I am a generic, non-specific, photographer. I shoot whatever is in front of me if it interests me, regardless of subject matter. Landscapes, architecture, people, nature, anything and everything, I’ll shoot/photograph/image-make it. I shoot film and digital, 35mm and medium format. I am a photographer without specialisation and without, sometimes to my detriment, focus.
This lack of focus works to my benefit for the most part. I am flexible in subject, in format and in, to an extent, a recognisable personal style. I do have certain obsessions, which I have touched upon previously - people in landscapes being the main one. I love landscape photography, but lack the patience and dedication to seek out specific locations and types of shot. In this regard I am very much opportunistic.
I absolutely adore people photography, in all its forms. Street photography is hard. Portraiture I enjoy but am out of practice at. People walking cinematically across a beach or standing silhouetted on a mountain top are easy.
I am not an out-every-day-camera-in-hand type of photographer, although I try to be. My only consistency is the regularity with which I fail that aspiration.
I love the process of film, although not the expense. I love the spontaneity and flexibility of digital, although I fall in and out of love with the post-processing element. I cannot get enough of shooting medium format 120 film, and the images that result invariably blow my mind for quality, if not for content.
I need and want to shoot more portraits. I did wedding photography many years ago, for a bit, and the candid aspects of it were definitely my thing. Catching people in the moment, forced by opportunity and circumstance to make images that told snippets of stories - there is an overwhelming pleasure in that.
I am not sure what the purpose of this post is, to be honest. Sitting here, in my favourite cafe, reflecting on the above I think it is good to sometimes reconsider why and what it is we photograph, recognising weaknesses and strengths, and most importantly, aspirations. That’s it really.
A couple of notable photographs below - low quality, taken on a smartphone in the heat of the moment and yet amongst my absolute favourites.
