The transcript of Tom’s Interview:
At 88, the oldest member of Windsor Photographic Society, Tom Carroll reflects on a lifetime behind the lens and shares some of his photographic memories.
The interview with Tom offers a warm and insightful glimpse into a lifetime of photography. Speaking with honesty and humility, Tom reflects on his early beginnings with a simple box camera just after the war, through to his appreciation of both film and digital photography. His love of photographing people and his quiet determination to improve shine throughout.
Shirley: So Tom, hello.
Tom: Hello.
Shirley: Do you remember the very first camera you ever owned?
Tom: I certainly do. It was a Kodak box camera. It was a cardboard one, not plastic. And I was about seven or eight years old.
Shirley: Gosh, so what year would that be? About 1945?
Tom: Yeah. Just after the war.
Shirley: So your family went to Arundel Castle—that’s the first picture that you took?
Tom: Yes. I went there with my cousin and his family.
Shirley: And how did the camera come into your life? Did you buy it or was it a gift?
Tom: No, it was given. I can’t remember who gave it to me—somebody gave it to me.
Shirley: Was there a moment when photography stopped being a hobby and became something deeper and more personal?
Tom: Not really, no. It’s always been a hobby. I’ve just tried desperately to improve my hobby, and now I’ve got really good cameras—and I’m too old.
Shirley: Not at all. Who or what influenced you most in your early photographic years?
Tom: Not really, no. I just loved taking pictures.
Shirley: Did you have a preferred subject—nature or people?
Tom: People. Mostly people.
Shirley: Action shots?
Tom: No, no. Mostly people.
Shirley: Your collection of vintage cameras is remarkable. Which one means the most to you and why?
Tom: Well, I’ve got a Leica. It was manufactured in 1935. It’s prior to them going over to electronics—before they started putting flash systems into them. It hasn’t been touched. I’ve actually used it, and it takes wonderful pictures. A little bit soft, but very nice.
Shirley: Do you still use it today?
Tom: Yes. And the main reason I bought it is because it’s the same type of camera that Henri Cartier-Bresson used. Not that he owned this one, but he used this model for most of his early pictures.
Shirley: That’s a fascinating story. Are there any cameras you still feel emotionally attached to?
Tom: Well obviously this one, because he is without doubt my favourite photographer. Apart from Denis—Denis comes second. But yes, I’ve always wanted to get one picture that’s anywhere near what he took, which I have in one picture.
Shirley: Which one do you think that is?
Tom: The one I showed you earlier—the one that got Best of the Best at Windsor.
Shirley: If one camera in your collection could tell its own story, which would it be?
Tom: I think the Microcord camera. That’s the one I really enjoyed taking pictures with, back in the 60s and 70s. It was film, but it was really nice. Now I’ve got a whole collection of Microcords, and also Rolleicords and Rolleiflexes.
Shirley: Did you have your own darkroom and develop your own films?
Tom: Never. The only time I used a darkroom was when I worked at Hawker Aircraft. I belonged to the camera club there and had use of their studio and darkroom.
Shirley: How has photography changed the most during your lifetime?
Tom: When we ditched film and started using digital—that was the biggest shake-up. I took to digital straight away. It makes things a lot easier for the amateur—you don’t need a darkroom, and you can do things now that you couldn’t do with film. Some purists might prefer film, and there are people going back to it, but I don’t think there’s any future in going backwards.
Shirley: What do you think modern photographers take for granted?
Tom: Everything is instant. You take quickly, process quickly, and send quickly.
Shirley: Do photographs become more important as we get older?
Tom: Yes, of course they do. I’ve been taking pictures all my life and I’ve got thousands. Recently I’ve been putting as many as I can into digital form, so they’ll be there for the children to look back on.
Shirley: That’s an amazing legacy to hand down.
Tom: Yes—and we’ve now got two and a half great-grandchildren. Two girls, and one boy on the way.
Shirley: You’ve been a member of Windsor Photographic Society for many years. What does being part of a camera club mean to you?
Tom: It’s the camaraderie. We’ve got a wonderful group of people in Windsor, Absolutely wonderful!—really solid, very helpful and supportive. I enjoy their company. I don’t get about as much as I did and I just enjoy other peoples’ company
Shirley: What do you enjoy about photographing alongside different generations?
Tom: I think it’s wonderful. I just enjoy other people’s company when taking photographs.
Shirley: What keeps you curious about photography at 88?
Tom: I wish I could get about more. I like taking pictures of strangers—I never had a problem. I did a project of over a hundred strangers and only had two refusals.
Shirley: What happened?
Tom: One was a lady with a child—fair enough. The other was a gentleman outside the National Portrait Gallery. I offered to take a picture of him and someone else, which I did, but when I asked to take one myself, he refused—quite stroppy about it.
Shirley: I have a few questions from some of our WPS members. From Diana—did you do much photography during your sailing days?
Tom: Yes, I took quite a few pictures, and I can show those. But I haven’t sailed since about 2012. Age has affected my balance—I’d be a danger on a boat now.
Shirley: From Anne—how do you feel when you see your favourite images from your vintage cameras and what kind of memories does it bring back?
Tom: I don’t take them out often, but when I do, especially the Microcord, it gives me great joy.
Shirley: From Pilar—do you miss working the old way of using film?
Tom: No, not at all.
Shirley: What is your most successful photograph, we’ve already answered that question, but what is the story behind it??
Tom: The one from Brick Lane—three youngsters sitting on the kerb eating and sharing fish and chips. That’s the one that stayed with me.
Shirley: And finally—what would you still like to photograph?
Tom: I’d like to take more black and white pictures—like the sort Henri Cartier-Bresson took.
Shirley: That sounds perfect for Mono Magicians galleries. Thank you very much for answering my questions and I think a lot of our members are going to find it really interesting to hear about your life behind the lens and also your children and your great grand children, it’s a great legacy for them to hear about things you have done in your past with your photography.
Thank you very much, Tom.
Tom: Thank you.