Take a Trip to Antarctica at The Market Gallery

An intrepid Tameside resident is showcasing his impressive photography from a trip to Antarctica at The Market Gallery in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Ken Morris is 75, retired and has lived in Ashton since 1975, as his roots are in Newtownards, County Down.

Yet, after retiring in 2004 from the early implementation of the Internet by the Department of Trade and the Foreign Office, he has been able to combine his key interests in travel and photography.

Ken’s interest in photography began in 1965, after he purchased his first 35mm camera, a second-hand Kodak Retina IIC. He started off by taking photos of steam trains in Ireland as they were being withdrawn.

In February 2020, prior to the pandemic, Ken boarded The Fram in Ushuaia for a three-week expedition cruise around Antarctica.

This trip of a lifetime had been a lifetime ambition of Ken’s, to visit Antarctica was greatly inspired by one of his University lecturers, who undertook research there. He also achieved his ambition to have stood on the most remote continent on earth.

The photographs on display were taken throughout the cruise, as it provided fantastic opportunities to share the amazing landscapes and the wonderful range of wildlife seen on the trip, such as elephant seals, penguins, and even a humpback whale.

All photos were taken with either a Nikon DSLR or a Panasonic Compact camera.

Additionally, Ken is a Tameside Community Champion and was one of the judges on short-listing the photos used on the Tameside 2023 Calendar.

Ken also collaborated with the Council’s Green Spaces Team in developing the Edwardian Walk in Stamford Park during 2022.

The exhibition is on display until Tuesday 6 June 2023. The Market Gallery supports local artists to showcase and often sell their work. Exhibitions change roughly every three months. The Gallery is located in stalls 62 and 63 opposite Ashton Farmhouse Deli.

If you are interested in exhibiting at The Market Gallery, please email events@tameside.gov.uk.