In a world dominated by social media, and with most people owning a smartphone, it’s easy to think that anyone can be a photographer. But being one involves so much more than just pointing a camera and taking a photo. Apart from needing to understand lighting and composition and knowing how to use digital technology such as editing software, you need to have a good eye for what you’re wanting to portray. It’s also about experimenting and challenging boundaries.
Here are nine photographers doing just that.
Music
London-based Joe Puxley may only be in his early twenties but he’s already being recognised as one of the most talented photographers around. He’s photographed artists such as Nile Rodgers, Central Cee, Gregory Porter, Loyle Carner and Erykah Badu, and been published in DAZED, Vogue Italia and The British Journal of Photography (among many other publications). In May ’22 he won Undiscovered Photographer of the Year at the Abbey Road Studios Music Photography Awards and he’s been described as ‘one of the most exciting and original music photographers working today’.
Social Commentary
Max Miechowski is another London-based photographer, this time focusing on themes of community and connection, and the relationship between people and places. His ‘Land Loss’ exhibition, which highlights the effects of coastal erosion on parts of the British coastline, won the Photo London/Nikon Emerging Photographer Award in 2022 and first place in LensCulture’s 2024 Portrait Awards. His work has been featured in The Guardian, The New York Times and The British Journal of Photography.
Visual Art
Mia Novakova’s work is both beautiful and unusual. She uses different techniques such as multiple exposure, blurring and texture to create images that make even the ordinary seem unique. There’s often a nostalgic feel to some of her work and she sees the process of shooting photographs as like composing a painting, and it’s this intuitive process that led to her being in the Shondaland list of top ten artists to look out for in 2023.
Landscapes
Vicente Manssur is an Ecuadorian photographer who works in a variety of genres, but whose landscapes are particularly atmospheric (most recently, in Catalonia). His photos often feature his home country of Ecuador, and they have an almost vintage feel; he’s a fan of analogue photography and the muted colours feel very retro. His work has been described as effortless and spontaneous and often has the look of a painting, due to his use of colour and light.
Documentary Style
Rosie Matheson is particularly interested in the connection between people and places and is ‘fascinated by the idea of photographing somebody else’s world’. She’s worked with brands such as Apple, Nike, The Financial Times and Kodak, as well as photographing Alt J and Zayn Malik and is particularly interested in the changing face of manhood in the world today. To date, her portfolio is impressive.
Portrait
Lawrence Agyei has worked for Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, photographing Jamila Woods, Leon Bridges and Billy Corgan, his aim being to ‘compose a beautiful, honest, intimate image.’ He uses natural light when he can, and shoots using a mix of analogue and digital. His portraits are natural and stylish and often black and white, a nod to the portrait photographers who would visit his childhood home in Ghana to take family portraits.
Fashion
Manuela Kalì is a self-taught Italian fashion photographer who has a unique way of capturing an image that is both stylish and professional, while still feeling natural and organic. They manage to feel both atmospheric and polished at the same time.
Wildlife
Ami Vitale uses wildlife and environmental photography to highlight conservation issues. She has been named as one of the 50 Badass Women by InStyle magazine. She is particularly known for her work documenting the efforts to re-introduce pandas back into the wild and she believes in ‘living the story’, which has led to her living in a mud hut, staying in a war zone and wearing a panda suit! She likes to explore the theme of interconnection in her work. This year, Ami will be featured in the National Geographic TV Channel series ‘Explorer’.
Social Media
Devin Halbal rose to fame on TikTok under the name Hal.Baddie, spreading positivity with her daily affirmations, photos and selfies. She already has some sponsorship deals, with more collaborations on the way. She’s responsible for viral phrases such as ‘Met Gala behaviour’ and has been described as an inspiration for the transgender community. This year, Devin is one of the most influential digital voices listed on Time Magazine’s 100 Creators List.
The photographers we’ve looked at here show how the way we access photography is changing. Social media plays a huge role, and while a large Insta following isn’t the only indicator of talent, it does mean that photography is much more accessible now, compared to how it used to be.
All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. We will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. We will not be liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from the display or use of this information. This policy is subject to change at any time.
We offer a variety of cover levels, so please check the policy cover suits your needs before purchasing. For your protection, please ensure you read the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and policy wording, for information on policy exclusions and limitations.
This blog is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or affiliated with any brands or external websites mentioned in this content.
