to move up and down
Birmingham Loves Photographers
Run in conjunction with the independent coffee shop 6/8 Kafé, this is a space to promote Birmingham based photographers all of styles, both amateur and professional. We will also be a running events for photography around the West Midlands. If you want your work featured on here, please contact by Ask Me a Question, or go to our Twitter @birmlovestogs
Birmingham Loves Photographers Website
We have now moved to BirminghamLovesphotographers.com
Come check it out and get involved!
Lewis Maxwell Bloor
Q. How did you get into photography/what is your background?
When I was around 18 I had no real interests apart from playing in punk bands, playing gigs and DJing parties and night clubs but I needed something to do between all these things to actually make some money to live… I applied for a bunch of jobs, one of which was as a photographers assistant at a commercial photographers. I trained as a commercial photographer for 5 years, starting with large format 5x4 film cameras and medium format hasselblads, then digital backs then dSLR’s. The boss retired and I went to uni to do a graphic design degree and used photography as my main medium borrowing cameras whenever i could. I left uni and moved to Birmingham to be a designer. I realised how much the company were spending on outsourcing so I started a photography department. Product photography, specialising in watches is my day job but always having access to a camera I’d never bought one or owned my own until last year when a friend asked me to photograph her wedding and I thought I’d have a go. the week I got a canon 500D my band were playing so I took the camera along to the gig to photograph the other bands and quite enjoyed it. from there I just took it with me everywhere and just started shooting.
Q. How would you describe your style of photography?
My motto is “point, shoot, hope…”. After working as a product photographer and training to be precise while using lots of lighting set ups, I enjoy just getting to somewhere, seeing what the lighting is like and going from there. I enjoy long exposures, movement, flash, available light, lens filters and having fun. I like to post produce as I used to enjoy cross processing and using different films, I see it as a natural progression from the dark room. I know there are a lot of people that swear by film still but after 5 years of 3 trips a day to the processors not knowing if the 8 shots of the day have turned out correct there’s no love lost where that’s concerned! I guess I like my shots to be slightly whimsical and show the viewer something extra than what they might see in real life.
Q. What equipment do you use?
I’m a bit of a canon fan boy nowadays, a 1Ds III in the studio, a 60D for weddings and location and a 500D for wondering around with. I buy whatever equipment I can afford, loads of lenses, flash guns, lens filters, lights, reflectors and daft add-ons that can add some sort of creative twist to any situation
Q. Who/what has influenced your work?
The first photographer that I assisted was a bastard, but I am eternally grateful for everything he taught me, his precision was unparalleled in studio environments although his manner left a lot to be desired. I love a lot of design based photography like Alexander Rodchenko and Josef Müller-Brockmann but I’m addicted to buying photography books and trying to work out how photographers light their shots. I guess from the younger photographers I enjoy the work of Tom Barnes and my good friend Joe Watson from the band Attack! Vipers! Check out his work and his rad music! then my band… Cannons And Tanks, obviously ;)
Q. Do you have any ideas on how photography in Birmingham can be developed or ideas for events/projects?
I’ve been a little scared to come to the meets as I don’t know anyone really and don’t have anyone to go with, I guess I’d like there to be a little club or get together on a Sunday afternoon where everyone can come and meet similar people in the same situation :D
Contact Lews on:
Website: http://lewismaxwell.carbonmade.com/
Tumblr: http://wentdownfighting.tumblr.com/
Twitter: @pointshoothope
Dan du Cros
How did you get into photography/what is your background?
I started getting into photography when I was 16. Like many people my age I was introduced to my first SLR via my parents - I wanted a camera to take some pictures of my friends skateboarding (offsetting my utter failure a being any good on a skateboard myself!). My mother had a Canon AV-1 and I started shooting on that. I remember studying the manual from cover to cover, and after a few test shots I was hooked.
By the time it came to deciding what to do at college I found myself at a fork in the road. During secondary school I had a really keen interest in travel & tourism, and was seriously contemplating becoming a ski resort rep! But I decided to go to Solihull College to do a BTEC National Diploma in Photography. It was a great course and really gave a solid grounding in the basics of photography - plus our tutor at the time (Emma Clarke) was fantastic and really supportive. She was also the resident photographer at the old Carling Academy in Brimingham, which is where I got my first taste of music photography.
