Margie Coplestone

Margie describes herself as coming from a clever, creative family. They paint, carve, spin, weave and/or play a range of instruments really well. She tried some of those things with, in her words, mediocre results but felt nothing unleashed her own creative self…until, that is, she bought her first camera. She dabbled in photography at university spending many hours in the darkroom, but life after Uni became busy with work and family. It wasn’t until 2017 that she started photography again. 

Her return to photography, along with her first camera purchase, came at a time of great sadness for Margie, after losing both her parents within six weeks of each other. She says that she found that while she was learning new techniques and looking at skies, clouds and colours with a new sense of appreciation, her grief felt more manageable. She explored Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) and blur techniques and found she could ‘paint’ with her camera. ICM was her preferred genre initially but now she also enjoys portrait photography, particularly in a creative, fine art style. But, Margie says, whatever genre she chooses to pursue, she likes to present her work with a creative and personalised spin.

Every year she tries to set herself goals. She likes to try to achieve things she hasn’t done before. She says she likes to challenge herself to learn new techniques that will showcase those new ideas and allow them to become something really special, stating she is never truly happy with an image until she can look at it and honestly say ‘I love this’.

Margie feels that photography defines her. She’s seldom found without a camera within easy reach and says she cannot imagine her life now without that added joy of creating. Check out this small selection of Margie’s stunning images below.