09 Oct

October's Photographer of the Month - Simon Hadleigh-Sparks

‘What can you tell us about your winning entry into our photography competition?’

The New Icon – Adams Plaza Bridge Canary Wharf. I was a little behind on this one lots of London Photographers beat me to it but get used to seeing this image a lot online from now on. I saw many images online of this new area and new I had to do my own version of it. It is a gorgeous symmetrical and at the moment clean bridge, the lighting and design lend very well to photography. The person at the end was unintentional and probably makes the image!

‘How did you get into photography?’

I’m now a London based amateur and I draw inspiration from the city around me. Now in my early 40’s I came to photography quite late in life. I have always had flair to be artistic but never found the platform to show this off. My drawing was never more than stickmen and my stories were always in my head and never made it to paper. My photographs are my stories and I am now at a point in my life where I can express myself through this medium. I never thought I was good at anything but after a number of International awards for the last few years and exhibited works. I must be doing something right. My photos can also be seen on a number of websites, blogs and magazine articles, in particular one where I was classed as one of the “8 Street Photographers that Rock Our World”, personally I don’t do street photography but I’ll take the plaudits.

I had always had a vague interest in simple photography, more the act of taking the photo not the end image. It all started seriously in 2012 when I received a Canon EOS 550D for Christmas from my wife. No more “point and shoot” this was serious stuff. Many hours of YouTube later, it was like I had learned a foreign language – apertures, depth of field, ISO, shutter speed, Bokeh, white balance, rule of thirds, noise, HDR, multiple exposures, metering, histograms! Then there was the art of post production – blending, temperature, tone curve, luminance, and the list goes on! I am 42 and am suddenly getting good at something and that is a bit odd when all around me it seems only the young that are encouraged, supported and given opportunities to further themselves.

I moved to London in 2000 due to my job but had been desperate to live in an urban area most of my life and when offered I jumped at the chance with both feet – brought up and living in the countryside most of my childhood, even now I hate the quiet and the isolation – unlike most people I love the noise, the people, the constant busy busy, give me a concrete jungle any day – If I had the chance to visit places it would be the cities of the world…

While living in London I developed a love of buildings and architecture and I am not afraid to say that The Walkie Talkie is a gorgeous building. One article wrote about me that I was a digital artist.

One of my favourite pastimes is to be driven around the city with my camera out of the window snapping away, this creates great angles by the way, I am fortunate that my wife also loves the city and actually like city driving.

I also enter as many National and International photographic competitions as I can to develop ideas and skills – remember I am an amateur and proud.

People may like my work or hate it but you still looked…

‘What do you enjoy about photography?’

It is positive comments from followers that encourage me to develop and experiment further, people like the weird or the different and I develop on that giving the people what they want – In the early days I was torn between ‘straight out of the camera’ photography or processed – I would love to have the perfect image ‘straight out of the camera’ but that is not me and not what I am known for.

Some purists don’t approve but my photo manipulations merely turn possibilities into reality. I view the world differently – everything has the potential to be a photograph. London became my main inspiration and Flickr is where I live where I am known as Simon & His Camera.

‘What are your plans for the future?’

Completely self taught and still learning, my ambition is to get better all the time and prove myself as a ‘not bad’ photographer with a ‘not ordinary’ style. I want my photos to stand out, be different, looked at and hopefully liked. I continue to develop my ideas, sometimes going to the extreme. My images draw your attention, they need to stand out in a world where anyone can take a picture

This year I have had 2 Books published the second coming out 31st Oct and the third comes out in March. This may be something to keep as a sideline but I will keep developing and entering competitions.

My real job is an Estate Gardener in Syon Park, West London, a husband and a father. Photography is a hobby that has taken over my life, a passion; I don’t plan on going professional but from strength to strength, sharing my photos and maybe inspiring some people along the way.

‘What do you plan to do with/what have you done with your framing voucher?’

I have already received some lovely and unusual Obsidian Lava Flow Black Frames for Christmas gifts.

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