The Power of Practice

What a difference a year of practice can make! It’s been a transformative journey, filled with countless shutter clicks, numerous photo edits, and endless learning. The first four photos from the previous years still hold a special place in my portfolio. They are some of my many favourites, each one a testament to my growth as a photographer. Each image is a chapter in my story, a stepping stone on my path to mastery. They remind me of where I started and how far I’ve come.

A Shift in Perspective

However, the last three months have furthered my perspective of what is possible in terms of what I want to produce within my portrait work. It’s not just about capturing a face; it’s about capturing a story, an emotion, a moment in time. It’s about seeing beyond the surface and delving into the depths of the human experience. It’s about pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and redefining what it means to create a portrait.

Street Photography: Capturing the Authenticity

On the streets, I strive for authenticity. I want it to feel like you could take the same photo in the streets of London, and the model would fit into the space naturally. The bustling cityscape, the candid expressions, the raw emotions - all these elements come together to create a photo that is as real as it gets. It’s about capturing the essence of the city, the rhythm of life that pulses through its veins. It’s about finding beauty in the chaos, poetry in the mundane.

Studio Photography: The Quest for the Perfect Light

In the studio, my quest is for that hard light - the kind you can’t hide behind but is still contemporary and stylish. It forces models to really work for that image, to create shapes that compliment the frame and the light. It’s a dance between the model and the camera, a delicate balance of light and shadow. It’s about creating a space where the model can express themselves freely, where they can step into the light and shine.

The Role of the Photographer

Of course, I also have to play my part in this dance by knowing where I want my light. The last couple of months have been spent learning about Flash, both generally and specifically. Understanding how to manipulate light, how to bend it to my will, has been an invaluable skill in my photography journey. It’s about mastering the technical aspects of photography, about understanding the science behind the art.

The Never-Ending Journey of Learning

The key takeaway from this journey? You must keep on learning folks.

To find the frames that you desire, to capture the moments that you envision, you must be willing to learn, to grow, and to evolve. Here’s to the journey, to the process, to the endless pursuit of perfection. Because in the end, it’s not just about the destination, it’s about the journey.