Alan Harris

Born in the Welsh Coal Mining Community of Aberfan in 1962, moved across the valley in 1967 to Merthyr Vale where I spent my childhood. Although not involved directly in the Aberfan Disaster it was an event which has coloured the way I think, particularly in a photographic sense. Left school in Afon Taf Secondary Modern in 1981 to study Environmental Biology at Swansea University where, I also bought my first SLR camera - A Zenit TTL . Graduated from Swansea to start work at the Welsh Agricultural College at Aberystwyth where I was granted unlimited access to a darkroom. Moved to Carmarthen to work as a Systems Administrator / IT Technician at the local schools. Joined Carmarthen Photographic Society several years ago after a re-kindling of my interest in photography where I am now the Programme Secretary, Media / Publicity and (acting) Competition Secretary, having been Treasurer and Vice Chairman. My time at the club led me to undertake a Masters Course in Photography, which had to be part-time and online to fit in with my employment, I achieved the MA last September.

My main area of interest is in Documentary Photography, probably working in the sub-genre / area known as 'New Topographics' although I have a deep interest in how images work and why we react to them in the way in which we do.