SYLVAN BUCKLEY
“I didn’t really see the beauty of Ayrshire until I took up photography.”
Gill Sherry
It’s not unusual to stumble across a photograph of Ayrshire’s stunning landscape, be it in a magazine, on your social media feed, or in the window of a local gallery. Sometimes, though, you find one that really takes your breath away.
For me, one such image was taken by Sylvan Buckley of Dynamic Scotland Photography. It brought to mind the majesty of a classical ballet, with Turnberry Lighthouse as the principal ballerina, and the Northern Lights the corps due ballet.
The aurora borealis has delighted many a photographer when performing its dance in Ayrshire, and Sylvan captured this particular cosmic display beautifully. Bearing in mind he specialises in astro-landscape photography, this should perhaps come as no surprise.
“You’re trying to incorporate the night sky and the landscape,” he explains. “You want to find the foreground and what has an interest in it, i.e. a recognisable subject, but also you want to incorporate the sky as well.”
Hence his fascination with the Milky Way.
“Just now, we’re into Milky Way season. The Milky Way is starting to rise above the horizon just before it begins to get light in the morning.”
No doubt that means a few early starts for Sylvan, whose passion for photography is choreographed between family commitments and a full-time job.
“I still actually see my photography as a hobby. Because I work full-time, I don’t actually get much time to do the things that I’d love to do, like travel and take photos, but I still enjoy what I’m doing. If I could make it a career, that’s something that I’d love to do.”
Sylvan’s photography initially developed from his love of walking.
“I’ve always been a keen walker and I’ve always liked exploring the hills, but my wife is disabled so she couldn’t come with me. When I was bringing back photos, it shared my days out with her. I’d take photos on my phone, but it didn’t feel as though it was doing it justice. So, on my 40th birthday, she bought me a camera, and I just sort of fell into photography from there.”
As well as being able to share his outdoor experiences with his wife, photography also encouraged Sylvan to appreciate his surroundings.
“I love being out with the camera. I love seeing things that I’ve seen all my life but seeing them from a completely different perspective. I feel as if I took this area for granted. I didn’t really see the beauty of Ayrshire until I took up photography. Photography has opened my eyes to a lot of things. It’s made me appreciate life a wee bit more.”
It’s also allowed him to share that awareness with others. Having graduated with a HND in photography, he returned to college to inspire the next generation of photographers.
“Any tips and tricks that I pick up along my journey, I love sharing them. I don’t see myself as a gatekeeper. I like to let people see the things that I’ve seen and learn the things that I’ve learned. I get a lot of enjoyment passing on the things that I’ve picked up myself.”
From his point of view, though, it’s not necessarily about the equipment, but the experience of being outdoors, exploring the area, and witnessing nature’s performance.
“I’m not really a gear geek. Equipment does make a difference, and it can help capture better images. But it’s not about the gear, it’s more about the experience of it and actually enjoying what you’re doing.”
He demonstrates this further when I ask if he has a favourite from all the images he’s captured.
“It’s not the photos… it’s the ones that have the best memory. It’s the experience of going and taking it, of actually being there. Sometimes a photo might not look great, but the experience was amazing. I’ve got a lot of photos that have really good memories attached to them.”
Okay, if he doesn’t have a favourite image, does he have a preferred landmark?
“Portencross was always a big draw, especially the night skies. It’s surprising just how dark the sky is down there. When I first got into photography, it was Portencross and West Kilbride.”
Having lived in Saltcoats all his life, it’s understandable this is his chosen stage, but he doesn’t have to travel too far to find other, equally impressive, settings.
“I’ve always loved Greenan Castle as well,” he adds, “and Dunure Castle, because they sit right on the sea on their own cliffs. It gives it a wee bit more drama.”
There are photographs on his website which highlight this drama perfectly. In fact, you can purchase a selection of prints featuring numerous Ayrshire landscapes. And if you fancy taking up photography yourself, Sylvan has this advice:
“It’s really just about being out with the camera. But buying a printer made a massive difference to me. To see your photos come out of a printer… it made it feel real. To be able to see it and show people. Buying a printer was also a catalyst to try and better my photography. Because print shows up every wee imperfection, you try and perfect your photos a wee bit better so when you print it, it looks nicer as well.”
He would also recommend going to college.
“College was one of the best experiences I’ve had. I went on YouTube, so I went into college with a lot of knowledge about photography, but it was the structure… how to think about and plan your shots that college taught me.”
He concludes by repeating his desire to turn photography into a full-time job.
“It’s not on the cards just now… but I do plan to progress it into an actual professional career.”
In the meantime, the Milky Way is waiting…
www.dynamicscotlandphotography.com