After the ND I went to the University of Central England to do a BA in photography, but after the first year I had decided that it wasn’t really for me. It was very fine-art based, which is all well and good, but I wanted to be actively working in the industry - so I headed back to Solihull College and undertook a HND in photography. I owe a lot to the the head of photography Larrie Tiernan, because unlike how I personally felt at UCE, it seemed like he really was invested in getting the most out of his students - really pushing them to find work experience and get a job in the industry. Via the course I managed to get work experience with Automotive photographer Ed Lee, as my interest had switched from music to automotive over the past couple of years. I spent a week with him at Junction Eleven studios in Banbury, learnt so much and came away from it very focused and determined to succeed in this field!
4 years later and I am now working at Junction Eleven (and have been since finishing the HND course) as a photographic assistant and second photographer. The past 4 years working here under head of photography Manvir Rai has really moulded how I approach my personal projects - the intense attention to detail required when working here has certainly rubbed off! We’ve shot a huge variety of things from Range Rovers to kitchen room sets to multi-million pound diamond necklaces.
Over the past year or so I’ve found myself drifting back into shooting music at the weekends - more promotional material then anything else. It’s become my primary focus outside of the work at J11 and what I want to become known for - I really want to push it this year and get some stuff into magazines. That’s the side I’m concentrating on in this blog! My aim is to provide unsigned bands with affordable professional photography that’s going to get them noticed and on the whole kick their image up a notch.
How would you describe your style of photography?
I’ve got quite an moody/dark style when it comes to my music promos, but that’s not to say it doesn’t change from time to time! In truth I’m still expanding my knowledge and I’m always trying out new things (aren’t we all?) so I find my style of shooting does tend to flow and get refined from one project to another. At the end of the day I want to create images that stand out, that make people want to look at them in detail instead of just glossing over them. I’m definitely going through a ‘movie poster’ type vibe at the moment.
What equipment do you use?
I still shoot on my college camera - a Canon 1DS MKIIn! It’s my workhorse and I know it so well I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to give it up completely. It suits me fine for the way I shoot - I’m not looking to blow stuff up to billboard proportions! At J11 I use a Phase One / Mamiya 645AFD with a Phase One P45+ back, and a Sinar P2 technical camera.
Lighting wise I use Elinchrom Ranger packs and an Elinchrom Deep Octa softbox, with a couple of strip boxes if I need them. Quick, simple and power when and where you need it! I used to shoot with flashguns like the Canon 580ex, but found that they just couldn’t give me the power and speed I was after.
Who/What influences your work?
We’ll stick the usual suspects here first - the Strobist blog was a massive influence when I was learning off camera lighting. I can’t recommend it enough to every photographer out there. Get the basics down and you’re set, you can apply it to everything - from shooting your cat in your living room, to CEOs of big companies.
Influence wise I’m a big fan of Dave Hill, Joey L, Adam Elmakias and Joel Grimes. If I end up being half as good as these guys I’ll be happy! It’s a great motivator to see the amazing images that they produce, and then watch the behind-the-scenes videos that they provide and realize that there is no witchcraft involved, just an intimate knowledge of their craft.
Contact Dan on his website:
Matt Murtagh
Q. How did you get into photography/what is your background?
I didn’t pick up a camera until I was 25, it was a beaten up Pentax film SLR from a car boot sale. It’s still my favourite.
I started shooting bands in dingy pubs then moved on to all sorts of stuff.
I went down an academic route in training, getting a HND and then a degree in Photography while assisting various photographers in the West Midlands. I’m now a freelance photographer pretty much up for anything, I quite enjoy doing weddings too.On the fine art front I’ve had several large exhibitions and have been involved in organising large group shows. There is nothing more frustrating than organising a group of photographers.
I’m on the board of Birmingham Photospace, the campaign for a permanent photographic exhibition space in the city, and have served as Artistic Director of the We Are Birmingham project.
