The beautiful and often thought-provoking photography of Benjamin Nwaneampeh is a sight for sore eyes. Crammed with subtle detail and moody colours it’s hard not to be impressed by his work.
We caught up with him to talk creating, career highlights, future projects and he reveals what he’s always wanted to tell the world.
Tell us a little bit about yourself…
I’m a portrait and lifestyle photographer, and I started out in street photography but then I realised quickly my strength was in capturing people. I like to create an artistic image of the people I take pictures of so it’s not just a normal portrait. For me it’s about storytelling, so the viewer will think about what they are looking at.
I currently do photography on a part-time basis, I’m also a software developer.
That’s quite a contrast, software developing and photography. How did you get into the arts?
I’ve always loved art, so I kind of grew into it. When I started shooting I started out going around capturing things I saw on the way to work, and like I said street photography. But the camera I had was very big so it was a pain carrying it around. So I got a Fuji camera which was much smaller and it worked better for me. I could carry it everywhere with me without being restricted.
Now I always have a camera with me.
My wife has been a big support in terms of me getting my work out there. She encouraged me to post them online and that’s how I started to build a following.
What’s the most memorable thing you’ve captured and why?
I was on my way back from work, it was raining as usual it’s London (laughs). But I was at the bus stop and saw the lighting was beautiful, so many different tones and shadows, people with their umbrellas up and there was just something special about it, so I took a picture through the glass. That’s been one of my favourite pictures to date.
How would you describe your work?
I would describe it as artsy. I started using this hashtag ‘tell stories make art’. I want to tell stories with my photography.
When did you realise that photography was your talent?
When people started appreciating it (laughs). I mean it’s special when people connect with your art, it means a lot because it’s not just me enjoying it. But I still do it for me – even if nobody was to see it I’d still shoot.
What’s been your career highlight so far?
Interacting with the people I shoot and being able to show them in a different light through my work by expressing a characteristic with art. That continues to be a career highlight for me.
I have shot weddings and stuff and that was amazing too, but I’d say street art and portraits are the best because you meet so many people.
I love the way they respond when they see my pictures.
How do you choose your subjects?
It’s all about choosing someone who stands out. If they have certain mannerisms or a different style. Someone that will make you look at a picture for a long time. Someone whose face you’ll remember.
Who would you love to capture (dead or alive)?
It would be great to photograph someone famous and would definitely love the opportunity to do so, but it’s about telling a story and making art, rather than whether the person is famous or not.
I’ll probably say I would have loved to photograph my Dad and Grandad.
What can we look forward to seeing from you?
More portraits, lifestyle and fashion.
If you could tell the world one thing what would it be…
Tell stories, make art.
Twitter: @bnwaneampeh
Instagram: @bnwaneampeh