Mike Derriman
I started my interest in photography at my school Scientific Society in the late 1940’s using a
pre-war Box camera. I converted the Air Raid shelter in our back garden into my first
Darkroom and started to develop 120 b.w. film and make contact prints. I also attempted
to construct a crude darkroom enlarger using old tins but the quality was hopeless! I ventured
into Colour using Dufaycolour 35mm film and I still have some historic slides. My first 35mm
Camera was a pre-war Agfa Karat bought in the 1950’s for £7 using 12 exp. film cartridges which I filled from bulk 35 b&w film. My first modern camera was a Pentax Spotmatic with screw lens. Very satisfactory results were obtained. A Canon A1 followed having the benefit of a bayonet mount lens. Having moved to Oxshott in 1980 I built a permanent colour Darkroom equipped with an American Chromega B66 enlarger taking 35mm – 6x6 film. I was at this time introduced to DCC by my cousin and started to produce prints and acquire expertise to improve! Sir George Pollock then President of the RPS and a DCC member invited me to bring a selection of prints round to his home for evaluation, which encouraged me to strive and improve my work. I acquired at this time a medium format Bronica 4.5 x 6.0 camera and later exchanged it for a Hasselblad 500CM 6x6 camera - a fantastic bit of kit. I also bought a Nikon F100 for 35mm film work and Nikon D200 for digital use which I mostly use today. I am interested in all fields of photography and do a lot of theatrical work covering shows, rehearsals, press publicity and portraits of those involved, and also studio work for actors and models wanting portfolios. I have served on the club committees in most capacities and judged in club competitions and completed my term as Club Chairman. I am currently an L.R.P.S of the Royal Photographic Society working towards my A.R.P.S. Distinction.
pre-war Box camera. I converted the Air Raid shelter in our back garden into my first
Darkroom and started to develop 120 b.w. film and make contact prints. I also attempted
to construct a crude darkroom enlarger using old tins but the quality was hopeless! I ventured
into Colour using Dufaycolour 35mm film and I still have some historic slides. My first 35mm
Camera was a pre-war Agfa Karat bought in the 1950’s for £7 using 12 exp. film cartridges which I filled from bulk 35 b&w film. My first modern camera was a Pentax Spotmatic with screw lens. Very satisfactory results were obtained. A Canon A1 followed having the benefit of a bayonet mount lens. Having moved to Oxshott in 1980 I built a permanent colour Darkroom equipped with an American Chromega B66 enlarger taking 35mm – 6x6 film. I was at this time introduced to DCC by my cousin and started to produce prints and acquire expertise to improve! Sir George Pollock then President of the RPS and a DCC member invited me to bring a selection of prints round to his home for evaluation, which encouraged me to strive and improve my work. I acquired at this time a medium format Bronica 4.5 x 6.0 camera and later exchanged it for a Hasselblad 500CM 6x6 camera - a fantastic bit of kit. I also bought a Nikon F100 for 35mm film work and Nikon D200 for digital use which I mostly use today. I am interested in all fields of photography and do a lot of theatrical work covering shows, rehearsals, press publicity and portraits of those involved, and also studio work for actors and models wanting portfolios. I have served on the club committees in most capacities and judged in club competitions and completed my term as Club Chairman. I am currently an L.R.P.S of the Royal Photographic Society working towards my A.R.P.S. Distinction.
