Hi, and thanks for having me. My name’s Mike Hindle, and I’m a photographer and
adventure addict. I’m based in Derby in the UK.
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How did you get started in photography, and what drew you to this art form?
The real interest started when cameras on mobile phones started getting good. In the early days of Instagram, I was posting travel photos, and it all just developed from there.
I enjoy the creativity and being able to show how you see the world.
What is your preferred style or genre of photography, and why?
I nearly always lean towards monochrome, although I’ve started editing a few bits on colour recently, which will be an ongoing project. Genre-wise, I’m drawn to architecture and urban environments the most. A mix between buildings and streets, although I wouldn’t call myself a street photographer.
How do you improve and develop your photography skills?
Great question and one I’m often pondering. It’s a combination of research, inspiration and practice.
The research usually arises in the form of YouTube videos and tutorials, as well as
magazines and books. The inspiration comes from any photographers that I admire and follow online. The practice part is simply getting out as much as possible with the sole intention of taking photos. Even when you arrive home without anything that you’re happy with, practising is the important part.
What equipment do you use and why?
That is another good question. Last August, I sold all of my camera gear and experimented with only using an iPhone 13 Pro Max.
It wasn’t supposed to be a permanent thing, but when it came to the end of the experiment, which I’d decided on six months, I was undecided as to whether I wanted an actual camera again. After a month or two of changing my mind almost every day, I got the iPhone 14 Pro Max. This is now my one and only camera.
I love that it’s always with me. The size and detail of the images are nothing short of
incredible, and we’re getting to the point where everything you can do on a DSLR or
mirrorless, you can do it on the iPhone.
What do you think is the most important element of a great photograph?
I guess this one’s all subjective, but for me personally, it’s a clean composition without too much going on. As an example, if you’re photographing a busy scene, try to find simplicity within it. This could be in the form of closing in on the details or focusing on one aspect rather than having too much going on.
What professional photographers have influenced your work?
One of my favourite street photography professionals is Mark Fearnley. Mark’s images blow my mind. Literally, every photo that he posts is so inspiring.
How do you stay inspired and motivated as a photographer?
Keeping things fresh. Doing the same thing over and over again quickly gets boring. I’m always scouting out new locations and researching new ways to use the iPhone camera.
I’d say the main thing is seeing as many new places as you can. As we all learnt in
lockdown, there are only so many times you can explore your home town before it becomes a little stale.
How do you handle difficult shooting conditions or subjects?
Embrace them. Often it’s the good old British weather that can interfere with your intentions as a photographer.
As there’s absolutely nothing you can do about this, just make the most of the conditions you have. They may not be perfect or exactly what you wanted, but again, it all boils down to practice.
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in photography?
Great question, and a friend over on Vero springs to mind. Her name is Pex, and she’s from Germany. She’s not long been into photography, but what’s setting her apart is the fact that she’s not afraid to experiment.
So my advice would be to immerse yourself in the photography community, and then start taking more photos. Research, inspiration and practice. Find a style you’re leaning towards, and wherever possible, do something completely different to what everyone else is doing.
What do you hope your photography communicates to your audience, and why is this important to you?
Recently, my main aim has been to inspire viewers to explore more. Go on more adventures and see more.
I’m posting a lot of travel photography and tourist destinations with some information on the location, which I hope my audience will then want to visit.
This is important to me as it’s forming the foundations of building a community, rather than a photographer and an audience. It keeps the conversations flowing, especially if they end up visiting themselves.
What editing software do you like to use for your finished photos?
I try and do as much as I can in Lightroom, but might sometimes take it into Photoshop to replace the sky if needed.
I use Lightroom over Lightroom Classic. I know a lot of photographers are the other way around, but the standard version has everything I need, and I like the ability to be able to upload straight from my mobile and then carry on editing on the laptop.
The ‘Share to Discover’ option is also pretty cool, and this can introduce your work to a whole new audience.
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