I just found a box of 9 test prints that I made in 2016 for the first exhibition of The Horsemen of Semonkong. They are small (178mm x 220mm - that's a bit bigger than A5). I have signed them all on the back with an edition of AP 1/1 (that's Artist Proof 1 of 1).

I had no idea of the severity of the situation until I arrived in the bustling coastal town, on my own with no idea where I was going or who I would be meeting. I had the name of my hotel and the number for a man called Raj, that was all.

As soon as I saw the building and heard the story I knew that we had to retake the portrait. The crumbling kitchen not only created a more dramatic scene but was also an honest visual narrative that told their story in an instant. This is what you hope for as an environmental photographer, every time you arrive at someones house. A simple scene that perfectly captures the story.

Every time you look at the print on your wall I want you to be reminded of the broader value of your investment, the ongoing, positive impact that it is making.

In this terrifying world of AI generated images and ubiquitous content creators, many photographers need to find a new way to exist. The challenge is to make the work that you passionate about, paid for by people that appreciate it and to earn enough to keep the lights on, the kids fed and the dream alive. That, to me, is success.

Activism isn't just about showing a problem, it’s about engaging the right audience and giving them a way to get involved. We do this by creating relevant, compelling imagery; combining it with carefully constructed text, and placing it in the right publications.

Photography can often feel frustrating when you put all your effort in, but it just doesn’t pay off. I know that you have got this far with a fair amount of willpower, self-motivation, and learning from your mistakes. Taking consistently powerful environmental portraits is well within your reach.

In August 2020, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, I traveled around South Africa to photograph healthcare workers in every province of the country. We wanted to celebrate the great work that they were doing, under enormous pressure, whilst also keeping ourselves and our subjects safe.

Taking photographs is easy, anyone with a half-decent smartphone can do it. So how do you become a great photographer?
The answer is simper than you might think…