Your name: Brian Russell
City, Country: Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire, England
Website or Portfolio Site: http://ww.brianrussellphotography.com
Preferred Social Network Account: Google Plus: http://gplus.to/brianmrussell
What is your name?
Brian Russell
When did you begin listening to The Candid Frame?
Around two months ago, working my way through the back episodes though!
How long have you been shooting and what inspired your interest in photography?
I’ve had two stints with photography. Around 20 years ago I did a photography course at the local college, producing my own black & white prints, even made my own developer (Pyro!). Fast forward a few years & photography fell by the wayside & I stopped shooting so much. After using a D90 casually to capture family photos, I’ve had my passion for the subject reignited. So I’m still very much the amateur with loads to learn. Despite the large gap in practice, I never really stopped seeing photographically and it’s this that inspires me. For me photography isn’t just about making the images, it’s far more about how to see. I’m a software architect by trade, but despite shiny gadget-lust it’s the artistic aspect of photography that attracts me.
Do you have a preferred genre or specialty of photography? Why?
I’ll cheat & say Travel, which can encompasses street, people, landscape, architecture. We’re lucky to live in such a beautiful world & photography can communicate the emotional impact of this so well. It also helps us discover other cultures & countries, celebrating our differences while still recognizing ourselves in strangers.
What subject matter, themes, ideas do you like to explore or inspire your photography? Why?
For me, photography is about exploring the world. For better or worse, I don’t necessarily set out to shoot specific subject matter or themes (maybe I should). I don’t think I’ve shot enough to develop a style & I wouldn’t want to force it into my photography artificially. I’m expecting to review my images at some point & find out more about myself as a result as I build up my work.
What creative or professional goals do you have for your photography?
I’d like to become more adept at producing a series of related images, that tie together to create a cohesive theme or narrative.
Do you have an interesting story or anecdote for one of the images you have submitted in your portfolio?
Maybe a lesson – always be aware of what’s going on around you, even when taking an apparently slow moving subject such as landscape. The two enchanted rock images were shot less than 20 minutes apart, yet have vastly different colour palettes.
Do you have any personal projects that you have or are working on that we would find of interest?
Probably like many photographers at this time of year, I’m looking forward to autumn. There’s a local arboretum that’s one of the best in the country so I’ll see how returning there regularly over the course of 12 months develops into a theme.
What is your favorite piece of equipment, software or accessory that makes a difference in your photography? Why?
I’d have to say Adobe Lightroom. Having produced my own prints in the darkroom it’s really quite liberating to be able to do the same work with much less effort. The cycle of try-learn-repeat can be repeated much more quickly which lets you experiment more. I still regard a good traditional printer as a master craftsman of course.
What tip or suggestion has best helped your development as a photographer? Why?
Buy books, not gear. To make an
image, you have to see it first. No camera can ever do that for you.
Which episode of The Candid Frame photography podcast would you recommend to others? Why?
Will Jacks (Episode #188) for his charming description of his experiences shooting at Po’ Monkey’s. I think it’s incumbent upon photographers to have be sensitive and have empathy with their subjects if they’re to elicit an emotional response from the viewer & produce honest work. Will clearly demonstrates this.
