My most successful pictures either tell a story or contain detail that requires the viewer to look and seek images within images. Consequently not all my pictures have immediate impact but most have ongoing appeal. All techniques applied to my photographs are subtle with the intention that the viewer will focus on the image’s pictorial content rather than wondering how it was created.
Anne Sutcliffe
I was initially inspired and taught by my father, John Sutcliffe FRPS. My enthusiasm for photography as a hobby took off when I bought and fell in love with the newly introduced auto focus Minolta 7000 SLR camera in 1986.
I achieved the accolade of Licentiateship of the Royal Photographic Society in 1989 and met Alan Millward FRPS. Alan has become my soul mate and together with my father has inspired and taught me ever since. After a long engagement, Alan and i were married in November 2009. My father is now 98 years old and remains a member of the Royal Photographic Society although he closed his darkroom in 2005.
In 1991 I became an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society with a panel of transparencies that are most easily described as environmental portraiture. The images in my successful panel were all taken in Rajasthan.
By 1992, I had a significant number of acceptances in international photographic exhibitions sponsored by the Photographic Society of America and the Federation Internationale de l’Art Photographique.
My photographs were accepted in pictorial, nature and photo-travel sections. Despite this success, my style was ill defined. After eleven years of effort which included mastering darkroom colour printing and latterly digital printing, I eventually found ‘my style’ and in 2003 was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society (FRPS). Shortly afterward, I became Artiste Federation Internationale de l’Art Photographique (AFIAP). In 2009, following further exhibition success I was awarded my EFIAP.
For many years I was a member of Solihull Photographic Society serving as Press Officer, Vice President and President. I am now a member of the most vibrant club in the West Midlands, Smethwick Photographic Society and this year rejoined Solihull PS.
I have been honoured by invitations to become a member of the Eyecon Group and The London Salon of Photography. I am a member of the panel assessing applications for Licentiateship of the Royal Photographic Society and in 2010 was appointed as one of its chairmen. In 2011 I was elected to the Advisory Board of the Royal Photographic Society.
I enjoy lecturing and judging club competitions. Both these activities allow me to share my knowledge and enthusiasm for photography. I have also judged international photographic exhibitions in England, Scotland, Ireland and the USA.