A Few Seconds Makes All The Difference
My seascape presentation for 2026, “A Few Seconds Makes All the Difference” explores the art of seeing the world through the lens of long and extreme long exposure photography. The collection journeys mainly across the UK - from the North West Coast, down the North East Coast including Humberside, a small selection from the South Coast, then we head north to capture the beauty of Northwest Scotland and the tranquillity of the Outer Hebrides. The last leg is a small selection of overseas images from Europe. The presentation includes elements of minimalist photography and through this approach fleeting moments are transformed into images of stillness and surrealism. It features both colour and monochrome pictures. Living on the edge of Manchester UK the presentation can be in person if you are in the North West of England.
I also bring around 20 prints, a selection of inspirational books and my full camera equipment including all the filters required for long exposure photography.
I’m available to present in person, by Zoom or Teams worldwide.
CONTACT ME HERE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT A BOOKING
Testimonials:
Bolton Camera Club - March 2026 - In Person
Hi Phil - Re Your Presentation
Thanks very much for preparing and delivering your excellent presentation on Thursday at the Club. It was great and made for a super evening for members and visitors alike. I know that the ‘tour’ to other clubs and groups with your presentation will be fantastic and equally well received.
Just as a reminder some of the things that occurred to me as we listened to you and admired your images on Thursday:
A fabulous evening with stunning long exposure images and some minimalist images. We were in awe of your skill in producing such beautiful images.
Many were beautiful works of art
Patience, preparation and precision were evident throughout
You show a forensic attention to detail
We enjoyed seeing the images but also how they’d been achieved
We enjoyed seeing the same images taken at different exposures
We enjoyed seeing both colour and mono conversions of images
We liked the balance between seeing the images, hearing some of the technical details of shutter speed but also the stories behind some of the images along with some humour - even at my and Pete C’s expense!
It was good to see some pre-shoot images like the 3 layered fence on uneven ground and comparing that with the final shot achieved at that location
A great evening for all
The ‘tour’ of your presentation will be great
Thanks for putting on the inaugural presentation at our club
Many thanks Margaret - President - Bolton CC
North Fylde PS - April 2026 - In Person
Fabulous evening at North Fylde PS with Phil Durkin
We were delighted to welcome Phil to the club on Tuesday evening for his presentation, “A Few Seconds Makes All the Difference.” It was an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable talk that took us on a beautiful journey around the UK’s coastline—from the North West and North East shores to the tranquillity of North West Scotland and the Inner and Outer Hebrides, with a glimpse of Europe beyond.
Phil was entertaining, enthusiastic, and exceptionally generous in sharing both his knowledge and techniques. His insights into long and extreme long exposure photography were fascinating, and it was particularly valuable to see his work presented as prints, alongside the opportunity to view and learn about the kit he uses.
The combination of colour and monochrome images, together with his minimalist approach, created a striking sense of stillness and atmosphere that clearly resonated with the audience.
Thank you, Phil for a superb evening - highly recommended as a speaker.
Nicki Greenwood CPAGB - Honorary Secretary - North Fylde PS
Baglan Bay PS - April 2026 - via Zoom
We all thoroughly enjoyed the evening with the words, 'such excellent images' being used frequently. The tour around the country was particularly interesting as many of us were able to identify some of the locations you had visited with notes for us to revisit and look again at what we might take and how we might use our cameras - so much was learned. Occasionally you mentioned that your attempt had failed, but we disagreed saying that although it might not have been what you wanted, to us it looked like a watercolour painting.
Overall it was a wonderful evening with each image being superb. We admired your patience and attention to the detail of time of year, time of day, weather, wind direction.
Our Day Out next week is at a beach near Swansea with an incoming tide - I think that the ND Filter Timer App may get some use!
Thanks again Phil. We hope we can see you again sometime.
