I am a photographer currently based in Hoyland Barnsley, I specialise in creative photography, whether that be promotional images for musicians or a family portrait. A Bit About Me
Art has always been a big part of my life, this interest began at school with a compulsion to draw on exercise books and even drew a mural on my bedroom wall. My first taste of digital creative work was after I created
a sculpture. My art teacher showed me how to ‘put it in place’ on a photograph of a local landscape on Adobe Photoshop. This experience stuck with me throughout the remainder of secondary school, and influenced me to choose photography at A Level. When I began this course, it was instantly apparent that this was a very different art form from what I was used to. I was shown how to use an SLR camera, make and develop my own films and how to process them in a dark room. I fell in love with this form of art from this point onwards. In addition to choosing photography, I also chose to study fashion at 6th form. This steered me in my motivation to photograph fashion, and this turned into music after studying Vivienne Westwood and the Punk movement. I was caught by this fashion designer’s vivid individuality and passion for the unusual and different. I envied this woman’s strength. This initial induction into the creative world coincided with my older brother starting a metal band. I attended his gigs and began to photograph the band both on and off stage. At this point I was in my element. I was immersed into this environment with alternative fashions, loud music, stage lighting and an abundance of energy. My passion for photography sky rocketed with all of this visual excitement. After studying photography at A Level, I chose to expand my knowledge base by studying the subject at university. This again opened up my options as a photographer, as I was now learning how to use studio equipment. I used my previous influences from studying fashion for many of my photo shoots, creating dresses out of bin liners and duct tape. I was also was able to borrow portable studio lighting to experiment with locations, doing shoots in abandoned chicken sheds, plastic factories and in garages. Whilst studying for this degree, as I had to present my work to my class for criticism, my lighting and post production skills became an obsession, and because of this I felt the standard of my work improved drastically. As a result of this, my artwork from my end of year exhibition was chosen to be displayed in the foyer of my university, an achievement I am very proud of. I have had the opportunity to help out my local community by donating my work to Asda’s Tickled Pink charity and produce art work for the Hulls Angels Roller Dame’s Dove House charity calendar. I have had the chance to work with some amazing people so far and I am excited to carry on doing so.
