Photo Profile : Kevin Thornhill

Photography became a passion for me in March 2006 due to the encouragement of my now wife. We had just returned from a 3 week trip through Seoul, Hong Kong and ACT, Australia.

People were amazed when they saw the images I captured. They were more than your average holiday snaps and had been taken using a basic point and shot.

From this encouragement I invested in a Canon Powershot S3 IS which served me well until, in April 2009, I decided to take the next step and purchase a Nikon D90 with an 18-105 VR Kit lens. Inspired by Rick Sammon, I apply my hand to most forms of photography and do not wish to be pigeon holed. I would say I am passionate photographier who loves to travel the world and encapsulate that experience for others to share in my adventures.

My photographs can tell a story, evoke emotion, transport the viewer to the location and allow them to share in that special moment. I aim to get the viewer’s eye to traverse the scene and arrange my shoots to accomplish this.

The photo can show a world less seen, a world that is not depicted in the travel brocure or evening news, the more I travel the more I cherish life. So I always carry a camera with me and I do not wait for exotic trips to capture images, but find inspiration in all things such as light, reflections and shadows.

I enjoy pounding the concrete grabbing moments that inspire me. I have also recently began experimenting with the world of portraiture, with some promising results using my Nikkor 50mm F1.8 I have been able to make the most of natural light.

Hearing people gasp and reminisce as they view my work brings a smile to my face, for example my Parisian photographs pleasantly reminded people of their time spent in Paris! It garnered comments such as “only in Paris”.

I deliberately compose shots for black and white conversion and uses shadow/contrast to lend an air of intrigue – sometimes adding a vignette to concentrate the viewer’s attention. I look for colours within the images before conversion to black and white and investigate ways to add authenticity to digital black and whites.

An exciting moment for me was having two of my images from my Manila and Urban Egypt series published in the UK based “Lonely Planet” magazine.

Seeking avenues of learning the art form of photography, I have attended 1 to 1 training courses, seminars and portfolio reviews to ensure my continued growth.

During my journey I have discovered a penchant for teaching others how to get the best out of their cameras, the more I learn the more I share. Two quotes from Ansel Adams have fuelled my passion and allowed me to view my photography differently.

“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.” – Ansel Adams
“Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop“. – Ansel Adams

{Details of photos featured : Tulip Staircase was taken at the Queens house in Greenwich. I was captured by its organic shape mesmerizing spiral. The newspaper vendor image was taken while on a 8 day in Egypt. I wanted to show another side of Egypt something more then the ancient wonders I got to know a lot about Egypt culture by talking to our guides. It was great to show that cairo was more then a monument but a living breathing metropolis.}

Links:

Web : www.kbtimages.co.uk
Flickr : http://www.flickr.com/photos/ukphotoart/
Twitter : http://twitter.com/kbtimages