I'm often asked questions via social media about my photos, ranging from the gear to the methods I use while photographing the streets of London. I always make sure I reply to everyone kind enough to show an interest in my work, so I decided it would be a good idea to list the most common questions along with their answers in one handy place, which I will keep updated as time goes by. So let's begin!
What lens do I use?
That is probably the most common question. The simple answer is. It's not important. The equipment isn't important. Getting out, taking photos and gaining valuable experience and practice are important.
Instagram is a great example. You'll find countless Instagram accounts with incredible photography, all shot on a camera phone. There is no advantage to owning the best lens if you only want to take great photos. Imagine the best photographer in the world and then imagine what they would do with a phone camera. They'd take amazing photos. It's that simple.
However, to answer the question, I currently use two lenses. A 35mm 1.4 prime and a 56mm 1.4 prime.
What editing software do I use?
Adobe Lightroom is my editing software of choice. I use the cloud version, which means my photos are backup automatically to the cloud, and I can edit across multiple devices, all synced seamlessly.
Adobe Lightroom Mobile.
Do I use JPEGS straight from the camera, or do I shoot RAW?
I'm a Fujifilm kind of guy, so this is a question I'm often asked, mainly because the Fujifilm JPEGS are famously brilliant. I shoot RAW+JPEG. RAW is simply the best format. It gives you complete control over the final post-processing of your photos and provides you with all the uncompressed data the sensor captured
Why do I shoot a majority of your photos in portrait?
I shoot in both portrait and landscape; it depends on the photo I'm taking. However, as photos are most commonly viewed using mobile devices, it makes sense to post portrait photos to platforms such as Instagram, etc. Portrait photos will fill the screen much more effectively than landscape, dramatically increasing engagement and exposure for each photo I post.
Some images will clearly work best in landscape.
Do I ask people before I take a photo?
A lot of my photos are taken on the streets of London. I'm fascinated with street photography for many reasons. People are undoubtedly the most interesting subject to photograph, and the streets are full of them. Fleeting moments, never to be repeated, are constantly unfolding in front of you. I walk the same streets week in, week out, and every day is different.
Candid moments are often more interesting.
Street photography, for me, is all about capturing candid moments, so I have never stopped and asked someone for a photo. That's not to say I never will, as there have been occasions where I have been tempted to ask. But for me, I find candid photos to be far more interesting than street portraits.
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