Image from Jeff Ascough

In our next interview, we talk with Jeff Ascough, photographer from England.

How did you decide to become a photographer?

In 1989, I was 21 years old. My dad was a keen amateur photographer and had a dream of  becoming a professional. He was a lecturer in mechanical engineering at a University and was due to retire early. He set up a photography business in lieu of retiring, but the university couldn’t afford to pay him off, so he had to continue working. As he didn’t have anyone to run the business, he asked me. I didn’t have any interest in photography up until that point, and I was due to go to university to study psychology. Being 21, I guess I decided how hard can it be to be a photographer? That’s how it started. Call it fate, an accident, or just luck. 

Do you have formal training as a photographer, and have you worked in a professional studio before (like trainee, internship or early work with another photographer)?

I don’t have any formal training. I am totally self taught. I went to college for a couple of days a week for about a year just to learn the technical side of photography. Back then it was film and darkroom based. I mainly learned by taking photographs and deciding on what I liked and what I didn’t. I spent some time at various workshops and seminars, but access to information was limited in the early 1990s compared to now. One thing I did do was to show my work to as many photographers as I could. I was always asking people to critique my work. That helped a lot. In some ways I’m glad I didn’t have the training, as that would have tainted how I saw the world. Commercially, I had to learn to light a subject, and understand camera position, composition etc, I had to learn to take photographs of people, but I am completely self taught.

Where are you from? Where you’re based in? Do you prefer to take street photography in your city or while travelling?

I’m based in Lytham St Annes on the North West coast of England. Prior to moving here just over ten years ago, I spent most of my life in the East Midlands. Most of my work is shot on this coast. Each year I take time to visit other parts of the UK to shoot, but I prefer to work locally. 

About street photography, What do people starting out need to know?

Street is one of the easiest genres of photography to get into, but it is challenging to do well. Depending on your personality, street might not be something that you should get into. If you are at all confrontational or are worried about people, then street will be hard to do. It can be very daunting to the newcomer, and in my experience the first thing you have to gain before actually taking meaningful pictures, is confidence. Confidence is absolutely key to being a good street photographer. You will be taking pictures of strangers and this requires a lot of nerve, certainly in the beginning.

What do you look for, when you go shoot street photography? 

I see the world in terms of lines and shapes, light and texture. People are often just part of that view of the world. I’m usually drawn to good light, and to places which offer great structure. The people are secondary. I can find what I need in a photograph on a walk around the block with my dog, or it could be in a shopping mall, a car park, anywhere. I have favourite locations which I know will always give me what I need visually, but I tend to tire of them quickly and try only to visit them maybe a couple of times a year. 

What is most challenging about street photography?

Trying to grow as a street photographer has been the hardest thing for me. I’m always wanting to do something new, different. It’s very easy to fall into taking the same kind of image over and over, but it’s harder to come up with something new. I’m constantly trying new things, looking for a different view on something which is familiar to me. 

Have you ever received complaints because of a street photography photo? If so, what have you done?

No. I’ve never had a problem. I’m a big believer in avoiding any sort of confrontation and will work to make sure I don’t get any issues. I’m always very respectful of people, and try not to draw attention to myself. 

What makes a good shooting day for you?

I’ve never really looked at having good and bad days. I take photographs for a living so every day is a working day. Some good, some ok. If I can get an image from a day which I would be happy to put on the wall, then I guess that’s a good shooting day. 

What type of editing software do you like to use for your completed photographs, and what do you like about it? 

Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CC. I’m just used to both of them. I’ve used LR since it was first released, and Photoshop since 2003. They are very familiar to me, and I can use them almost without thinking.

Check out more abut Jeff’s work on Jeff Ascough.