I was given my very first camera, aged 9 years old back in 1975. A Polaroid "Super Swinger" Land Camera. The type that you focused by pinching the corrugated sleeve around the "clunky" shutter button, and after pulling out the negative at the back, did a little "Polaroid wave" to dry it off, and then watched and waited as the black and white image slowly appeared before your eyes.
I was fascinated by this magic and how I could capture a moment in time, preserving a tiny piece of history on a piece of print paper.
As I grew older, I worked my way through a range of film cameras and formats. These included a couple of small "Disc-Film" cameras, a Russian medium Format camera, several pocket cameras, cassette cameras (with the square rotating flash bulbs), early 35mm bridge cameras and a brace of underwater models.
When I was 18, my dad bought my very first SLR camera kit for a birthday present. A Chinon CE5, complete with bag, cleaning kit and two lenses (all of which I still own!). Over time, I added more lenses, tele-converters, a power winder, light-meter, flash "guns", and of course the obligatory "Dixon's Tripod". I learned all I could by shooting many images and making many mistakes, absorbing and adding to my experience and building a love of "serious" photography. I experimented with different effects, filters, shutter speeds and apertures, and took my camera virtually everywhere with me.
It was only after faking a Black and White image of a "UFO" flying over my street (actually a small piece of "disc" shaped piece of paper I'd cut out and stuck to my bedroom window) that caused such a stir in my neighborhood after I had it "developed", I realized how strong a reaction a single "thought-out" image could invoke on so many people. My love for the power of photography had begun.
With several friends who took part (at a high National Level) in the sport of Motocross back in the mid-late 80's, with my camera bag constantly round my shoulder, it wasn't long before I was being asked to shoot race meetings, teams, riders and mechanics, providing me opportunity and grounding to hone my techniques. Panning, slow shutter speeds and creative angles,mono images, vivid colour and cross processing all helped me start to then sell printed images to teams and riders each week. It wasn't long before I was asked to "do" my very first Wedding. This was a very daunting experience, not least of all because I'd fibbed about how many "weddings" I had actually worked on in order to get the job and being completely reliant upon the "postal developing houses" and Royal Mail for all my finished images. (Not seeing images immediately on your LCD screen, relying instead on creative choices and experience, really seems a distant memory nowadays).
The early 90's also saw a transition from conventional 35mm Fuji Superior and Kodak TX negative film stock, to Fuji Provia, Velvia and Sensia E6 Slide processing which saw a continued progression through even more cameras (including an early Nikon N70 and collection of lenses, and then, by following my lust for a Fuji S5 / S6 Pro. In 2001, I finally and apprehensively purchased my very first DSLR camera, a Nikon D90, and some primitive editing Software. I am now I'm complete convert of course and remain an avid Nikon User!
In 2012 I was proud to be accredited as a Professional Photojournalist and member of the International Association of Press Photographers (IAPP) for Arts and Entertainment, where I am a regular contributor of News/ Press images to NEWSmexx,and European News organisations "The German Daily News"and "The United Press", providing images (and more recently short blogs) of Theatre and Performing Arts related work. I also enjoy working on "secret" shoots of actors on film sets and Theatre locations, providing images for publicity for that next "new series, or movie".
I feel very fortunate and privileged to be associated to some fabulous Performing Arts Companies and groups both locally and around the UK whom have provided me with the opportunity of working with them. I was lucky enough to have reached the Semi Finals of the UK Photographer of the Year Competition (Arts and Entertainment - Pro Category) in 2015, and I continue to build my name and Photographic reputation in the world of Theatreland around the UK.
I simply love making pictures.
I enjoy the challenges that simple, everyday subjects bring, and I especially like photographing people in their surroundings (whether this is a theatre or "work-place" environment, or both at the same time). Candids are a favourite, but I equally enjoy portrait, headshot and studio (which involves a key mix of photography, location work and people skills which I thoroughly enjoy when all are matched side by side).
I do hope you enjoy some of my images, my blogs and information on this website, and if you are a photographer yourself, "keep clicking" and always feel free to contact me.
Stephen Hawke
I.A.P.P. M.F.A.A. (BECTU), F.R.S.A.
(Member of Equity)
"Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field.”
— Peter Adams -