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Prior to the summer break it was a treat to hear graduation news from one particular ex-student: Clayton Ross-Treacher, who – alongside his fellow A level photography class mates – certainly kept me on my toes for two years. I’ve hinted before at some of their ‘Abandoned’ exploits, although the full extent of the mischief remains best not shared. As it was they all survived the course – literally, in itself a cause for celebration – and moved on to brighter and better things. I was delighted to hear of his First in Photography from Manchester University, and even more curious when I saw images of his remarkable glass-blowing exploits.
What was your pathway after school?
I completed two years at St. Peters Sixth form studying Business Studies, Photography, and Drama and Theatre Studies. I thoroughly enjoyed these subjects but decided Photography was what I wanted to further. From here I studied a Foundation degree in Art and Design at The Arts University College, Bournemouth, eventually specialising in photography. On Foundation I found my first paid work within the photographic industry, working as an assistant to professional event photographers.
Three months in to my Foundation year I applied to study Photography at Brighton, Nottingham, Bournemouth and Manchester. I was offered unconditional places from all universities but decided to study in Manchester.
Do you feel that studying photography at school was a good preparation for these next stages?
Definitely. Choosing to study Photography at A-level was the start of everything I have achieved over the past 5 years. It was the beginning of my further education. A Level was the perfect introduction, where I began to experiment with my own ideas and also collaborate with my peers. I enjoyed the freedom of this new self-experimentation whilst having invaluable support and guidance from my teachers and technicians. Alongside learning about the history and processes in photography I was able to create a strong portfolio to accompany my Art and Design Foundation application.
Definitely. Choosing to study Photography at A-level was the start of everything I have achieved over the past 5 years. It was the beginning of my further education. A Level was the perfect introduction, where I began to experiment with my own ideas and also collaborate with my peers. I enjoyed the freedom of this new self-experimentation whilst having invaluable support and guidance from my teachers and technicians. Alongside learning about the history and processes in photography I was able to create a strong portfolio to accompany my Art and Design Foundation application.
Could you describe a typical working day?
A typical working day starts with preparation the night before. I usually work in the studio so making sure I’ve got everything ready the night before is important. It saves a lot of time and makes the day run much smoother.
I normally book the studio out from 10am-2pm. I find that 4 hours is a good amount of time to set everything up and start shooting without any kind of rush. This also allows time for a couple of tea breaks – to have a think about how the shoot is going. Once I’ve finished shooting I’ll download the images and have an initial flick through. I try not to delete any images immediately; I often find I’ll come back and find positives in what were initially considered unsuccessful photos. This is a really important part of process and development to my work. I rarely use Photoshop and try to manipulate my work whilst I’m photographing.
A typical working day starts with preparation the night before. I usually work in the studio so making sure I’ve got everything ready the night before is important. It saves a lot of time and makes the day run much smoother.
I normally book the studio out from 10am-2pm. I find that 4 hours is a good amount of time to set everything up and start shooting without any kind of rush. This also allows time for a couple of tea breaks – to have a think about how the shoot is going. Once I’ve finished shooting I’ll download the images and have an initial flick through. I try not to delete any images immediately; I often find I’ll come back and find positives in what were initially considered unsuccessful photos. This is a really important part of process and development to my work. I rarely use Photoshop and try to manipulate my work whilst I’m photographing.
“I try not to delete any images immediately; I often find I’ll come back and find positives in what were initially considered unsuccessful photos”
What do you consider the highlight of your creative development to date?
Completing my degree has been my biggest achievement and highlight so far. Overcoming problems, taking criticism, and staying positive was key to my success. My journey has been a life changing experience. To date I have been lucky enough to exhibit in three different shows in Manchester and London. Manchester School of Art selected a collection of 4 lenses to install in the Universities Vertical Gallery, which was my first paid commission. I received lots of overwhelming feedback and my work gained exposure to over 5,000 industry professionals on the opening night.
What are the next steps for your creative career?
One particular ambition is to continue working with photographer and friend Mishka Henner. We met last year and have kept in touch ever since. He’s taken a liking to my work and is interested in working together, which is really exciting for me.
Which artists/ photographers inspire you most? Why?
The last 10 months have been influenced by a wide range of artists from all different mediums. Two of these are outlined below:
Gyorgy Kepes: ‘’Wizard of Light and Motion,’’ was a Hungarian born painter, theorist, sculptor, designer and educator. What I really like about his work is his method to break rules and push the boundaries of art and photography thorough his very experimental approaches. I was able to relate my work to Kepes’ because of his interests in working across cross-disciplines, exploring cameraless photography, art and science. I went to see a collection of his work at Tate Liverpool in April, which was really exciting and inspiring.
David Hockney: ‘’Rediscovering the lost techniques of old masters.’’ – His ‘Secret Knowledge’ series discusses how some of the great works of western art were created with the help of mirrors and lenses, the very basic elements of photography. The basis of my FMP (final major project) revolved around the idea of lenses and stripping photography right back to its earliest and most important elements.
One particular ambition is to continue working with photographer and friend Mishka Henner. We met last year and have kept in touch ever since. He’s taken a liking to my work and is interested in working together, which is really exciting for me.
Which artists/ photographers inspire you most? Why?
The last 10 months have been influenced by a wide range of artists from all different mediums. Two of these are outlined below:
Gyorgy Kepes: ‘’Wizard of Light and Motion,’’ was a Hungarian born painter, theorist, sculptor, designer and educator. What I really like about his work is his method to break rules and push the boundaries of art and photography thorough his very experimental approaches. I was able to relate my work to Kepes’ because of his interests in working across cross-disciplines, exploring cameraless photography, art and science. I went to see a collection of his work at Tate Liverpool in April, which was really exciting and inspiring.
David Hockney: ‘’Rediscovering the lost techniques of old masters.’’ – His ‘Secret Knowledge’ series discusses how some of the great works of western art were created with the help of mirrors and lenses, the very basic elements of photography. The basis of my FMP (final major project) revolved around the idea of lenses and stripping photography right back to its earliest and most important elements.
Clayton Ross Treacher, blowing bubbles
A big thank you to Clayton for sharing his work and recent experiences. I’m certainly hoping for a visit to meet our photography students in the near future; he will be a great source of inspiration. For more information on his work – or potential workshops or talks with photography students – Clayton can be contacted here.
This article first appeared on Chris Francis' blog.
This article first appeared on Chris Francis' blog.