range of excellent speakers who will cover, as in past seasons, a far reaching range of photographic genre.
Members of the Society are normally able to attend Special Presentations free of charge. However, NON-MEMBERS wanting to attend a Special Presentation can usually purchase a guest ticket prior to the event. Guest tickets (subject to availability) must be purchased in advance and are only available from our ticketing partner Eventbrite.co.uk.
Please note the ticket office for each individual presentation is not open until approximately ONE month prior to the date of the presentation when all arrangements for the evening have been agreed and confirmed between the presenter and the Society.
ABOUT ONLINE PRESENTATIONS
During the coronavirus pandemic the Society put together a revised programme of Special Presentations that were presented online. These online events proved to be very successful, with good attendance and we thank all our speakers and members who have adapted to this medium. Post-covid we envisage that we shall continue to make full use of the available technologies to deliver our Special Presentations. In the past year online presenttions has widened our reach and we have hosted speakers from the furthest points in the UK, throughout Europe and much wider afield from Australia and the United States.
We don’t intend to allow geography to be a reason for not heaing from the very best photographers worldwide in future seasons. Equally, we shall evolve to ensure this is achieved in the most effective way for our members
