Photographs that Represent You

2026 is the year for creating work that reflects my personality

As a hobbyist I am afforded the luxury of wielding a camera to photograph what I want without external demands or pressures. That is to say I perhaps have the purest creative scope unencumbered by the need to deliver to a set brief, or make a living.

It therefore suggests I am representing my own personality through my photography.

You might say I am someone who is full of emotion without open expression. I am quiet, introverted and not an instant ‘hit’ - I am not going to bowl you over on first engagement.

My natural inclination is for gothic horror and high fantasy reading, heavy metal and rock music (with room for country), and motivated by analogue rather than digital. I like my coffee on the bitter end, my beer strong and whisky with a punch.

I like deep conversations. Depth of understanding is important to me. Growing and developing are traits I carry in most walks of life.

With this in mind, do I want my photography to represent flash in the pan shots of honey pot locations? Probably not.

I want to create something that triggers a person-centred response, something that can’t be measured objectively in data points. And I want it to represent me.

There’s a strong case for moody, melancholic photographs celebrating the shadows as much as the beauty of light.

It’s the darker, more subdued coated in mystery that captures my intrigue. Mystery is not revealing - less is absolutely more in this respect. What I can’t see is more stimulating than what is revealed.

My imagination can run away with my wits at times. Caressing the scene can come at the expense of technical proficiency, but if it feels right then it’s for me.

Deepness and darkness doesn’t mean loud. Quiet light is important to me - I prefer isolated moments of gentleness. Reading by the cabin fire beats the Ibiza night club.

With 2026 here, my ambitions are not a long list of things to do. I want to use my camera to create photographs that represent me.

The outputs might not always be there, but that’s alright; it’s the being in those moments that matter. If the photographs can represent me in those moments then we will sleep easy with a feeling of success.

What are your photographic aims for 2026? Will your photographs represent you?