about

I am a freelance photographer from Sheffield. I have been a professional for just over two years now and it has given me some great experiences and I have worked for some great people. I believe that in order to grow you need to spend time on your craft learning from your mistakes and I have been working and studying photography since 2002. I feel in this time my skills and confidence have improved to a standard which enables me to produce images which are professional each and every time. I have produced images for newspapers, magazines, councils, large and small companies, private clients for weddings, parties and christenings plus much more. I enjoy meeting new people and fulfilling their briefs. To view comments from previous clients please view the “testimonial” page.

My enthusiasm for photography started when I got my first camera at the age of 12, since then it’s gone from strength to strength to the stage that I received a 1st Honours degree in photography. Originally I started taking photos of landscapes and close-ups of flowers. This has still continued but I have explored other areas and my passion for photography is stronger than ever. My enthusiasm for photographing landscapes and close-ups of flowers and helped improve other areas of my photography because I feel the level of my landscape and flower work have spurred me onto to match the quality in other aspects of my photography. As stated above I enjoy photographing landscapes and flowers which has given me the chance to sell my works at large craft fairs to the general public and the reaction to my work has been overwhelming and I continue to do this at craft fairs and online through this website. Also I submit images to magazines and this is something also I intend to continue. I have numerous qualifications in photography which include a 1st class BA honours degree. I have read many articles in books and magazines, putting into the practice and knowledge that I have gained along the way. This has improved my photography style and has made me a better photographer in the process

I am a disabled photographer with both physical and verbal disabilities. This doesn't stop my determination in producing images which capture the essence of the subject that I am photographing. I am a very determined person and I try and not let my disabilities get in the way of my work. I am located based between Sheffield and Worksop which is between Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire this provides ample inspiration for both my landscape and flower photography. With my disabilities I knows that I have to work that much harder to produce stunning images. I believe I produce images which are to a high standard and I'm willing to go that extra mile to do so. I also believe that this shows in my style of photography. My use of simple compositions and techniques give great results in my images and makes them stand out. Finally I like challenging himself and believe that I produce my best works when I'm under pressure.

I hope to continue to grow as a person and a photographer which will enable me to stay focused on my goals both professionally and privately.

Thank you for taking the time to read this piece about me and hopefully you have enjoyed viewing my work on this website.

Tom

Interview with Tom Anthony

Where and when were you born?
Sheffield, south Yorkshire, England on 3rd December 1986.

Why did you choose photography as a career?
One of the main reasons is my health because I’ve always been in and out of hospitals but in the last 5 years it’s been less full on. From time to time I can become ill or rundown which made the decision of choosing photography as my chosen career easier because I can work for myself and I can fit my health around my career. It can be hard sometimes but I am a bit stubborn and even when I’m ill or rundown I find myself working, I’m just that sort of person.

Which photographers have inspired you?
Tony Howell and Adam Burton have been my main influences with my photography. I said to myself if I could merge Tonys simple use of composition with Adams way of creating fine art atmospheric images together then I would be on my way to becoming the photographer I aspire to be. In general I get inspired by photographs whether by amateurs or professional and I love to study other people's perspective of a location because they give me ideas of what I would do to improve it which in turn helps my skills as a photographer.

What type of photography do you work in?
I would say I work in many areas from PR photography to photographing flower. This diversity helps me attract an array of clients and projects. Out of the areas which I work in I must say photographing peoples wedding gives me the greatest pleasure. Seeing people at their happiest on their wedding day makes me want to do the best job I can for them and when they see the photos and give me great feedback I know that I have done a great job. Over the last year or so I have attended quite a few craft fairs in the Peak District National Park selling my landscape and flower works. When people come up to me a say such nice things about my work and purchase them it makes me feel that I have a real talent and I continue to create fine art photographs for people to enjoy.

