My first memory of photography was when I was on holiday with my family in Florida. I was given a Instamatic 110 cartridge camera to take my own holiday photos. This had a flash unit on top of a rotating turret which gave me only 4 flashes before needing to be replaced! It amuses me looking back how much we take little things like infinite flash discharges for granted.
I keep meaning to go into the loft to see if I can find my first photos. I'm sure I still have them somewhere!
I get inspiration from everywhere! I always use my iPhone to take random photos of things I've seen, that I like. Another thing I do is keep a folder on my Mac (which is synced to my iPhone) of all the images I've seen from other photographers which inspire me in some way. We're all influenced by the world and the people around us, even if it's only on a subconcious level.
I'm also heavily influenced by some of the most iconic photographers from the last century. People like Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon and David Bailey have changed the way people look at photography, even if they didn't set out to. More recently, the work of Terry Richardson has changed the way I look at my own photography in a very big way!
I'm excited for the future, both of photography and my own career. I think the advances in technology are allowing more people to experiment with new ideas and ways of doing things, without the financial constraints that film used to have. I also welcome anything that makes the technical aspect of what I do easier, as if frees me up to spend more time on the creative side.
In terms of my own career, who knows? I have lofty aspirations, and I'm extremely driven and motivated to acheive my goals. Being a full time photographer isn't the easiest of jobs, but as this project points out, photography isn't something I just do... it's who I am!
To learn more about me, you can find me in the following places:
