Our emerging photographer series aims to shed a light on up-and-coming talent. Photographers are offered a platform to share their work with a wider audience through the AP channels, with the scope of furthering their careers. We also get an insight into their inspirations, the camera gear used and future aspirations, as well as the journey taken into photography – which doesn’t have to be the most traditional route!
Success stories
Si Jubb and Ethan Parker, who won our Emerging Photographer of the Year award at this year’s AP Awards, recently spoke at our Festival of Photography: Documentary event. Previous emerging photographer award winners include Aliz Kovacs-Zoldi and Tariq Sadu. We’ll be sharing the work of photographers on our website and social media and even in the magazine. If you have recently started your photography journey or are a student / graduate, share your work with us at [email protected]
For this chapter, Honor Smith speaks with Peter Dench
When and why did you start taking photographs?
It was so long ago that I began taking photographs that I don’t remember when I started or even what the reason was. My mum always says I used to always have a camera in my hand and I’m always taking pictures. I love capturing my people and my surroundings, it feels natural to me.
Which genre do you tend to work mostly in?
Documentary – social documentary projects. Working with people, but capturing my family and friends, and my personal life. Quiet moments, mundane day to day, the passing of time, intimacy, love, sadness and joy. I often focus on sharing the rawness and reality of life in hopes that people can relate those moments to their own lives.
What draws you to documentary?
What I love most about photography is the conversation that it provokes between strangers as well as friends. I think documentary work, especially the personal work that I create, can spark conversation on taboo and difficult topics, such as death, illness and growth, which has been a real highlight for me in making recent work.
Tell us a little bit more about your photographic training?
I left school with an A-Level in Photography but had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I just knew I loved taking photographs, so I went to Birmingham City University to take photographs for the next three years on a BA Photography course. I loved photography as a hobby and just wanted to get better. I learnt so much and was lucky enough to experience many things and meet many amazing creatives. It was the confidence boost I needed to go from making work as a hobby to work that had emotional depth and meaning.
What has been your biggest photographic obstacle to date?
Leaving university. I was lost and for a very long time didn’t make any work. I had quite a big break and then just didn’t know what to take photographs of anymore. A lot of the time I still don’t. I put a lot of pressure on myself to make work in the same way I would make it at university – but I didn’t have to follow rules anymore, there were no deadlines (maybe it would have been easier if there was?) but I had to teach myself that I could just make work for fun, when I wanted to, and that it was okay if it wasn’t “perfect”.
Who are you riggest influences?
Ruth Toda-Nation, Sian Davey, Lydia Goldblatt, Sally Mann and William Eggleston. Sally Mann in particular when it comes to photographing my family, she just created some of the most beautiful imagery of her children.
What equipment do you use?
While I was at university I used to use Canon equipment, but I recently bought a new Fuji X-T50, and I’m really loving using that at the moment.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
When I graduated with a First Class and won the ‘Student of the Year’ award, I was seriously proud of that. Celebrating by showcasing my work at London’s Free Range exhibition, along with all my classmates, was really special, too.
What are your hopes for your photography career in the future?
I want to find my style and my true passion for photography, again. I’d love to have the opportunity to travel more with my camera and develop a photojournalist aspect of my portfolio.
Do you have a dream assignment?
I would just love someone to say ‘Hey, can we send you to this city, somewhere completely different to your home, and can you explore it and document it at the same time, all while delving deep into the culture and the people and capture the true essence of the place?’ Yeah , I think that would be a dream project for me!
Any advise for aspiring photographers?
My biggest piece of advice would be more like reassurance; it’s ok if you have doubts, if you lose creative spark, if you wonder whether what you’re doing is even the right thing for you. You just have to keep going.
Tell us more about your projects?
I have included some from two projects, one from a portrait project of my younger brother and the other from ‘Death is a Part of Living But a Fear of Many,’ a self-initiated project and residency in my grandmothers care home, Ash Lodge, Smethwick.
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