What is a typical day for you?
If I’m not working for a private client or business client you would probable find me in my office. The first task I do is to answer any e-mails which I might have to answer. This could take anything from twenty minutes to an hour. If I have an order in I will probable send them off to the printers ready for shipping to customer. I have always got a backlog raw files to process and this could easily take the rest of the day. Sometimes I might spend an hour on one photo. Once I have got my business work done I will spend time researching locations to photograph in and around the Peak District for my landscape work. I might also want to research locations and ideas of the other types of photography that I work in. If I’m planning a shoot I will spend 20-30 minutes preparing my equipment, deciding what equipment I might need for the shoot. I travel quite a lot either to vendors collecting images etc or to a location for a shoot. This is just part of my job when I have to do everything myself.

Digital vs. film?
The thing about digital that I dislike the most is that I spend far too much time on the computer and less time shooting. Film is great but it's becoming less and less used by professional and with everyone wanting work now it makes sense to go digital. Also you are able to send images without leaving your office which saves time and money. With film dying out I feel that digital is the way forward and the advances in sensors means that some cameras can produce images which are sharper than 35mm film.

What if any alterations do you do in Photoshop?
I only do the bare minimum when I'm processing RAW files, things such as contrast and some saturation. The only Photoshop technique that I might use is digital blending. This is when you combine two or three exposures to create the image I visualized. I also shoot at the lowest ISO which helps with noise which every photographer hates!

What's the best thing about your job?
I like the fact that I get the chance to meet new people and to travel around the great landscapes around me and I get paid for this. I can also work around my health with this the most important aspect of my life.

What inspires you to take photographs?
I really enjoy creating images which make people happy and create memories which represent a moment in time. It also gives me a professional and something that I can be proud of.

Do you use filters?
I use neutral gradient and a polarizer filters. I use the polarizer to increase saturation and to make blue skies bluer. With my neutral gradient filers I can balance exposures between the sky and land because quite often you might get a right exposure of the land but the sky could be overexposed and I use these filters to balance them out to find the right exposure.

What is your favourite image from your own collection?
I can really say I have a few which I really like but If I had to pick one it would be of padley gorge in autumn. Autumn is my favourite time to photograph landscapes. The light and colours in the landscapes are spectacular. The colours in this image are rich and make me feel warm inside. I spent a whole day in padley and it was a very overcast day which is what I wanted. Here is a link to the image - http://www.tomanthonyphotography.co.uk/padley-gorge-p-119.html

Which one area of photography influenced your style?
I must say that landscape photography have influenced me the most. I look the use of simple composition and dramatic lighting. This is something which I aim to go with my photography in general. I spent as much time as I can in the great outdoors and I have seen some great moments which I will remember for the rest of my life.

With your disabilities do you find it hard to be a photographer?
Yes, with my disabilities they do make it harder because they do restrict me but I'm a very determined person and even with my disabilities I know what I want out of life and I'm willing to work as hard as I can to achieve this. It just means that it might take me longer to achieve my goals but I'm always up for the challenge.

What advice would you give to beginners?
I would say practice, practice, practice, you can only learn from your mistakes. I would also say that you don't really need to attend a photography course to become a professional photographer. I would say read as many articles as you can and study other people's photographs, as this is great place to learn from. I would also say never stick to one type of photography as this can restrict you in the future when you are trying to get work, always be open to try new things. You have to be totally focused on your goals and eventually you will get there. Even today I'm still learning which is what I like about photography. Finally, never give up!

What are your current and future projects?
I have always got a project on the go and most of the time they can be all at once. I am always building up my portfolio for my landscape and flower work because I enjoy the great outdoors and producing images which showcase the landscape as breathtaking. I plan to explore more locations in not only the Peak District but in new areas around the country. I intend to attend more craft and wedding fairs this year to continue to build my reputation as a photographer. Half the battle is building your reputation as a photographer but this is a challenge which I always enjoy. I hope to keep healthy (fingers crossed) and continue to produce great images for people to use and enjoy.