Birmingham Loves Photographers

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

Magnum Professional Practice - Birmingham

IdeasTap have got 10 heavily subsidised places to give away on Magnum’s next two-day Professional Practice seminar in Birmingham on 3 and 4 December. This opportunity is available to IdeasTap members between the ages of 16 and 25.

With an emphasis on providing practical and vocational guidance to emerging photographers, this is an unmissable opportunity to gain tailor-made, impartial advice from specialists at the top of their profession.

Speakers for the Birmingham seminar include Picture Editor of the Observer, Tony Bell; Client Engagement Manager of 24 Productions, Rhiannon Reid; Head of Photographs of Birmingham Central Library, Peter James; Dewi Lewis of Dewi Lewis Publishing; Cultural and Education Manager of Magnum Photos, Fiona Rogers; and Head of International Picture Desk of ActionAid, Laurence Watts.

These seminars are always massively oversubscribed and photographers usually pay £250+VAT to attend. Not only will 10 IdeasTap members jump the queue, they’ll also pay just £50+VAT.

The seminar will take place at the Photography Department of Birmingham City University: School of Art, Margaret Street, Birmingham. Both days begin at 9.30am and end at 5pm.

To apply you’ll need to upload five photos to your IdeasTap portfolio and explain, in 100 words or less, how your career would benefit from this opportunity.

For full details of how to apply, head to this page

This brief closes at 5pm on Thursday 17 November 2011.