Dunfermline Photographic Association

Photograph by kind permission of Gillian Temple
The Rotary Club of West Fife was treated to a captivating evening of photography as Gillian Temple, a distinguished member and first ever female President of the Dunfermline Photographic Association, shared her remarkable journey from career service worker to accomplished photographer. Through an extensive display of her work, Gillian demonstrated not only her technical prowess but also her artistic vision in transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary visual stories.

From Career Service to Creative Freedom

Gillian's photography journey began in earnest in 2012 when she took voluntary severance from her role as a key worker in the career service. What started as a hobby quickly evolved into a thriving profession encompassing wedding photography, portraiture, commercial work, and fine art photography. Her dedication to the craft has earned her the BP2 distinction, recognising her exhibition of 50 or more images in competitions.

As a self-taught photographer, Gillian has built an extremely impressive portfolio that spans multiple genres—an approach she acknowledges as unconventional in a field where most photographers specialise in single subjects. "The great thing about photography is when you get up in the morning, you don't know what you're going to be asked to do," she explained, highlighting the excitement and unpredictability that drives her passion.

The Art of Storytelling Through Composition

Throughout her presentation, Gillian emphasised a crucial philosophy that elevates her work above mere snaps: the importance of creating narrative through imagery. She repeatedly demonstrated how technical excellence alone—sharp focus, proper exposure, perfect composition—is insufficient for competition-level photography. Instead, she advocated for images that tell stories and evoke emotion.

This philosophy was beautifully illustrated in her wildlife photography. Rather than presenting the typical "bird on a stick" that many nature photographers produce, Gillian showed how she transforms ordinary wildlife encounters into compelling narratives. Her image titled "Ploughman's Lunch," featuring harvest mice positioned on apples and cheese, exemplifies this approach. Similarly, her romantic composition of two mice on a stick, enhanced with an added moon, demonstrates how post-processing can transform a simple encounter into a love story.

Technical Mastery Across Diverse Subjects

Gillian's versatility shone through her diverse portfolio presentations:

Macro Photography: During lockdown, Gillian discovered the intimate world of macro photography, creating stunning images of dandelion seed heads adorned with water droplets. Her technique of using coloured lighting and multiple exposures transformed these common subjects into wonderful works of art.

Equine Photograph: Her horse photography showed her fine art approach, moving beyond straightforward documentation to create styled shoots where models' costumes complement the horses' appearance. One particularly striking example featured a model dressed as a Spanish rider paired with a grey horse, creating an artistic vision.

Wildlife Photography: Gillian's wildlife work demonstrates remarkable patience and skill, from capturing pine martens—predominantly nocturnal creatures—in daylight, to following fox families in Aberdeenshire. Her action shots of squirrels leaping between logs showcase both technical precision and perfect timing.

Landscape Photography: Her landscape work spans Scotland, from the Bluebell Woods at Kinclaven to early morning shoots at Loch Morlich near Aviemore. Each image captures not just the physical beauty of the location but the emotional resonance of the moment.

The Evolution into Composite Artistry

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of Gillian's work lies in her composite photography—the art of combining multiple images to create entirely new narratives. This technique allows her to place studio-shot models into dramatic landscapes, creating images that would be impossible to capture in a single frame.

Her composite work demonstrates sophisticated understanding of lighting consistency, ensuring that shadows and highlights match across all elements of the final image. Examples include placing a warrior-like model against the backdrop of Glencoe, and creating atmospheric scenes with fog and castles that transports one into different worlds entirely.

One of her most successful composite works, "Home Guard," won numerous competitions by combining black and white portraiture with historical elements and handwritten letters, creating a powerful wartime narrative that resonates with viewers' emotions and historical memory.

Recognition and Media Presence

Gillian's work has garnered significant recognition, with publications in magazines, television appearances including BBC Alba's Wedding programming, and success in numerous competitions. Her recent work, "We'll Meet Again," exemplifies her continued evolution as an artist, combining 1940s-styled couples with vintage aircraft and automobiles to create nostalgic wartime imagery.

The Philosophy Behind the Art

What distinguishes Gillian's presentation was her ability to turn her photography into a storytelling medium. She consistently emphasised that modern photography, particularly for competition purposes, must transcend mere technical achievement. Whether adding reflections to make flowers appear to float on water, creating romantic moonlit scenes with wildlife, or constructing elaborate historical narratives through composite work, Gillian's approach always serves the story.

Her recent movement toward fine art photography represents the natural evolution of this philosophy, transforming even wildlife subjects into artistic statements rather than simple documentation. This approach reflects a mature artist's understanding that the camera is merely a tool - the real art lies in vision, imagination, and the ability to make viewers see the ordinary world through extraordinary eyes.

Gillian Temple's presentation to the Rotary Club of West Fife provided far more than a simple showcase of photographic skill. It offered insight into the mind of an artist who has successfully transformed a career change into creative fulfillment while maintaining the highest standards of technical excellence. Her work demonstrates that contemporary photography's greatest challenge and opportunity lies not in capturing reality, but in reimagining it in ways that create lasting emotional connections with viewers.

Through her diverse portfolio spanning multiple areas and her innovative approach to composite imagery, Gillian has established herself as a significant figure in Scottish photography, one who understands that the most powerful images are those that tell stories worth remembering.

Alastair Durkie proposed the club’s formal vote of thanks saying “that's absolutely astounding. I can't get over the fact that you say you didn't start this until 2012.

“It's the way you can take a photograph and build in all this extra just out of your head. And say, well, there you are in a completely different context. It's quite amazing, I must say. Thank you very much for bringing your photographs.”