Member Profile: Ashley Kew

About me:

Who are you? Do you consider yourself a Professional/Semi-Pro/Amateur/Beginner photographer?

Hello! I'm Ashley Kew and I live in Norwich, Norfolk. I am currently 51years old and I am a driving instructor by day, and in my spare time an amateur photographer who occasionally does paid work, such as weddings and engagement shoots.

Your Photography Journey

My dad was a professional photographer, and the person that introduced me to photography. For Christmas 1983 when I was just 11 years old, I received my 1st 35mm SLR camera: The Praktica MTL5. (also released in 1983). I would often accompany my dad on photo shoots and help him to develop the film in our darkroom.

As a young boy, I was always fascinated by developing the film and watching images come to life in trays of chemicals as if by magic. Over the years I have had several 35mm film cameras, my favourite being my Olympus OM 1N 35mm film camera. Unfortunately by my 20s, I had given up photography due to work and family commitments just as digital cameras were starting to hit the mainstream.

Roll on to February 2023 a family member brought an old Olympus OM1N SLR same model as I had. I took one look at it and once again was hooked! So, in February 2023 I bought my 1st digital camera a Nikon d7200 some 31 years after I had stopped photography - I rediscovered my passion [in 2023]!

Shortly after a friend recommended TSOP to me, so began my journey with them which led me to the beginner photography course which was the 1st course I did, I then followed this up with the Lightroom course and then the headshot course. I will be looking to do the portrait retouching course very soon. Also, after watching the Q&A with Marc and Bal AKA Mr Whisper Street photographer on TSOP, this inspired me to go out and try street photography which I am now becoming very passionate about and try to get out and about at least once or twice a week.

Marc’s step-by-step approach to learning and the way he delivers the course is fantastic. And the monthly assignments are brilliant and give you the incentive to get out there and shoot!!

To quote Jay Maisel:

“If you are out there shooting, things will happen for you. If you’re not out there, you’ll only hear about it.”

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from TSOP?

Plan, practice, shoot and keep learning!

What is your preferred genre?

My preferred genres are portrait, animal, architecture, landscape and street photography. I love street photography and capturing moments and emotions which might otherwise go unnoticed, of people in their daily lives.

What inspires you to create photography?

The desire to capture places, and people in moments in time, the emotions, of human behaviour and the atmosphere of our cities as it changes of the years. Preserving memories through photography for future generations.

Describe your first photograph in your learning journey.

So, my 1st image was pattens2023 and for some reason, I decided to take a brick wall lol, not very interesting, and not very well edited. At the time I thought it was ok; Looking at it now, I wouldn’t take it. I also see how far I have come in a year. Looking at my last image urbanlandscape2024 I posted it's better edited and the subject was more interesting.

My favourite photograph:

My favourite photo that I’ve taken ©*Ashley Kew*

What is your favourite photograph that you’ve taken?

It would have to be the bride at the window, taken using just the light from the window. Handheld and just the edit I did. The light was so good she just looked so beautiful.

What’s next for Ashley?

Going forward, I hope to keep improving. I am hoping to do more weddings and more paid work, I want to continue to explore my street photography. And I hope to gain more knowledge to bring my photography to the next level. This includes more courses from TSOP. I would like to take my editing skills to the next level. So the Photoshop course is on my list to do.

Conclusion

I would never have thought a year ago I would have shot 8 weddings and numerous engagement shoots by now. At times I have been well out of my comfort zone, but that said, that is where I learned the most. My confidence is growing and I am embracing more learning and acquiring new skills with the help of TSOP. I would never have thought I would have had the confidence to get out and about doing street photography, which I absolutely love, and the new found passion and immense joy it gives me!

Where can people follow you?

Website

Instagram