Artisans of Dartmoor - Book - Page 63
sun is a nightmare because I need to set the exposure
according to the current conditions. If a cloud blocks
the sun as I’m taking the photograph, it’s ruined.”
For Nicky, though, the results are always worth
the effort. “It’s such hard work to get a good picture,
so when you finally see one, it’s a real thrill. This isn’t
just pressing a button – it’s a craft, where you have to
get everything spot on. If I manage to take two good
photographs in a day of shooting, I’m happy.”
With several more swimmers to photograph and
a busy schedule of collodion courses in the diary,
Nicky remains non-committal about when she’ll
exhibit her wild swimming plates. ‘It’ll happen when
it happens,’ she says with a smile. “This process has
taught me to have a great deal of patience. It is, after
all, slow photography.”
“Scratches,
hazy patches, blur –
imperfections in the
images are all part of
their charm”
The Photographer • Nicky Thompson
63
