insideKENT Magazine Issue 64 - July 2017 | Seite 34

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE:
TOMMY REYNOLDS
TOMMY REYNOLDS IS A KENT-BASED PHOTOGRAPHER,
VLOGGER, AND MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTOR. THIS
MONTH, insideKENT’S LISAMARIE LAMB SPOKE TO HIM
ABOUT HIS WORK, THE FAMOUS PEOPLE HE HAS
WORKED WITH, AND WHAT HE HOPES TO ACHIEVE
IN THE COMING MONTHS.
If you had to define your art, how would
you describe what you do?
I think I would describe myself as a storyteller.
Story is for me is the single most important
element in photography. What are you trying
to communicate? What can you learn from
your subject? How can you extract their
personality if it’s a portrait? That’s almost a
game for me.
How did you become a photographer?
I became interested in photography from the
age of seven when my mum bought a Wallace
and Gromit camera and I was instantly
hooked. In my teens, I bought my first proper
DSLR which was a Nikon D40 and began
shooting bands in my local area. I was really
shy growing up but now I had an excuse to
walk up to someone and say, “Hey my name
is Tommy, I just photographed your band,
you’re welcome to use the photos.” It was the
best icebreaker and still is. I soon became
known as ‘the band photographer’ and would
get into all the shows for free. I love working
with bands and musicians today but in more
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of a portrait setting. I find musicians and other
artists the most fun to photograph because I
can be more open to try creative things with
lighting, processing, format and composition.
Fast forward to 2013, I was made redundant
and decided to make a proper go at freelancing
as a photographer. I’m not going to lie, it was
hard…very hard at first but eventually work
starting to pick up and now I’m photographing
and creating personal projects around the
world.
What is it about photography that appeals
to you?
What I love about photography is it’s one of
those rare mediums where people just stop,
and think, and admire. Art is a conversation.
All ar tists desire the same and want their work
to be questioned and admired, regardless of
what it is. I’m also fascinated by light, how
light shapes a face and different types of light.
Lighting and communication are the most
important elements combined. It doesn’t
matter what camera I’m using, as long as my
lighting and story is king. I also love people. I
want to share their story, use my tiny little
space on the internet through my website and
social media to share their story. I believe story
adds greater context and can even add value
to an image and that’s what I love about
photography.
Who are the most exciting people you have
worked with?
Some of the most exciting people I have
worked with are some celebrities including
UB40, Pixie Lott, The Vamps, Nerina Pallot,
Boyce Avenue and Nick Howard to name but
a few. These clients have all had an incredible
career so far and have led me to work some
amazing brands including The Metro, Ben
Sherman, TopShop, Panasonic, Sigma,
Universal Music, Syco Entertainment and Sony
Music. But to be honest, I get just as excited
to photograph a lady who’s been working in
a tea plantation factory in Sri Lanka, working
10 hours a day for £1.80 a day, learning how
she got to this point and what excites her and
gets her out of bed in the morning.