Member Profile: Simon Breeze
About me:
©Simon Breeze
Do you consider yourself a Professional/Semi-Pro/Amateur/Beginner photographer?
I am an amateur photographer, very much still learning. I once sold a print for a modest profit (a great thrill) and have done a couple of non-profit ventures.
Who are you?
My name is Simon Breeze, and I am 61, married for over 30 years and have 2 grown-up sons. I have 2 Weimaraners who are spoilt rotten, and one of my greatest pleasures is to walk them. That is where I do the majority of my Photography, which has had its challenges.
Tell us about your photography journey.
I started photography as a teenager, developing my own black and white images and sometimes colour slides. We were lucky enough to have a spare bedroom converted to a dark room at home, and my brother and I made good use of it. As I grew older, I lost interest somewhat, and by the time the digital age was born, I was just another holiday snapper.
A few years ago, we moved to Northumberland, and I used to walk along the Wansbeck River every day and see the beauty around me. I started to take photos again, firstly with my mobile, then with an old but powerful Panasonic Compact and a Canon superzoom. My interest was growing, but I made myself wait a year (a very long one!) before I bought a modern digital camera. A Canon EOS R7, so crop sensor with the kit 18-150mm lens. I was hooked on photography again and joined TSOP a couple of months later, having searched for photography courses.
Now, 18months after joining, I still use the same kit but have added a 100-400mm lens and a few bits and pieces.
My TSOP journey started with the Beginners course. It was very useful. I remembered things I had forgotten and learnt quite a lot that I never knew. I moved on to Lightroom, then Photoshop, as these are key to everything else. Fantastic courses with so much detail, clearly explained. I was probably breaking records at this point for the fastest completion of these 3 courses, and I learnt a ton of stuff very quickly; work suffered a little around then.
I moved on to the Macro course with Oliver Wright, which was very interesting and a bit of an eye-opener. Then it was Wildlife with Andy Rouse, another great and inspiring course, and currently, Forest with Jack Lodge. I love Jack’s editing, and I am spending quite a bit of time trying to pick things up from him.
What is your preferred genre?
©Simon Breeze
I wouldn’t say that I have settled on a particular genre yet, but if anything, probably nature. We recently left beautiful Northumberland to move close to Bempton Cliffs near Bridlington. That is a constant inspiration to me and led to my experiment with “FlightGraphs”.
What inspires you to create photography?
The world around me. Yes, I love nature photography, but I would still get as big a thrill from taking a decent Street photograph. I also want to share and make people stop and think, or even go OOOH!
I find the assignments inspiring; they push me to delve deeper, to try new things and to practice until I get better.
Who are some other photographers you’re inspired by?
Well, I am no expert on other people’s work. Obviously, the guys who do the courses (each inspiring in their own way), but also the people who post their photos in the group/Facebook. Gill’s little people, Chris’ Nature shots, Marianne’s portraits and landscapes, and so many others.
The standard can be a little intimidating, which is why I don’t mind posting some of my pictures that didn’t quite work (or being an example of what not to do).
My favourite photograph:
Describe the first photo you took during your learning journey.
I could talk about the first photo I took for an assignment. It was Space, and I took a picture of one of the dogs on the beach far away from me. The space was an empty Northumbrian beach with just a dog on it. I guess it fulfilled the assignment, but I like to think that I approach them with a little more imagination and planning now.
©Simon Breeze
How do you think you’ve developed as a photographer?
My technical know-how is so much better than it was. Every aspect of my photography has improved from planning to technical skills, composition and innovation. I get good pictures by putting in the effort now, and knowing what I am doing, rather than occasionally being in the right place at the right time.
What is your favourite photograph that you’ve taken?
My favourite photograph is of a beach with silhouetted dog walkers and the industry of Blyth in the background at around sunrise. It is one of the first pictures I took when I got my R7. It is technically correct, but I was just in the right place at the right time. I have taken the same view many times since and never captured it like this. TSOP featured it twice, and it is “December” in the Port of Blyth calendar. Part of my prize, from the calendar competition, was a beautiful print of the picture which hangs in the hall (the bottle of Champagne didn’t last long).
©Simon Breeze My favourite photograph
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from TSOP?
Planning. Many of my photos are still spur-of-the-moment. Usually, I am walking the dogs and see something I think would be a good photo. At the same time, there are photos that I plan to take. For example, the Barn Owls, I can see in my mind the hero shot of the barn owl folding his wings to enter the nest, carrying a fresh kill for his young and in just the right light, pin sharp and from the right angle. I am going to get that shot with time, patience and planning.
I walk alongside fields of cereals that are already quite pretty, but I know they are going to go interesting shades of gold in a couple of months. I can wait.
What’s next for Simon?
My next course, not sure. Mr Whisper was inspiring in his Q&A, so Street Photography is tempting, or I could go out of my comfort zone and do something like Studio Lighting or Fine Art.
In a few weeks, I have a trip booked on “The Yorkshire Belle” to see the cliffs from the sea and the birds flying over the sea. What an opportunity that will be. Later the same month, I have a weekend at The Cow and Calf on Ilkley Moor, which is a fascinating and beautiful location. One of my favourite pictures was taken there. Later in the year, we have a weekend in Llangollen with a canal trip over the UK’s biggest aqueduct and a steam train ride booked. There is also a beautiful river which would be good for long exposures, expect some posts from that trip!
I would like to help people with my photography, when I can, as I did for Ian, a friend who lived with a rescued German Shepherd. Ian and Wolf were known throughout our estate as they were often to be found in their front garden. I discovered that Ian, who didn’t do tech, didn’t have any pictures of Wolf and offered to do a shoot for him, in his front garden, as seemed apt. Wolf has since passed away with cancer, and Ian is so happy to have some pictures to remember him by. I was proud to have helped.
Conclusion
TSOP has been a journey, and I have learnt so much. One of my favourite parts has been the assignments. They focus you on specific aspects of photography, and you learn and practice new techniques and new ideas. They stay with you, too; that is important. If I see an interesting use of space, I will photograph it, I will try getting low to the ground, still or capturing movement. My “Flightgraphs” came from thinking about previous assignments.
I don’t take myself too seriously, and I hope my sense of humour comes through in the members’ groups, every now and again.
Where can people follow you?
www.breezyphotography.co.uk is my website, which I don’t update as often as I should.
Simons’s Gallery:
All images ©Simon Breeze
