On the 27th February 2020, Pudsey Camera Club, of which I am a member, we lucky enough to have a talk by local West Yorkshire Professional Photographer – Charlotte Graham. However, Charlotte Graham is far more than a photographer from West Yorkshire.
Charlotte while based in Yorkshire and has a passion for her native Yorkshire is a national freelance photographer with quite a formidible reputation. Charlotte Graham’s work is regularly featured in the national press, either from set assignment or often just from freelance work she submits on a regular basis.
Charlotte Graham Photography boast regular clients, such as the Daily Telegraph, Visit York, The National Railway Museum, and Archbishop of York nevertheless despite these impressive client Charlotte maintains a rather unpretentious air.
Listening to Charlotte speak at Pudsey Camera Club I was please to be listening to a photographer who didn’t rely on photoshop and other post processing techniques to produce stunning imagery.
As a Press Photographer, she need to ork to the mantra of nothing added nothing taken away. This means that as a photographer you have to use you eye before you take the shot to ensure it is the best possible shot before pressing the shutter – many amateur (and professional) photographers rely on “i can fix it in post”, the clone tool is far too close to hand.
Charlotte spoke eloquently that while she does own tens of thousands of punds worth of camera equipment, most of it is rarely used as too specialised and 90% of her shots are taken using a 16-35 and 70-200mm lenses which she carries with her a all times on 2 bodies.
Many photographers should take not of this – even before listening to Charlotte speak I have found benefit many a time from walking around with just a camera an a single lens. In fact my main walk around camera now is a Fuji X100F which has a fixed 35mm (equivalent lens).
Press photography is not UK Club photography, it requires a keen eye and sharp elbows, it requires vast amount of self motivation, the pictures not 100% perfect in the eyes of camera club judge, however they are images that tell a story they have a narrative and they have a meaning.
I urge any of you to seek out Charlotte Graham Photography on the Web, Facebook and other social channels and if you get chance to hear her speak do so – it will inspire your photography.
