In a world dominated by social media, with most people owning a smartphone, it’s easy to think that anyone can be a photographer, but being one involves much more than just pointing a camera and taking a photo. Apart from needing to understand lighting and composition and knowing how to use digital technology such as editing software, you need to have a good eye for what you’re wanting to portray. It’s also about experimenting and challenging boundaries.
Here at The Insurance Emporium, we’ve been looking at some of the photographers to watch in 2023, as well as looking back at some photographers who came into focus in 2022.
Music
Joe Puxley may only be 21 but he’s already being recognised as one of the most talented photographers around. He’s photographed artists such as Gregory Porter, Loyle Carner and Erykah Badu and been published in Dazed, Vogue Italia and The British Journal of Photography. In May ’22 he won Undiscovered Photographer of the Year at the Abbey Road Studios Music Photography Awards and his photos have been described as vibrant and soulful.
Social Commentary
Max Miechowski is a London-based photographer who focuses on the themes of community and connection, and the relationship between people and places.
His ‘Land Loss’ exhibition, which highlights the effects of coastal erosion on parts of the British coastline, won the Photo London/Nikon Emerging Photographer Award in 2022 and his work has been featured in The Guardian, The New York Times and The British Journal of Photography.
Visual Art
Mia Novakova’s work is both beautiful and unusual. She uses different techniques such as multiple exposure, blurring and texture to create images that make even the ordinary seem unique. There’s often a nostalgic feel to some of her work and she sees the process of shooting photographs as like composing a painting, and it’s this intuitive process that has led to her being in the Shondaland list of top ten artists to look out for in 2023.
Landscapes
Vicente Manssur is an Ecuadorian photographer who works in a variety of genres, but whose landscapes are particularly atmospheric. His photos often feature his home country of Ecuador, and they have an almost vintage feel; he’s a fan of analogue photography and the muted colours feel very retro. His work has been described as effortless and spontaneous and often has the look of a painting, due to his use of colour and light.
Documentary Style
Rosie Matheson is particularly interested in the connection between people and places and is ‘fascinated by the idea of photographing somebody else’s world’. She’s worked with brands such as Apple, Nike, The Financial Times and Kodak, as well as photographing Alt J and Zayn Malik and is particularly interested in the changing face of manhood in the world today.
Portrait
Lawrence Agyei has worked for Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, photographing Jamila Woods, Leon Bridges and Billy Corgan, his aim being to ‘compose a beautiful, honest, intimate image.’ He uses natural light when he can, and shoots using a mix of analogue and digital. His portraits are natural and stylish and often black and white, a nod to the portrait photographers who would visit his childhood home in Ghana to take family portraits.
Fashion
Manuela Kalì is a self-taught Italian fashion photographer who has a unique way of capturing an image that is both stylish and professional, while still feeling natural and organic. They manage to feel both atmospheric and polished at the same time.
Wildlife
Ami Vitale uses wildlife and environmental photography to highlight conservation issues. She has been named as one of the 50 Badass Women by Instyle magazine. She is particularly known for her work documenting the efforts to re-introduce pandas back into the wild and she believes in ‘living the story’, which has led to her living in a mud hut, staying in a war zone and wearing a panda suit! She likes to explore the theme of interconnection in her work.
Social Media
Devin Halbal rose to fame on TikTok under the name Hal.Baddie, spreading positivity with her daily affirmations, photos and selfies. She already has some sponsorship deals, with more collaborations on the way. She’s responsible for viral phrases such as ‘Met Gala behaviour’ and has been described as an inspiration for the transgender community.
The Photography Class of 2022
Here are some of the photographers who came to our attention back in 2022. These photographers demonstrate how diverse the world of photography is; from architecture to portraits, wildlife to social commentary, they all still offer a fresh perspective on the world.
Jennifer McCord has photographed some of the biggest names in music and has worked with Sony, Universal and a variety of festivals. She switches between analogue and digital and describes her work as ‘emotive and intimate’.
Jodie Bateman uses her photography to question stereotypes surrounding being a Muslim in the West, particularly in relation to Muslim women and their dress style.
Nico Froelich focuses on diversity and inclusivity in working-class life. He’s worked with Brewdog, The Philharmonia and Somerset House and has been influenced by social realism in British cinema, celebrating the working-class spirit.
Karah Mew is a documentary photographer who describes herself as a ‘collector of personal visual moments and printed love letters’, using photography to capture the changing dynamics with the family unit.
Conclusion
The photographers we’ve looked at here show how the way we access photography is changing. Social media plays a huge role, and while a large Insta following isn’t the only indicator of talent, it does mean that photography is much more accessible now, compared to how it used to be.
If hearing about these photographers has inspired you, remember that it might be a good idea to look at Camera Insurance for your photography equipment, with a 25% Introductory discount*, and two policy types to choose from, you could be paying from just £1.46 per lunar month*. Take a look at the website for a free, no-strings quote that will have you snapping away in no time. Who knows, this time next year we could be talking about you!
* The 25% Introductory Discount is available for the first 12 premium payments on lunar and calendar monthly policies or one premium payment on annual policies. Premium shown is paid lunar monthly and based on minimum insurable value including an introductory discount on the Amateur & Semi-Pro policy.
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