Kind regards Susan - Secretary - Baglan Bay Photographic Society
Bolton & District PS - June 2026 - In Person
Phil presented his talk " A few seconds make all the difference" at our club
Bolton and District Photographic Society"
Not only did he show some stunning images but he also clearly demonstrated
how to achieve the results. Because most of the locations used are within easy
distance it certainly has made several of our members contemplating having a go.
A very entertaining and rewarding evening.
Theo Dibbits - Bolton and District PS
Llanelli Photographic Society - Sept 2026 - Via Zoom
Hi Phil, many thanks for last night's great talk & for stepping up at short notice. After our meeting, we headed off to have a shandy or two at the local & the topic of conversation was based on your photography. That's always the sign of a good night! Thank you again for what you did.
Regards Graham - Llanelli PS
Lytham St Annes Photographic Society - Oct 2026 - In Person
Hi Phil , many thanks for coming to speak to us last night it was certainly appreciated and enjoyed by all present. It was great how you had segregated the talk into various areas and will certainly give many inspiration to visit.
We don’t really appreciate what we have on our doorstep with miles of beach and the sea, it can be very interesting for long exposure photography so I think we may see a bit more of this type of photography irrespective of whether it fares well with some Judges!
Your generosity with guidance on how the image was taken is something not all speakers share so thank you very much for doing so.
I wish you well when you eventually retire but I do hope if you pull another presentation together, we may see you return to us because it really was excellent.
Best wishes Janet - Lytham St Annes Photographic Society
Garstang Camera Club - Oct 2026 - In Person
A thoroughly enjoyable and fascinating talk on long exposure.
We have learnt a lot form Phil’s talk and it’s all about patience, timing and when to push that shutter button!
We have learnt a lot form Phil’s talk and it’s all about patience, timing and when to push that shutter button!
Phil managed to transfer ordinary images into something quite extraordinary. We really enjoyed the journey around the UK, recognising some of the places and a very quick visit to Europe too! The use of colour and monochrome has shown us just how much atmosphere and emotion can be created.
We also really enjoyed the minimalistic images – less is certainly more!
He showed us some excellent and beautiful images which has given some members inspiration to try out long exposure and experiment. Thanks Phil for sharing your time and knowledge and wonderful images.
Regards Mike Jenner - Chairman Garstang Camera Club
Weymouth Camera Club - Oct 2026 - Via Zoom
Hi Phil. Very many thanks for your inspirational presentation last night. The members really enjoyed the evening and yes, I think we might have a go with the ND filters…if only I could remember where I put mine!
Here is Dorset we have a wealth of potential great shots, especially around the coast, we have a lot of coast, and I’m really encouraged by you to revisit some of them with new ideas.
Regards Chris - Programme Secretary Weymouth Camera Club
Bury Photographic Society - Oct 2026 - In Person
Hi Phil, Comments from our review of the month in committee. Nothing needs honing. Top quality photography, interesting technical details and background stories.
Regards Steve - Syllabus Secretary
Blackburn and Darwen Photography Club - Nov 2026 - Via Zoom
Morning Phil - A quick note of thanks for your presentation to the Club last night. I know from members that it was well received and very much enjoyed. I think we all appreciated how you covered such a lot of ground with your examples of long exposures which were all superb images. They have certainly given us food for thought for our own photography now! It was also very helpful in the way you described and explained your camera settings and composition settings.
Many thanks Bob McDonald - Programme Secretary
Oswestry Photographic Society - Nov 2026 - Via Zoom
Hello Phil. This morning I had a chat with our chairman David, he was the one who spoke to you before you started your talk, to get some feedback as I wasn’t present in the room. I did manage to get onto the meeting to watch your talk from a carpark in Glencoe! He was delighted with your very informative talk and your superb images and the description of the when/where/how you got them, he said the feedback from members was also excellent and it was enjoyed by all members both novices and the more experienced. Thank you once more and I hope if you get another talk we can use you again.
Kind regards Jackie Oswestry Photographic Society - competition sec.