The Sunday interview: 5 questions for Giles Thurston

Today I will present Giles Thurston the author of The Photographer’s Eye. Giles is a UK photographer focussing on human interactions with the landscape.

1. Why photography?

This is a good question and one I have been trying to nail down for a while now and have also tried to explore through various Substack articles. I guess the short answer is purely to share the world as I see it, the scenes that capture my eye and want me to pull a camera out, whatever that may be.

A longer answer would be a fascination with our interactions or influence on the landscape in large or small ways, something I have labelled The Human Landscape. This is not in a judgemental sort of way, I just find myself drawn to everyday scenes or items, that others may pass by. This may be an old abandoned barn or piece of farm machinery in the weeds, the way telegraph poles weave their way across the landscape or how light interplays with the urban environment. All interest me and drive me to use my camera.

2. What is your favourite gear? (camera, lens)

I will admit that I am a bit of a nerd and love kit and have way too many cameras, lens and bags. I won't admit how many in case my wife reads this.

I find I use different cameras for different scenarios. I use a small Ricoh GRIII for when I am out and about in town or on longer bike rides exploring the countryside. This is a fabulous camera, truly pocketable but produces wonderful shots. My bigger cameras are Sony's. I love the A7cii for its portability, especially when paired with the FE 24-50G lens. I find this great for urban photography,

All that being said, I love my iPhone and it is the one camera that will be with me no matter what. I know a lot of people turn their noses up at iPhones but so many of the photos I have shared over the years, especially those when taken while out running, have been taken with that. Yes there is more creative freedom with a "proper camera" but I am still more than happy to take and share photos with my iPhone. For the record my current one is the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

3. What are your favourite subjects to photograph?

I think I covered this a bit in a previous answer but its anything and everything but there will nearly always be a human element included within my shots. I am drawn to light, lines, shapes and textures, particularly in the urban environment. I am also rather fond of old abandoned barns and farm machinery that I encounter while out on my runs or cycles and will spent more time than I should exploring these subjects.

I guess another way to sum this up is trying to find beauty in everyday or mundane scenes. I typically shoot in black and white but will use colour when I feel it’s a key element that drew me to a scene or part of the story I want to tell.

4. Can you name a few of your favourite photographers?

Oh, ok. Another good question.

James Popsys is a YouTube photographer whose work I really enjoy, especially as he seems to be drawn to similar subjects to myself. Sean Tucker is another photographer I really admire, not just for his photography but also the deeper meaning he applies to our art form.

Away from YouTube, I would highly recommend Paul Hart's work, which is fabulous and a real inspiration for me as a black and white photographer and also because he is trying to capture the same part of the UK as myself. Marc Wilson's work is also fabulous, especially his book "The Last Stand". You can find him here on Substack.

Finally I really like Amy Bateman's work and especially her Forty Farms book, where she documented Forty Farms in the English Lake District, trying to convey what it means to live and work in that landscape. There are so many more I could list but hopefully that gives people some ideas.

5. What can Substack community expect from you/your publication in the future?

I have only joined Substack this year, so its still early days for me. I love the community here, not just the photographers but also the broader creative community of artists and writers. I am still trying to find my groove but for now am publishing twice a week, a regular summary of my previous weeks photography on a Thursday and a longer written piece around a photography related subject on Sunday's. Outside of this I share photographs, general musings as I feel like it.

I guess what I am really enjoying is the ability to share my thoughts alongside my photographs, something which I don't think really comes through on other social platforms, many of which I am turning away from. I guess what I would like to achieve here is to share my photography and thought processes around that, which hopefully will resonate with some.