蜜芽传媒 Scotland - 蜜芽传媒 Scotland - Why can't I be an emerging photographer at 65?

Why can't I be an emerging photographer at 65?

"I've gone from next to no followers on Twitter, to about 3000. Which, for me, is fanstastic!"

Jos Treen wasn't quite ready for retirement, back in 2017. He found himself basically sitting around and feeling unprepared and pretty bored. Until one day he remembered that he had a load of old negatives that he'd shot of 1970's Glasgow, stored in his loft.

"I spent hours and hours searching through old boxes and folders trying to find them. Eventually I found them dusted them off, literally, and thought maybe someone will be interested in these."

In this new Loop film he talks with affection about how digging out these old photographs would renew his passion for photography and ultimately change the direction of his life.

An emerging photographer at 65

Jos Treen relates his story of becoming a photographer in retiral.

"I started putting them on Twitter, I put one picture up and got quite a good response."

Thinking it was a bit of a fluke, Jos waited a couple of days before posting another one, but again found people were really engaged "...it's amazing how it all kind of built up!"

He suddenly realised his posts were making an impact in a more personal way, when he received a message from one of his Twitter followers highlighting the importance of his photographs.

He recalls, "She sent me a note saying, we didn't have a lot of money, the housing was terrible, but I used to love walking up the Maryhill Road holding the hand of my grandad and your photos have brought that all back."

Jos remembers that even from the age of six or seven he always wanted to be the one behind the camera taking the pictures. "I'm dyslexic, so when I'm reading words jump around a bit. I found that through taking pictures, I can tell the story." This is clear through the narrative of his photography.

Forty years on and though his work may rise from a different era it's clear he maintains the same style and flair for visual storytelling.

In fact he even uses the same developing techniques in the process, often using his bathroom to develop his prints, much to the consternation of his wife.

"I have the same approach to photography as I did in 1978, but this has rekindled something new and that's why I'm re-emerging at 65."

"I feel good about it. I hope other people do too!"