A retired primary school teacher he has been taking photographs all his life. But he went on a course at the Plymouth College of Art and Design that introduced him to the idea that pictures could be set up, not just be fortuitous. Also that a photograph could convey a meaning above and beyond the image itself.
He achieved the qualification of Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society — and decided to start a major project.
'Aspects of Love' was the result. A project designed to explore passion for something or someone.
'I managed to get some publicity and several people joined the project,' says Tony.
'The results of these photographic sessions are the subject of this exhibition. All sitters were volunteers and had a lot of control over the final image.'
Tony says before taking pictures he meets his potential sitters to discuss their Aspects of Love with them.
'Following this I produce ideas as to how we can show this. Then, when we are in agreement, I take the pictures.'
He says many people have some aspect of their lives that generate a special feeling of passion, security, hope, desire.
'All these are part of the feeling of love. So far I have photographed people who have one or more of these passions in their lives,' says Tony.
'These include young love, aspects of love for a partner both in a mixed race context and a homosexual relationship.'
He says he has, on a more abstract level, photographed aspects of mother love, secret love and self love. More prosaically in some respects subjects such as the love of trees and the love of a dog have been included.
The exhibition covers this emotional spectrum in a fascinating collection of striking black and white prints where photographer and subjects combine to create an original and aesthetic image.
There is, Tony says, one overriding emotion tied up with love — a feeling of great longing, a need to be near or with the object of our love. 'And this object of love can be almost anything.'
If you would like to be part of this on-going project you can contact Tony on 01752 766113.
He is also looking for people like dancers and gymnasts for a new project called 'The Body in Motion'.