My name is Leigh Windridge, a photographer from Nottinghamshire in the UK although you’re as likely to find me wandering the Lake District as much as lying on a forest floor hunting for fungi to photograph!
Check his website: leighw.photos
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How did you get started in photography, and what drew you to this art form?
I think it all started in the early 1980s when my father gave me one of his cameras to use and it’s always been something I’ve enjoyed, although I did have quite a break from it through the 1990s as other interests and work took up more of my time. However, the advent of the digital era got me back into photography again and gave me a new direction that wasn’t limited by the constraints of film that I’d had previously.
What is your preferred style or genre of photography, and why?
I don’t think I have a definite preferred genre, but I think if anything woodland photography is always something that I get drawn to. I think this is due to the calming effect I find when I’m out in nature. If I’m in a woodland on my own I can easily get lost for hours!
How do you improve and develop your photography skills?
It may sound like a cliche but practice is definitely the key for me. Being quite new to the landscape photography genre it’s taken me over a year to hone my skills enough for me to be able to go out in the field and confidently be able to take shots that I’m happy with.
What equipment do you use and why?
This one took me by surprise! From getting back into photography with Canon I made the switch in 2022 to the Olympus/OM System micro four-thirds range of pro cameras and lenses. The reason for this was simple – I needed to reduce the amount of weight I was carrying due to a work-related injury and the OM System OM-1 gives me better results than I was ever able to get with my full-frame Canon 5D Mk4 DSLR. It also has the added bonus that I get much less pain from being out shooting for extended periods too
What do you think is the most important element of a great photograph?
I think that varies depending on the subject matter. For landscape, light is definitely the most important part of the composition but for macro photography, it’s the subject itself that is important and how it’s composed to best suit the scene. For all of them though the composition is key – it has to engage the viewer and lead the eye to keep interest in the shot.
What professional photographers have influenced your work?
Simon Baxter has had a strong influence on my woodland photography as also Joe Cornish. Both are stunning photographers with a great eye for detail that I’ve found inspiring and although I don’t try to emulate them I do have their style in mind when I’m composing shots.
How do you stay inspired and motivated as a photographer?
I think the way to stay motivated and inspired is to add variety. I think that’s why I don’t have a real specialist subject that I like to shoot as all genres interest me and I get more enjoyment from switching between them and experimenting with things as I go. Variety definitely is the spice of life for me!
How do you handle difficult shooting conditions or subjects?
I think perseverance is key if there’s a specific shot that you are looking for. For example, if I’m hunting for fungi in a woodland for macro shots sometimes there’s a lack of light to get the right shot so finding ways to add fill lights but still make it natural can be challenging but also very rewarding.
If I’m on a hillside and there isn’t any light there’s always the option to convert to black and white which can add mood to a scene without needing the extra dimension that having the light invariably gives.
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in photography?
Don’t worry about gear too much!
If you have a camera you are comfortable using, keep using it and practice as much as you can. Don’t get stuck in a rut of thinking everyone else’s shots are better either – if something looks too good to be shot by you, it’s probably been photoshopped!
Gear matters, but only when you start to progress through your photographic journey – learn the basics on a basic camera and you’ll be even better when you upgrade!
What do you hope your photography communicates to your audience, and why is this important to you?
I hope that it gives a sense of being there as I’m capturing the shot. I tend to see things that other photographers miss and it gives a unique take on some scenes.
I don’t use the mainstream editing packages either so it shows that you can make images that stand up against the rest of the field without following the crowd!
