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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
style kaleidoscope
Q. How did you get into photography/what is your background?
I’ve never had much of an ability to draw or paint, so I guess photography is my visual outlet. I used to take photos for Ocean Colour Scene when they played live or were in the studio, and that’s when I learnt how to use film and compose shots, and the various ways to shoot without flash in the pit. I was the two-cam girl - one camera would be loaded with b&w film, the other with colour, and I would literally shoot both cameras off at the same time while only looking through one lens. My love of fashion led me to the idea of a picture blog of people around town. Street style blogs are used by all kinds of people in the fashion industry for inspiration - designers, stylists……they are a big deal. I wanted Birmingham to be a part of that scene, and so the blog was launched with that in mind.
Q. How would you describe your style of photography?
I like images to have a dream-like quality to them, almost anti-reality, so I love using different effects on pictures.
Q. What equipment do you use?
My iPhone and some editing apps - this way I can enhance the pictures quickly while I’m on-the-go.
Q. Who/what has influenced your work?
Time definitely has the ultimate influence over my work - most people I take pictures of are in a rush to get somewhere, so I don’t have time to get them to pose perfectly or pick a great spot for the photo. I literally may have less than a minute to get their shot & give them my card. For the non-fashion sections of the blog, my influence is those pictures you see that make you think, that are not just factual shots. I love collages & close-ups so like to use this method a lot.
Garazi Gardner
Q. How did you get into photography/what is your background?
I hadn’t even touched an SLR camera before I came to university. I moved to Birmingham to do a media course specialising in radio. I decided it wasn’t for me on the first day, so I picked up a camera and haven’t put it down since. That was 9 years ago!
I started shooting a lot of alternative fashion, but that evolved and when I discovered beauty photography I found myself really enjoying it. I’ve worked at portrait studios, still life studios, assisted photographers… But I went fully freelance nearly 3 years ago and I couldn’t be happier!
Q. How would you describe your style of photography?
My style is clean and bright. I mainly shoot beauty, but also fashion and commercial. I try to make beauty even more beautiful.
Q. What equipment do you use?
I’ve always been a Nikon girl. My favourite lens is the 105mm 2.8, so clear for beauty! And I couldn’t live without my lights and all the bits and pieces. I have too much equipment to list; any spare money always goes on something new. And I spend most of my time in front of my mac, with an old school cinema display screen.
Q. Who/what has influenced your work?
I couldn’t pinpoint a certain person or thing that influences me most. I spend a lot of my time retouching on the computer, so I look at a lot of images on the internet. But it can be anything from a combination of colours to a pose to a dress to a stunning image. I just look at everything! I people watch, I look!
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