Digitalab Featured Photographer: Richard Fox
At Digitalab, we appreciate the power of photography, whether it’s personal or professional. We asked Richard Fox for one of his images and posed a couple of questions to find out exactly what it is he loves about photography and what he’d say to any enthusiastic photographer hoping to make a career out of their passion.
Tell us a bit about this image and why you chose it to be featured.
I wanted to feature this, my most recent shot. Why? Because it reiterates one of my most favourite quotes from Imogen Cunningham “Which of my photographs is my favourite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow”. I live on the eastern edge of Dartmoor and I am not sure I will ever get bored of what it has to share, both in horrific and beautiful conditions, with my camera and on my mountain bike.
This image was taken from the very edge of Dartmoor, close to home, a place that is not really frequented by landscape photographers, but in my opinion is as beautiful as the more well-known areas of expansive and sometimes desolate tundra and granite tors that I have visited. Pylons, fences, hedgerows, pastureland and fields are as part of our landscape in the UK as are the more idyllic and well known landmarks.
Which styles of photography most interest/inspire you?
I appreciate all type of photography. Sure we all have our niche and type of photography that we enjoy but the great thing about modern photography is the ability to make mistakes and press the delete button. I love good street photography, especially in mono but I also enjoy trying out new things including flora and fauna macro photography, wedding photography, portraiture to name but a few.
I think dipping one’s foot into other genre just adds to the fun and keeps your mind fresh with ideas.
What one piece of advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?
I think as artists we want to better ourselves and are often our own worst critics. Month after month I find myself becoming more comfortable with my style and how I shoot, compose and process my work. I am often made aware that another photographer would not compose the shot this way or would not process it this way.
However, does this not make us individuals with our own style rather than a mirror of another artist? Surely there are no boundaries in this respect, and breaking the rules helps with creativity?
My advice is to look around you, shoot what you love and don’t be afraid to break the rules to acquire your own style. At the end of the day passion and enjoyment drives us forward.