Abstract nominee

My submission is a series of photographs which are part of a project I have been working on since 2021. It joins my passion for photography with my joy of learning layman's science. I started with the purchase of a series of very old (>50 year old) research microscopes. Then a difficult process of connecting my modern digital camera to them (by constructing a camera adapter / eyepiece from parts extracted from a Leitz microscope camera). The main microscope is set up with polarising filters and various experimental wave plates. The result is a set of beautiful vistas of shape and colour when viewing crystals of various substances, with which I have endlessly experimented (melting, dissolving, and concocting). These substances include sugar alternative sweeteners, medicines (paracetamol for example), acids, and other substances that will crystallise. The results are entirely real photographs. The colours are as seen in the microscope after fine tuning the chosen angles of polarising filters and wave plates.

The son of two artists, Bevil Templeton-Smith has pursued photography as a creative and artistic outlet against his technical work as an IT consultant and programmer. Striving to find subjects that are difficult to capture, either through complex equipment, or finding the most challenging of setups has led through many photographic forays (macro, astrophotography, ultra wide etc). Now, attaching his camera to a 54 year old microscope, Bevil explores explosions of colour and abstract forms in the photography of crystals in polarised light.

16 large prints included in successful joint exhibition - 'Polychromo' at Alveston Fine Art - 2023.

IPA 2023 - Winner of non professional Fine Art Photographer of the year.

ND Awards 2023 - Honourable mention (HM)

CUPOTY 2023 - Shortlisted

Chromatic Awards 2023 - HM

One Eyeland 2024 - Finalist

Fine Art Photography Awards 2024 - Nominee

1839 Awards 2024 - Nominee

Px3 Paris 2024 - HM

Viena International Photo Awards 2024 - HM

Dodho Magazine Color Awards 2024 - finalist and '100 best images' list

Budapest International Foto Awards 2024 - Gold

Chromatic Awards 2024 - 2nd Place

ND Awards 2024 - 3rd Place

Tokyo International Foto Awards 2024 - Gold