photographer manchester

Wedding Photography.

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I have never sold myself as a wedding photographer, but from time to time I do get asked if I can photograph someone’s wedding and 9 times out of 10, I always say yes.

The one thing that I always say is that I’m not a professional wedding photographer, but I will shoot it in my style.

And the question then is, what is your style?

For me, and this is just my own opinion I think photographing a wedding should be about telling the story of your day. From the Bridal preparation to the late-night dancing.

I always try and blend in and act as a guest and the perfect camera for that is my Fujifilm X100F my other camera of choice is the Xpro2 with the 35mm 1.4. I like to keep it simple.

The one thing I’m not a big fan of is spending hours doing group shot after group shot zzzzzz.

I like to look for the emotion of the day and let’s not forgot the little moments of magic that are gone in the blink of an eye.

My shooting style is not for everyone, but I see it as it is, and that is honest, candid photography.

Street Photography has taught me a lot over the years but the one thing I always do is go in there with a blank canvas and see what I come back with. There is no point in thinking I might get this or that because the eye will not see the real story.

Head over to my wedding portfolio and see if my style suits your style and if it does, then feel free to get in touch.

Keep the Faith

KV

It has been a while.

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Over these past few months, I have put my photography on the back burner.

This was not really through choice but more of a need as I navigated my way through a very stressful house move.

I did manage to get out with the camera but my mind and enthusiasm were not there and this was having an even more negative effect on my photography. So I decided to step back and wait till I was fully settled in my house.

Over time I could sense that I was losing interest in photography and I must admit I thought of packing it in. Thankfully that never happened.

What have I learnt from this hiatus from photography?

I do feel more invigorated and in some ways, this little break has given me time to press the restart button. But It has also shown me that I can spend too much time chasing the perfect shot and not enough time enjoying the process of photography.

I can sense a shift in my photography and I feel I’m on the cusp of a change.

My latest work “Wanderings” is something that I’m excited about as it is different from my street work and at this moment in time this is what I want to do. And who knows there may be a book to follow.

At the end of the day, it is about doing things that make you happy because we only have today as tomorrow is not here.

Keep the Faith

KV

Do not press delete.

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Over the years, I have learned many photography lessons, but the best piece of advice that I took on board was never delete your pictures.

I'm talking about the ones you took, and at the time, you didn't understand why you lifted the camera to your eye and composed that shot. There was a reason you pressed the shutter at that moment; you probably did not understand why, but in a few years, you will look at that image and understand the reason.

Things change, we change, and our photographic eye changes all the time.

In my previous blog, I mentioned that I would be taking a break from street photography. My gut instinct is telling me that this is the time to look for a new path. I must admit I'm enjoying the process, and I feel my photography is starting to take a new direction.

If you see something that is interesting, then take the picture, but most of all, do not press delete.

Keep the Faith

KV

Time for Change.

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If anything, these past 12 months have taught me to appreciate the small things. And that would include my photography.

Instead of looking for the things that I do not have, I have been grateful for the things I have now.

I have continued to look for photographic opportunities and used this time as a growth phase. It has slowed me down and made me look for new perspectives and try and see things in a different light.

Street Photography will always have its place, but I now understand it is not the be-all and end-all of my photographic journey.

Very soon I will be moving house. The area we are moving to will be closer to the countryside than the streets of Manchester. Plus, it will be a 30-minute journey to the coast. So as you can see, my progression is already there, and all I have to do is embrace the change. Change is good. It is the thinking that is overrated.

Keep the Faith

KV

Winter Walk

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The first snowfall of the winter provided me with an opportunity to get out with the X100F.

All images shot using the B&W + R JPEG Setting with the added grain effect.

Goodbye 2020

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Goodbye, 2020.

Here are my photographic highlights from the past 12 months.

Keep the Faith people as nothing lasts forever.

Street Photography is Weird.

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I wouldn’t say I like street photography – Not my words but the words from a friend.

At first, I was a little bit confused by this statement because I am a street photographer, and this is my thing, but then I realised it is not the like, but maybe its the understanding of street photography that he doesn’t understand.

Street photography from an outsider looking in can seem a little bit strange. We walk around open spaces and take pictures of strangers. Sounds weird.

Some use street photography for documentary purposes, and some use it to express their creative mind. 

To get a real understanding of street photography, we need to delve into the back catalogue of those that have gone before us. I have made it my business to study Gary Winogrand, Joel Meyerowitz, Cartier-Bresson, Saul Leiter, Harry Gruyaert, Alex Webb, and Tony Ray-Jones, Ernst Haas and many more. It is not about emulating them. It is about seeing the possibilities.

What I love about street photography is not knowing what you will see. You cannot go out there and think I will get this or that because it does not work like that. You must go with the flow, and if it happens, then it happens.

I go out there with a blank canvas, and sometimes I will return with what I think is a masterpiece and then there are the days that I can come back with a bag of shit.

Slow down, take your time and get some decent footwear.

Keep the Faith

KV

FUJIFILM X100T CLASSIC CHROME -MANCHESTER

Mental Mental Mental

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Keeping your mind fit is just as important as keeping your body fit.

Being creative is a great way of turning off the noise that rumbles around in your head.

Photography saved me from me. Street Photography is like meditation as it allows my mind to switch off from the mundane bullshit that we all have in our lives. Every now again, I can become lost in the moment. It is as though I am connected to something else, and that is me getting out of me.

Practising mindfulness is also a great way to get that connection. Tune in to your surroundings by listening to the sounds, and slowly you will get that connection. Try it for yourself.

The art of photography is not for everyone, but I honestly believe that we all have some form of creativity waiting to be discovered.

It is the little things that start big things.

Being creative will not cure mental health, but it will help you find some purpose in your life, and who knows, it may be the calling you have been searching for.

Keep the Faith.

KV

FUJI FILM X100F - MANCHESTER