A LATE photographer's images which were dispersed have been bought together for a new exhibition at a Ludlow Gallery.

The work of Harry Fearn who was a highly regarded practitioner and photography teacher, and was regarded as one of the best monochrome printers in the UK, is currently on display at The Photospace 2 in Quality Square in Ludlow.

Harry died in March 2002 from a heart attack. His negatives have not survived and his prints were dispersed.

“We are delighted that some of them were brought to our attention and we can exhibit them at the same time as opening our darkroom,” said Gallery owner Peter Jones.

Harry’s interest in photography developed seriously in 1978 but became a passion a few years later when he ‘progressed’ from colour to black and white.

But he found books on darkroom processes ‘confusing.’

His good friend, Gary Rowlands, suggested a weekend workshop run by Paul Hill at the Photographer’s Place in Derbyshire. This was Harry’s ‘turning point.’

Workshop presenters Peter Goldfield and Mike Williams introduced him to the ‘Zone System’ and this was a revelation.

Harry wrote, “… one realises the significance of the phrase ‘Painting with Light’ – the camera and exposure meter being the palette and the darkroom work the canvas”.

His first publication, ‘Improve Your Photography Overnight,’ was an immediate success. It was followed in 2000 by, ‘Better in Black and White.’ Written in a simple, practical, no-nonsense way it is the monochrome photographer's guide to achieving perfectly exposed and developed negatives and producing exhibition prints.

Harry was born in 1942.

He ran his own engineering business but, following two heart attacks, he retired and moved to Porthmadog in North Wales to pursue his passion for photography. He was an ARPS (Associate member of the Royal Photographic Society) and a qualified adult education tutor. He wrote articles for photography magazines, ran workshops, lectured at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford, and held Zone System workshops on behalf of the RPS.

The Zone system dates back to the 19th century and is a way of optimising the exposure of photographic images.

It was originally designed for film but can also be applied in digital photohraphy. Whilst it was born in the age of black and white photographs, the technique can also be applied to colour.

'We are grateful to Harry Fearn's family and friends for their support in arranging this exhibition' said Peter Jones.

Photospace is now only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10.30am until 4pm and only two people at a time can enter the gallery due to Covid 19 restrictions.