Eileen Ramsay pioneered the water-level photography angle - shooting images of sail boats from as close to the water as possible.
The water-level shot —
Eileen Ramsay pioneered the water-level photography angle - shooting images of sail boats from as close to the water as possible.
Eileen Ramsay / PPL
According to Ramsay, a real photographer doesn't just takes a photograph, they "make" one by working hard to get the best angle. This beautifully-composed image was shot at the 1962 Cowes Week Regatta.
Composition —
According to Ramsay, a real photographer doesn't just takes a photograph, they "make" one by working hard to get the best angle. This beautifully-composed image was shot at the 1962 Cowes Week Regatta.
Eileen Ramsay / PPL
Ramsay's career took off in the 1950s and 1960s, when the sport of sailing enjoyed a post-war explosion in Britain. Here she is with her trusted Rolleiflex camera in the summer of 1963.
Eileen Ramsay —
Ramsay's career took off in the 1950s and 1960s, when the sport of sailing enjoyed a post-war explosion in Britain. Here she is with her trusted Rolleiflex camera in the summer of 1963.
Eileen Ramsay / PPL
Ramsay made sure she was present for the first dinghy race in central London, which was held on the river Thames in 1956.
Racing past Parliament —
Ramsay made sure she was present for the first dinghy race in central London, which was held on the river Thames in 1956.
Eileen Ramsay / PPL
This award-winning photograph from 1945 is one of the first nautical-themed images that Ramsay took and is entitled "Black Sails." It remains one of her personal favorites.
'Black Sails' —
This award-winning photograph from 1945 is one of the first nautical-themed images that Ramsay took and is entitled "Black Sails." It remains one of her personal favorites.
Eileen Ramsay / PPL
Sailing legend and clothing company founder Keith Musto is seen here fighting for second place against a French rival during the 1964 "Flying Dutchman" European championships. He and his sailing partner went on to win a silver medal at that year's Olympic Games in Tokyo.
'Flying Dutchman' —
Sailing legend and clothing company founder Keith Musto is seen here fighting for second place against a French rival during the 1964 "Flying Dutchman" European championships. He and his sailing partner went on to win a silver medal at that year's Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Eileen Ramsay / PPL
Ramsay would always make sure she placed herself where the action was. Here she manages to catch the collision beween a competing yacht and a spectator boat at the 1969 Cowes Week Regatta in England.
Collision caught on camera —
Ramsay would always make sure she placed herself where the action was. Here she manages to catch the collision beween a competing yacht and a spectator boat at the 1969 Cowes Week Regatta in England.
Eileen Ramsay / PPL
Ramsay began taking color pictures in 1962 and set up her own color developing process two years later -- but it took several more years before magazines and newspapers could actually print in color.
True colors —
Ramsay began taking color pictures in 1962 and set up her own color developing process two years later -- but it took several more years before magazines and newspapers could actually print in color.
Eileen Ramsay / PPL
This 1968 shot is of British Olympic hopefuls Rodney Pattisson and Ian MacDonald-Smith on board a "Flying Dutchman." Ramsay recalls that she wasn't allowed to photograph the inside of the boat: "They were much faster than everyone else and didn't want to give any ideas away to the competition," she said.
In perfect balance —
This 1968 shot is of British Olympic hopefuls Rodney Pattisson and Ian MacDonald-Smith on board a "Flying Dutchman." Ramsay recalls that she wasn't allowed to photograph the inside of the boat: "They were much faster than everyone else and didn't want to give any ideas away to the competition," she said.
Eileen Ramsay / PPL
Ramsay, who spent her early career doing portrait photography, says she somehow always knew how to successfully compose photograps. Here she lines up a number of "International Dragon" boats, racing during the 1966 Cowes Week Regatta in England.
Dragons in action —
Ramsay, who spent her early career doing portrait photography, says she somehow always knew how to successfully compose photograps. Here she lines up a number of "International Dragon" boats, racing during the 1966 Cowes Week Regatta in England.
Eileen Ramsay / PPL