FROM TAKING PICTURES TO FINDING MEANING IN PICTURES

Norwich & District Photographic Society’s Programme Team first became aware of Reverend John Potter’s about two years ago and booked him to speak to the Society’s members about his photographic journey which he describes as a change from ‘taking photos’ to finding meaning in pictures. Unfortunately, along came covid, plans got cancelled and we have had a couple of aborted attempts to get John along to speak.

NDPS are therefore pleased that the relaxation in covid restrictions makes it possible for John to talk at our new venue; The Interactive Studio at City Academy Norwich, tonight.

John’s talk will cover the transition from his former career as a press photographer to expressing my faith as a Christian and making use of it as a minister.

About Reverend John Potter in his own words:

Hi. I am John Potter, 61 years old, married to Pauline Rate and we live in Eaton Rise, Norwich. Our adult son, Dannie, is away studying classical civilisations at Newcastle University. We share our home with our yellow Labrador, Toby, who has two pet humans that keep him in the luxury he deserves!

Pauline is a retired minister in the United Reformed Church and I am also a minister serving, along with a part-time colleague, a group of five URC’s in the Norwich Area. As you can imagine work can be all-consuming at times, but Toby takes me for regular walks and that’s when I usually take the camera with me, which is my main hobby these days.

I originally got into photography at secondary school in Colchester (Essex) through a piece of great good fortune. It has been decided that I was a lost cause in the art classes, but in my very last lesion we learned how to develop a film. I was hooked! Encouraged by a teacher and an uncle, I read and learned everything I could and just kept going being self-taught. After a while I got my first SLR – a “Zenith E” (which I still own) and managed to set up a darkroom for black and white in the loft at my parent’s house.

Once I completed my A levels (the photography one wasn’t on offer) I applied for the only press photography course in the country and got one of the 10 places out of 300 applicants. The course was based at West Bromwich Technical College 78 to 79. From there I got a job at the Coventry Evening Telegraph as a Photographer -progressing from indentured trainee to senior (July 1979 – April 1988).

I then joined a press agency based in Birmingham “News Team International” (April 1988 – December 1990). I moved onto the Daily News, Birmingham (January 1991 – June 1991) as a photographer, and later promoted to chief photographer. Sadly, the daily paper closed, but changed into a weekly called “The Metro News” where I was Picture Editor, but left in 1992 as I was head-hunted back to News Team as their chief photographer. I then became self-employed as a freelance photographer and lecturer in photography (March 1998 to July 2000) based in Cambridge where I had moved to when Pauline and I were married, and she was training for the ministry. While we were there Dannie was born and I gave up work to be his main carer.

Pauline was ordained into her first pastorate in Gloucester in 2000 and whilst we were there I eventually gave in to God’s persistent nudging and began the lengthy process of offering to serve as a minister myself. I started training on a course in Birmingham and was awarded a Diploma in Applied Theological Studies, accredited through Birmingham University, in November 2005. I was ordained in September 2007 to serve in Thamesmead, east London at Church of the Cross which covered several denominations. I left Church of the Cross in December 2011 and was inducted along with my wife Pauline, to jointly serve three churches of the East Leicester Fellowship in January 2012. I then moved to Norwich to serve in NAURC in summer of 2016 where I have been since.

The enjoyment of photography has never left me though and I have continued as a ‘snapper’ and found many uses for it in church settings.

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 programme for the 2021-2022 Season 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. Whilst there remains some uncertainty regarding how quickly we shall return to the new normality after covid we will continue to take a flexible approach and only announce the final details about a month before each presentation.

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 NDPS 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