Ron Kelley BA (Hons) LRPS is a photographer who has recently moved to the Lake District from North Shropshire. Ron’s interest in photography grew out of his childhood interest in astronomy leading him to buy his first 35mm film camera back in the 1970s.
After a long career in IT and financial services, working on and designing major computer systems, Ron is now keen to develop and pursue developing his interest in photography. To that end, Ron has recently gained a 1st class honours degree in Digital Imaging and Photography at the Hugh Baird University Centre, Liverpool, which is supervised by University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston. Ron has recently been awarded the Licentiate Distinction (LRPS) by the Royal Photographic Society. Ron is considering a master’s degree in Creative Practice.
Ron has a longstanding interest in astronomy and is now working with digital technology and modern optics to pursue that further. Ron is a keen hill walker and has climbed many mountains in Wales, the Lake District, the Peak District, and Scotland. Travel, as well as hill walking, has taken Ron to many places such as the Himalayas, Alaska, Yukon Territory, Africa, Asia Minor, and many other places.
Ron is working on developing his skills as a photographer and producing fine art photographic prints. Ron’s inspiration for this include the iconic works of the American photographer Ansel Adams as well as contemporary landscape photographers.
Ron is also interested in alternative photographic processes and is currently working on projects working in Cyanotype and Gum Bichromate.
Ron is currently planning on setting up sessions for small groups and one-to-one tuition in photography, image editing, and alternative processes.
Away from photography and astronomy, Ron is an experienced musician with a particular interest in early music from the Renaissance and Medieval eras. Ron has a lot of experience as a choral singer, and also plays cello and saxophone in various orchestras and ensembles. Ron also plays electric bass.
Projects and Exhibitions
Ron has worked with a number of groups and institutions on various projects.
“Being our authentic selves” started as Ron’s main final year project. This major piece of work created a Leporello format book with a 14 metre long print, which had to be folded in to a roughly A4 sized book!
Various formats of the work have been in three separate exhibitions: at Hugh Baird University Centre as part of the Degree Show; at the Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool, showcasing student photographers; and a solo exhibition at the Rainbow Tea Room in Chester.
“The Power of Trees” created a photobook in collaboration with the National Trust at Attingham Park in Shropshire. Here, Ron worked with the Rangers looking at their work in managing traditional native woodland, maintaining biodiversity, and green energy production. This was part of the Open Eye Gallery’s “Climate Lab” project.
“Beyond Covid” was a project created during the strictures of the Covid lockdown. This consists of a series of self-portraits of Ron playing various musical instruments. The work was exhibited in Bootle as a community arts event in the New Strand shopping centre.
