"Seasons" by Jack Lodge

This was a journey through his career and how his art has developed over the years.

All of our lives are filled with rhythm and for Jack one of those is the rhythm of the seasons. For these Jack captures a series of images which are taken of the same place and from the same spot in winter, spring, summer and autumn. He creates a series of images which almost look as if they are from different worlds and yet are a mere reflection of how our own world changes all of the time. Like the seasons Jack’s images take us on that journey through the year and with all the emotion associated with each of them.

Much of his work is in Dorset. Trees are the foundation around which the scene constantly changes, each one beautiful in their own way. Certainly he teaches us to stop and take all the time needed to look and through careful observation appreciate the beauty that is around us. This is enhanced through highly considered composition. He is also a master of planning, with a vision in mind he uses many techniques to capture those special moments for others to enjoy. He is a fan of “chasing the weather” to arrive at the right opportunity and to exercise patience until the right conditions do appear, weather conditions are pivotal. His commitment to waiting for the right moment certainly pays dividends and not least in his outstanding reputation as a photographer. He taught us what a treasure Dorset is, the county where we live.

Jack’s work now takes him abroad for much of the year ranging from the raw ruggedness of the Arctic to the grace and elegance of the cityscapes in Venice. With each one you feel that you are there experiencing not just their beauty but also, the emotion of the place. These are not picture postcard images, they are much more and that is where much of his talent lies in being able to convey that to us. That talent for instance includes the deft use of light and colour; after all what we are all doing is painting with light.

Interestingly he has also turned his work to wildlife photography. Again he eschews the “picture postcard” and instead captures the character of each of his subjects. In a way they pounce out of the page at us or take us into their own world. It is fascinating to view. In short he has now shown himself to be a master of the natural world.

We have been very fortunate to have Jack run workshops for the Club, which are excellent, and more are planned for the coming year.

We thank him for a great evening.