Reg Coleman FRPS
1920 – 2010
Reg was first a member of The Liverpool Amateur Photographic Association until he joined the relatively new South Liverpool Photographic Society where he remained as a Life Member for some 55 years. In addition Reg became a member of Heswall Photographic Society which made it easier for him travelling in later years from his Wirral home.
It was as a member of SLPS that Reg helped to pioneer home colour processing and as a consequence he was partly responsible for establishing the name and success of South Liverpool Photographic Society in producing quality competition images. During this time Reg became one of the first Royal Photographic Society members to attain his Fellowship distinction in home printed colour images. He also served for a short period of time on the Executive of Lancashire & Cheshire Photographic Alliance.
Reg was an avid photographer who had used all of the best cameras available at the time but he always returned to his beloved Agfa Super Isolette which he would always have with him, this camera delivered many great images for him. In his photography he was a master of recording images with pictorial lighting, communicating to the viewer mood and atmosphere. In addition he was renowned for the quality of his Contre Jour images. That said Reg would not pass up the opportunity of capturing humorous images. When showing his many humorous images he would chuckle and smile like a naughty schoolboy as if embarrassed at capturing the moment, there was never the need for a title as his photographs would communicate the humour to the audience who would instantly laugh.
Reg was an established National level Judge and was always happy to help and mentor new and up and coming photographers, he assisted numerous members of the South in attaining distinctions with The Royal Photographic Society.
He was a brilliant photographer a pioneer darkroom worker and a true gentlemen who always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. He will be sadly missed by his wife Lilian and her family and everyone who had the pleasure to know him; however his spirit will live on in his photographic work and this will hopefully bring enjoyment to audiences old and new in the future.
RIP
Martin Reece MBE ARPS
President SLPS.