Q. What equipment do you use?
where to start…
Pentax ME Super
Pentax K100
Pentax K7
Hasselblad 500
Sinar 5/4
Canon 5d
Justin Quinnell’s patent beer can pinhole camera
Elinchrom lights
Q. How would you describe your style of photography?
I’m a jack of all trades in my commercial work, at home in a studio or doing social photography. For my fine art practice for the last couple of years I’ve been creating a series of large Hockneyesque joiners. My most recent major commission has been the production of one for the Bullring (you can see it outside Jamie’s Restaurant).
Q. Who has influenced your work?
David Hockney, William Eggleston, Richard Avedon, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Edward Weston are the first that spring to mind, undoubtedly many more.
Contact Matt On
www.mattmurtaghphotography.com (currently being reconstructed!)
flickr.com/msmurtagh
SIMON WINNALL
Q. How did you get into photography/what is your background?
My mother is a very good photographer and I remember being surrounded by lovely old Pentax camera gear from a very young age. One of my strongest childhood memories is sitting in a dark room watching Kodachrome 64 slides projected onto a screen, seeing the dust suspended in the beam of light, and hearing the ‘clunk-click’ as the next picture advanced.
I went to college to study graphic design, but somehow ended up taking photography as it looked more fun and easier! I was too stupid to go to uni so started working at a Birmingham design company, then after 5 years I started my own business, initially just doing graphics work. Eventually, with a lot of support from my friend and fellow local photographer Ian Winstanley, the design work disappeared and I’ve worked exclusively as a photographer for about the last 4 years, which isn’t that long in this industry, but feels it some days!
Q. How would you describe your style of photography?
Snap-shot-y lifestyle?!
It takes a long time to become self aware of your photography and consider what style binds your work together. I’m only just getting a handle on it! I’m starting to see technically what I like, shallow depth of field, strong use of colour, people shot on location. The obvious commercial application of that style is lifestyle photography. This style suits my personality too, I much prefer flirting chatting with models in the sunshine instead to sitting in a dark studio lighting a dull inanimate object!!! Its very important all photographers shoot personal work for their books to develop a style, as your not going to find one while working for clients, as you objective is meeting their needs. 99% of the work on my site, I’ve shot for myself.
From a business & marketing perspective, Its important for commercial photographers to have a strong style and specialism, as we’re so close in the midlands to one of the best and largest photography markets in the world, London. The capital is full of photographers who excel in certain niche styles of photography. When big money is on the line, any client with a brain is going to want to hire the person who is an expert in the exact style of photography they want, not a jack of all trades who can do lots of styles of work to an OK standard. For example I was taken to Paris this spring to shoot an ad job for a french mobile phone company, just because the client felt my style was perfect for that specific project, which shows the effort some agencies put into sourcing the right photographer. Like all photographers, thats not to say I can’t point a camera at other types of work, I’ve done projects as diverse as shooting stop motion TV ads through to studio product shots of £100,000 diamond and gold stilettos in the last year. But I am happiest and market myself, as a lifestyle photographer.
Q. What equipment do you use?
I’ve got Canon DSLRs for snappy stuff and a medium format Contax 645 with a Phaseone back for more considered work (which means I never use it!), plus lots of lighting, grip, video, computer gear. I try very hard not to get seduced into buying equipment, you know you have problems when you get excited by C-Stands! Nearly all my work is handheld, unlit and shot on just two lenses, 35mm & 85mm. For my style of photography, the more complex the gear needed to make a photo, the less I like it. A simple approach is best when shooting with people.
Q. Who/What influences your work?
Initially from a professional viewpoint my mate Ian held a large influence. I didn’t spend much time assisting other photographers, probably as I was so rubbish at it! So having someone to give you an idea of how to deal with clients, cost jobs and develop your own style work is priceless. I certainly wouldn’t be working as a photographer without his help! Checkout his work at www.ianwinstanley.net
I do spend time looking at other photographers work, which some people don’t, as it gives me an idea of the standard I need to reach to get work. I’ve got folders full of bookmarked websites. For lifestyle photography the guys I admire are: Chris Sisarich, Pete Beavis, Gary Burchell, Nick Onken. Plus what photographer doesn’t want to shoot portraits like Nadav Kander?!
Q. Do you have any ideas on how photography in Birmingham can be developed or ideas for events/projects?
Just getting local photographers together is a great thing. We exist in our own bubbles, many working from home. So to see each other would be cool!
Contact Simon at:
Simon Winnall
