Profiled Photographers – Jeremy Flint

Multi award winning photographer, Jeremy Flint’s journey into photography is an inspirational story. Having been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, he was inspired to take up photography whilst receiving treatment. He says, “photography inspired me on my journey back to life and helped provide a focus away from the gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy”.

He started experimenting by taking pictures locally with a Fuji P7000 compact camera in 2005 and soon developed a passion for photography. He decided to invest in a DSLR (a Canon 350D) to take travelling in 2007 to further aid his recovery and headed to New Zealand. After exploring its photographic opportunities, he showcased his work at exhibitions at the local hospital where he was treated.

He says “some buyers who came to my house told me how my photography inspired them. My love of travel and photography continued, and I went on numerous holidays, capturing images of beautiful places”.

From there he created his own website and was successful in selling fine art prints. When redundancy occurred in his accounting career, and with encouragement from his wife, he felt that it was the perfect opportunity to pursue his love and passion of photography as a career.

Jeremy has since won several competitions including the Grand Prize in the 2016 National Geographic Traveller and F11 Your Vision photo contests and more recently the Discovery Award at the prestigious 2017 Association of Photographers Awards. He’s now starting out on his journey to make a full time living from his photography.

Jeremy, where are you from?

I was born and bred in Oxford, England.

Where do you currently live?

I live in Oxfordshire, where I have lived most of my life. I find that it’s a great base for exploring the UK.

What genre of photography do you specialise in?

I mainly specialise in travel and landscape photography and really enjoy immersing myself in new cultures and photographing new people and places.

Describe your style of photography?

My style of photography portrays a simplistic and classic approach where I like to capture simple, striking and colourful images in camera that hopefully provide the viewer with the ‘wow’ factor. I strive to apply my own unique vision of the world and take images that are hard to replicate. I aim for minimal adjustments in post-production to maintain an authentic look and feel for my images.

What are you working on at the moment?

Having just returned from a trip to Kefalonia in Greece, I am busy working on processing the images.

What is your next project or assignment?

I have designed and am selling my 2018 calendar next. I am really pleased with the way the calendars have printed and I hope people will enjoy viewing them as much as I have enjoyed making them. There is also my large collection of work that I have built up over the last 6 years that needs editing and submitting to stock agencies.

Are there any photographers whose work/style you admire?

I really like the work of David Noton, Colin Prior and Steve Davey. They mainly focus on landscape and travel images and their styles have all inspired me in different ways.

What is your favourite memory from your experiences?

That has to be climbing to Gokyo Ri, Everest base camp and Kala Patthar (which is at 5,643 metres above sea level) as part of a 15-day trek amongst the Himalayas in Nepal. Also, winning the Grand Prize in the 2016 National Geographic Traveller UK Photo Contest.

What’s the biggest photographic challenge you overcame?

Persisting and persevering in photographing the Great Wall of China after several days of adverse weather conditions and unsuccessful previous attempts.

What’s in your camera bag?

Canon 5DSR body and Canon lenses including 16-35mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm, 100-400, 35mm and 50mm. I also carry a tripod, filters and a cable release.

What photographic equipment would you never leave home without?

My favourite combination, which is the Canon 5DSR & 24-70mm lens.

What advice you would give anyone who is starting out?

Be true to yourself and shoot subjects you enjoy. Learn your craft and develop your own style, technique and vision.

You’ve won a few awards, any advice for anyone wanting to enter competitions?

I would say be original, creative and true to your own style of photography. Make sure you only enter images that match the competition requirements.

Any pitfalls they should avoid?

It’s important not to copy or compare yourself to others, this can hinder your creativity. Originality is key.

Lastly… if you weren’t a photographer what would you be doing?

My background and career for the last 20 years has been in accounting so if I wasn’t doing photography, I would most likely be doing this. Although I wouldn’t rule out running a bed and breakfast or even teaching sport!

You can follow Jeremy via his website www.jeremyflintphotography.com

All images by Jeremy Flint. All rights reserved. No usage without permission.

Interview by Kav Dadfar.