The above image, by Upper Sixth student Rory Matthews, is the first of a new series of posts featuring work by some of our most talented sixth form photographers.
The photo itself doesn't require much in the way of description: dark, intense and full of narrative power, it speaks for itself.
Read on for a short interview with Rory about his approach to photography ... and more examples of his work.
When did you start taking photos?I only really began seriously during the summer after secondary school when I was given a compact camera as a reward for passing my GCSEs.
What makes a great image?I think that composition has got to be the most important part of a picture: anything can be made interesting if it is caught in the right way. Following closely in importance is lighting: even the most interesting of subjects can be badly lit, and this will ruin a shot.
What inspires you as a photographer?I’m not sure why, but shortly before seriously starting to try and take photographs I began to pay attention to a world that had been passing me by. I realised that there were lots of beautiful things to see if you took the time to look. I think photography followed on fairly naturally from this.
Any photographic ambitions?I really hope that I can take the documentary or photojournalism route. I’d like to travel back to Africa where I was born, and spend time with a family or group and photograph them over an extended period.
What’s photography A level been like here at d’Overbroeck’s?d’Overbroeck’s has been the perfect environment – and an immensely important part of my personal development. It has a relaxed environment that fosters a determined and focussed attitude amongst it’s students toward work. I hadn’t been anywhere like it before.
The above images are just a tiny selection from Rory's work – and we'd encourage you to browse his online portfolio to see more: Rory Matthews' photos (via Flickr)All photos are © Rory Matthews, all rights reserved.
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