influencers - Stuart Graham
I recently came across the work of Stuart Graham, and interestingly, I discovered that we attended the same high school.
As I delved deeper, I found that Stuart and I share quite a bit in common. Besides walking the same streets as kids, we both began our photography journeys in a similar way—using a cheap Russian SLR (Zenit-E) and embracing the challenge of shooting rock concerts at popular local venues.
Although our career paths diverged, with Stuart pursuing a professional route, we've both more recently become captivated by the world of Intentional Camera Movement (ICM)
His current work is intensely focused on his fascination with the sea. With images beautifully capturing the essence of the scene before him, he conveys an atmosphere that successfully transports the viewer back to that specific time and place.
Stuart’s work has been featured in FRAMES magazine, where subscribers can read an interview with him, as well as in ICM Photography magazine, the leading online publication dedicated to this genre.
“Looking through the lens requires me to view a subject with the intensity of a grown man’s experience, whilst also recapturing the wonder of that 13-year-old boy”
“The camera can free your mind to see things that you can’t. The camera allows you to see into a magical, secret world where anything is possible.”
About the Artist
Stuart describes his passion with photography as following (taken from his website Bio);
“When I was 13, my elder brother showed me his new camera: a Zenith E. After warning me not to drop it, he let me have a hold. I can still picture him, as I clumsily focused on his face. That was it - the moment which decided my future.
I knew right then that I wanted to become a professional photographer.
My career since then has covered most branches of photography and has given me a wonderful opportunity to see much of the world.
For the last 20 years, my life has been in South Devon. The drama of this coastline has enabled me to shoot seascapes - by far the most challenging and rewarding of all the genres. The ever-changing sky, wind and, of course, tide means you have control over nothing. You need the perfect balance of sheer luck and hard-won skill.”
In a discussion with Stuart, he described the development of his current shooting style as following;
“I started shooting the way I do almost by accident, (The term ICM wasn't in my vocabulary, tbh.) It was about 5-6 years ago and I had sort of retired from shooting for other people. I started shooting very long exposure stuff but got bored. The crisp 4000/1 wave stuff looks great but it wasn't for me. Then I thought, "My eyes' shutter speed is about 100/1. How about I follow the wave for a second and see what those 100 images would look like in one shot." And the rest is history as they say.”
Source of inspiration
I've often said that the best artworks are those that evoke an emotional response in the viewer. Stuart’s stunning images do exactly that and can be summed up in one word — ATMOSPHERE.
Stuart is a photographer who goes to exceptional lengths to capture the flow of nature within his waterscapes while preserving the essence of his subjects. He uniquely combines this with a compelling atmospheric overtone.
Each of his images draws me in, absorbing my attention and leaving me with a strong desire to improve my own seascape photography.
For further insight into Stuart’s shooting philosophy, you can visit the FRAMES magazine website. The link below directs you to a post where Stuart describes the circumstances surrounding his image “Blue Surf” (pictured right).
“Blue Surf” by Stuart Graham | FRAMES (readframes.com)
Artist showcase
Following is a body of favorite works captured from the Stuart Graham website.
