Bex Saunders - Photographer of the Month - April '19
Introduce yourself
I’m Bex Saunders. I am a 23-year-old law student from the South of England. Photography is a huge passion of mine, but ultimately, I want a career in law. I love all things spooky, weird and bizarre.
How did you get into photography?
I have always been interested in photography, even as a child; I remember my first camera being a pink Barbie one. It is something I have always had a passion for. I began uploading my portfolio online when I was 13 years old, and it just grew from there. I started entering competitions/awards around the same time and I have currently had success in over 60. The most prestigious awards include being shortlisted for The Times’ Young Photographer of The Year, The Common Wealth Photographer of the Year and winning 2 categories in the ZLS Animal Competition.
What can you tell us about your entry to October’s ‘All Things Scary’ competition?
This photo was taken at a pumpkin patch. It is actually my least favourite photo from the shoot, but it fit the theme best. The competition took place during October, and so I obviously had to enter something Halloween related. I also did not want to enter something genuinely morbid or scary, and so I played it PG.
Do you have any particular style of photography you specialise in?
I mostly shoot conceptual work, with an emphasis on horror or dark themes. Whether that be through portraiture or still life. As cliché as it sounds, I love making work that makes you feel something. I also want my work to look like a still from a horror film.
What do you enjoy about photography?
I love how I am able to tell a story through my images, which can then be interpreted by the viewer. I also just love creating something that is aesthetically pleasing.
Tell us about one of your projects/your work
I have an on-going film project which seeks to show how poverty has changed my home town. The series, so far, consists of over 500 photos. It is a way for me to express my unhappiness with the change that surrounds me. I do not see an end to the series.
Apart from that, I do not shoot projects as such. I see my portfolio as an ongoing project, rather than it being a series of projects.
If you could offer one piece of advice to aspiring photographers what would it be?
Don’t ever stop experimenting. The only way to grow as an artist is by not being afraid to try different techniques, styles and editing. It is okay if you do not succeed when trying new things, as it is all a learning experience. By experimenting, you will find your own style.
Where can we see your work?
I am most active on Instagram: @bexsaundersphotography. However, I also do have a website: www.bexsaundersphotography.co.uk.
Do you have any plans for the rest of the year?
I will be starting my Master’s degree in September. In terms of photography, I have various new equipment to trial and experiment with. I have recently picked up a few filters which have a distortion effect, which could work well for horror themes. I have also acquired an original Polaroid camera, which will be interesting to compare to my current Instax. My main goal for the year is to continue creating and experimenting; I really want to continue to grow as an artist.
