The Photographers
Listing in Surname Order

Cameron, Ian [bio]

Christie, James

Hancox, Mark

Herbert, Amanda [bio]

Mott, Lee

Stephenson, Mike [bio]

 

Mike Stephenson

When & how did you first become interested in photography?

I became interested in photography after a visit to the USA in 2004 and seeing a Canon Rebel in a shop. I bought it to take decent pictures of the holiday and after returning to the UK and realised this was something I wanted to learn more about. I went on a photo workshop with Lee Frost in 2007 and that's the first time I realised Landscape photography was "it" for me.

Who were your main influences in developing your style?

I have read heavily on the subject over the last few years and one of the main influences for me was a book by Lee Frost called "Panoramic Photography" as it demonstrated the Panoramic image in many ways. Since then inspiration
has been gained from Joe Cornish, Charlie Waite, David Ward and David Burdeny whose book "Shorelines" was a fantastic example of long exposures before it became common. More recently images by a newer, dare I say, younger group including Ross Hoddinot, Lee Pengelly and Mark Bauer have inspired me especially with a focus on the beauty of the UK Landscape.

What equipment do you always carry with you on a shoot?

I now use a Canon 5D mk2 and an IR converted Canon 30D. Lenses always carried are the 17-40mm Canon L lens and the 24-105mm Canon L lens. I always use a tripod and cable release. With the addition of a set of Lee ND Grads and a 10 stop Lee "Big Stopper" I can make do.

Select two of your favourite photos and explain how you took them?

Mike Stephenson

This is a hard one to do but the two images which I like are not necessary the same ones liked by others. The one of Lloyds of London is one of my favourites as it has a story. I was in London taking images of a single building as I was in a rut and nothing seemed to excite me. This was taken at the same time as the England - Germany game in the World Cup. I loved the abstract nature of the image and the fact it looks to me like 3 giant silver whistles - apt with the game. It appeared in a camera magazine of building abstracts and  showed me what could be done with one lens and one building. It was converted to BW and cropped to a square image but very little else.

Mike Stephenson

The other image which I am pleased with is the Stonehenge image. This was taken on a really wet and windy day and I had queued for a while to make sure I was the first one in. I almost ran to get into position as there were 3-4 coach's full of tourists being dropped off behind me. I shot the image with 5 images and stitched them together in Photoshop whilst converting to BW. It gives me a sense of the location as its quite eery at the stones. Within minutes of the shots being taken the area was full of tourists with bright red and yellow coats. This image was commended in the 2009 Landscape Photographer of the Year so I guess others liked it as well.

Where else can people go to view more of your work?

www.captureamoment.co.uk

I am also talking with friends about an exhibition in 2011 and planning a Photo Workshop with another Photographer during the same year.

My images have appeared in the AA Landscape Photographer of the year 2008 and 2009, they were at the exhibition in London and Norfolk during the same years. I have also appeared in Digital SLR User, Digital Camera, Photoplus and other monthly magazines.