There are people who tend to mock new and upcoming photographers, as if the hard work behind it has changed. Due to high end DSLR’s being accessible more than ever, it’s easy to pick up a camera and shoot away and become a “photographer” right? Wrong! You might have a fancy camera but it takes passion & dedication to be labelled a photographer – just like every craft, determination and practise comes a long way.
Here we welcome Shola Amodu – Not just a guy with a fancy camera but a humble guy that has so much love and passion for this art form. He’ll definitely be capturing all those moments you wish you were part of and more.

- What/who inspired you to get into photography? Who inspires you now?

I’ve always considered myself to be a creative person, so I’ve always had my fingers in many pies. It wasn’t until I got to college that I first realised that I enjoyed taking and developing pictures. Sometimes my teachers would let me take the camera home at the end of the day, I would come back the next day with like three reels of film to develop.
Photography for me is a lot more than pointing and shooting a camera. It allows me to view the world and the people who inhabit it from a different perspective. Also the fact that you can capture a moment of time and review it at a later date, personally I think it’s amazing. As well as all this, photography is also an expressive art form. It allows me to show a side of me that not a lot of people know about or get to see. They get to see my subjects from my point of view. I can explore and covey messages, emotions, memories and more with just pictures, hence the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” . To me, photography is creative freedom.
In terms of people who inspire me, I particularly like the work of a friend of mine Ikenna Mokwe of ikemedia.co.uk. Ikenna and I used to play basketball together back in the day but for a while now he has been producing amazing photos. He was one of the main reasons I decided to take up photography. Another photographer I’ve been following is Karl Taylor. Again, more fantastic photos, everything from people, places, objects to architecture. I’ve got all of his training DVDs, which I highly recommend to anyone who has caught the photography bug, wants to lean more and wants to take their work to another level.

- How would you describe your photography style?

Hmmm….I would sum up my style as simple but powerful. I like to keep things as minimal as possible but at the same time leave people with the “WOW!” expression. Photography doesn’t always have to be a complex affair. Some of the most eye-catching photos have the most simple ideas behind them.

- Any advice for people looking to start photography?

Do not be afraid to explore, the more you do the more confident you will become. Learn as much as you can, watch tutorials, read books and if possible try and get first hand experience from someone in the industry. Learn to use as many different types of software as you can, photography doesn’t end with your camera. You will need to learn how to retouch and edit your pictures. Experiment with your camera, don’t get tied down to one particular type of photography, for example; studio photography, events photography, location photography, action photography etc. Most of all, have a clear direction of where you want to go with your photography and believe in your abilities and work.

In five years time I want to own and run my own professional design and photography agency where I can work with and employ like-minded individuals, as well as pass on my knowledge and experience to anyone who has a firm interest in photography.

For more information, contact Shola at shola@artfxdp.co.uk

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