Lloyd Webbe has been sharing his view of the world via his camera lens for over 40 years. While his father directed him toward upholstery as a career, the camera always held a level of fascination for him. He remembers entering a photography contest for the first and only time. He took first and second prize, as well as Honourable Mention. He says, he didn’t see it as an art form at the time, and certainly didn’t anticipate making a living from it. He simply enjoyed the experiences.
A turning point came in his life when he visited a friend. The aesthetics of his friend’s office appealed to him and he began to think about what kind of studio he would like to have if he pursued his photography full-time. As it turned out, there was a small space available in that building, and Mr. Webbe acquired it for his budding business.
Lloyd’s Upholstery was a thing of the past, as Mr. Webbe exchanged the couch for the camera. Believe it or not, during this time, he was uncomfortable with photographing people. Despite this, he made an inquiry with the Bermuda Government to find out how many passports were processed each month. With that number in mind, he calculated how many passport photos he would have to take to meet his rent. As with everything he does, Mr. Webbe was not happy to offer the usual. Instead of passport photos, he advertised ‘mini portraits’ and sat his clients at an angle which flattered them. He admits that he did not know anything about portrait lighting at the time, until he saw an exhibit of the works of Sam Moss Brown. Although these were paintings, he observed the artists’ effective use of lighting. He rushed back to his office and used his secretary as a model to perfect a similar lighting technique.
In an effort to gain additional recognition, he photographed local politicians and displayed their pictures. Slowly opportunities began to present themselves and Mr. Webbe took full advantage of them. He produced a post card for Bermuda Pottery, and then brochure photos for Horizon, Water Loo House, and Newstead. He also travelled abroad to weekend seminars and workshops on photography. He was eager to excel in his craft. Even in these situations, his work was often singled out by the instructors and used as an example for the rest of the participants.
One explanation for Mr. Webbe’s success is his fascination with experimentation. He says that developing photos is like baking with a recipe—once you learn the recipe, you can begin to change and modify it to suit your taste. He often worked with school buddy, Lee Tucker, as the two experimented together—”pushing the envelope” as he puts it. They did things with film that it was not designed to do, but their results were dramatic.
Mr. Webbe was encouraged to show his work by a wealthy associate, who also happened to be an amateur painter. His companion took him to Paris, France; Amsterdam, and Greece. He photographed and his friend painted, and when they returned to Bermuda, they decided to have a joint show, with the proceeds going to charity. When a prominent gallery refused to exhibit Mr. Webbe’s work, his friend held their show in the Bacardi Building. The show was a great success.
Opportunities continued to come to Mr. Webbe. A friend of his had been contracted to photograph a wedding, but was unable to do it. Mr. Webbe replaced him as photographer and brought a level of creativity to the work that was unusual at the time. He photographs weddings from a journalistic point of view. He tells couples that he is not a stage director, but prefers to document the event in a chronological array of candid shots, forever capturing moments that may have been missed.
He says that everything he views through the camera lens becomes interesting to him. As a result, he has photographed the Islamic funeral of a naval sailor many years ago, as well as a wide variety of Bermuda’s architecture, natural fauna, and marine life. He especially enjoys aerial work, and has photographed one of Bermuda’s largest maritime wrecks from a helicopter.
Mr. Webbe has never hoarded his knowledge of photography. As he has learned, he has willingly shared it with others. He has been teaching photography in the Government’s Community Education program for over thirty years, as well as giving one-on-one instruction. He began a Photo Club, whose members meet once a month for field trips to picturesque locations.
After travelling most of the world, he now shares his experiences with other amateur photographers. About twenty-two years ago, he began Unique Safaris. Mr. Webbe organises and guides tour groups to specific areas of Africa, where they experience the rich culture, the wildlife, and the native people of the continent. This affords his clients many photographic opportunities. Having a deep love for Africa, this venture has become an important part of Mr. Webbe’s life. He is now associated with several outfits in Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Southern Africa which provide goods and services for his clients.
He is now publishing his work in books, and is always looking for innovative ways to capture the world. He says that the camera has taken him places that he could never have gone otherwise. He has taken what began as a curiosity, and developed it into an art form that inspires awe and appreciation of our rich environment. And we are especially grateful that he has so willingly imparted his gift to others.
