Practical Photography - UK (2019-09)

PracticalPhotograPhy.com 43

Find Your Style

expert insight

pp staffers & their style journey

I never idolised other photographers.
I just started shooting one day on
a whim, and quickly found myself
le arning from my own mistakes...
and there were lots of them! One
thing I do try and inject into every
sh ot is colour grading. I often favour
warm shots over cool, and play with
colour a lot. I a lso like to shoot
people, because I like the intimate,
personal connection from that genre
of photography, and I try to add a
subtle narrative. I like to think that
some part of me is still strugglingto
evolve. Getting better is my drive,
and that’s at the core of my journey:
an ever-improving style – a style
without style.

My early development was dictated

by the iconic photographers that

I admired, in whose work I immersed

myself. Richard Avedon, Robert

Mapplethorpe and David Bailey to

name just three – the images shotby

these artists were ingrained on my

psyche. I studied photography to

degree level and the influence of my

fellow students was key to me finding

my style, which was then honed

by working as a freelance pro. I’d

describe my style as minimalist and

immediate – I like to shoot fast. My

natural instinct is always to go black

& white, partly from being brought up

on film. Digital has given me freedom

to explore my aesthetic even further.

With my own background rooted in

fine art, my formative photographic

idol was surrealist master Man Ray.

His ability to impose his vision on

reality left a lasting impression, and

while I may have moved away from

surreal experimentations, I always

strive to mimic his ability to create

a photo rather than just capture it.

The best thing about honing a style is

that it’s an amorphous, ever-evolving

beast. I believe that the day you think

you have nothing left to learn would

be the saddest day of all. My current

obsession is chasing beautiful light

• from late-afternoon long shadows,
  to rich golden light, to a purple-toned
  blue hour, I’ll shoot it all!

kirk schwarz

technique editor

louise carey

features editor

richard collins

deputy editor

How the editorial team developed and honed their unique visions