Trowbridge Gallery

Charlie Waite is now firmly established as the leading landscape photographer in Britain and was recently named as the 'world's greatest living landscape photographer of his generation' by Hewlett Packard.

Charlie Waite was born in 1949 and worked in British theatre and television for the first ten years of his professional life. Throughout this period he became fascinated by theatrical lighting and design. Gradually the landscape and the way it can be revealed to us through light and shade stole him away from the acting profession.

Over the last twenty years, Charlie Waite has lectured throughout the UK and Europe. He is today revered as a leading figure in the global renaissance of landscape photography, with past exhibitions held in London, Tokyo, New York and Melbourne. Most recently, his work was shown in Carmel at the Centre for Photographic Art.

Charlie Waite uses conventional fine grain transparency film. From this medium his images are drum scanned and Iris prints are then made onto a fine art paper. Through this procedure Charlie Waite says that the depth and detail of the image is conveyed at its best.

Charlie Waite`s landscape photography style is unique in that his photographs convey a spiritual quality of serenity and calm. He has established a worldwide reputation for this particular approach to landscape photography. His photographs are held in private and corporate collections throughout the world.

Charlie Waite is frequently to be seen on British television discussing the finer aspects of landscape photography. He has worked with numerous authors including Jan Morris, John Julius Norwich and A.N. Wilson. Charlie Waite`s book, `Landscape in Spain`, with text by the Duke of Wellington was highly acclaimed throughout the country.

The year 2000 saw the publication of Charlie Waite`s twentieth landscape photography book, `Seeing Landscapes`. The British press said recently about Charlie Waite`s best selling book `The Making of Landscape Photographs` that "Charlie Waite puts the soul back into the literature of landscape photography". The Millennium year also saw Charlie Waite being awarded a prestigious honorary fellowship to the British Institute of Professional Photographers.

The following is an interview with Charlie Waite first published in Trowbridge Catalogue Nine:

Landscape photographer Charlie Waite’s spectacular light filled images are instantly recognizable and his distinctive style has swiftly taken him to the top of his profession.

Charlie’s work which is much in demand to complement modern decorative style, has been available through Trowbridge for the past seven years and its popularity is constantly growing.

‘Trowbridge has been very supportive and absolutely understands that photography is an art,' he said, agreeing that photographic images are particularly suited to contemporary decor.

Appropriately, for the world’s leading landscape photographer, Charlie lives in the Dorset countryside in a picturesque mill with his studio overlooking a millstream and its own island for ducks and wildfowl.

Charlie started his working life as an actor (and still retains his Equity card) and during those 10 years, he learned to appreciate the importance of lighting.

‘I often think lighting directors are unsung heroes because they can make such a difference to a production,’ he said.

When parts became sporadic he turned his talents to taking photographic portraits of his fellow thespians for Spotlight - the profession’s showcase casting directory.

‘I used to spend a great deal of time talking to the actors before I got round to taking the picture. The actual photography took only minutes of the session,’ he recalled.

It was this that taught him the value of studying a subject and taking time to absorb the essential elements of a composition. He freely admits that he is persistent and tenacious in pursuit of the perfect shot; once spending the best part of five days eight feet up a ladder in freezing January weather to capture an iconic image of The Somme in France.

‘I knew what quality of light I was waiting for, and from what direction and how widespread it needed to be, but for me that is an accepted part of the procedure. This wish for light may not materialize, but I always remain hopeful that light will arrive and unlock the image,' Charlie explained.

He recalls his first real foray into landscape photography came when his actress wife Jess, was filming the Onedin Line television series in Devon.

‘I went along and got a bit bored so I took off with a Nikon camera to photograph the countryside. Although it was pretty haphazard I soon found myself responding,’ he recalls.

‘I like how man interacts with the landscape and is able to find a sense of order in it. I like to be still and at one with the landscape before I start,' he said, explaining the method of his working.

Eventually he decided to put his interest in photography on a more formal footing. He enrolled at Salisbury College of Art to do a one year intensive theory course in photography.

'My contemporaries were much younger than me and they all had the scientific basics. I found it very difficult to grasp the physics and colour theory, but I had three very skilled teachers and after some private tuition I suddenly got it.'

‘It was a wonderful moment of revelation,' he said.

However, it was an extraordinary stroke of luck and ‘being in the right place at the right time’ that eventually launched his career.

‘My wife and I had been to look at a house and as we were leaving the owner asked me what I did. I told him I was a landscape photographer - which was almost true - and he turned out to be a major publisher who commissioned me to do my first book,’ Charlie laughed.

After the publication of the National Trust Book of Long Walks there was no looking back for Charlie. As well as books and numerous exhibitions he has also launched a travel business.