Photographer Spotlight: Stuart Emmerson
Behind every photograph is a way of seeing a rhythm of thought, emotion, and light. Photographer Spotlight is a continuing series from The Monochrome Collective, featuring conversations with photographers who use their craft to explore the world in shades of black and white.
Each interview delves into the artist’s artistic style, creative process and the inspiration that shapes their work. From quiet studies of everyday life to ambitious documentary projects, these voices remind us that photography is not just about what is seen but about how we choose to see.
Through these spotlights, we celebrate the diversity of vision within our community the subtle, the bold, and the deeply personal illuminating the artistry that connects us all.
Today we are spotlighting UK award winning documentary photographer Stuart Emmerson.
Here is our interview:
𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗧𝗬𝗟𝗘
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆?
I have always had a keen interest in photography, growing up with father and grandfather taking photos. When I found out you could make a living from photography, it was the only thing I wanted to do.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀?
Capturing the moment.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼?
I consider myself a social documentary photographer, with a particular interest in capturing the lives of people around me from news stories for my London press work to those engaged in gentle Oxfordshire town English scenes. I also enjoy photographing landscapes.
𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼?
I don't really have a favorite photo, it varies with the themes and moments. I enjoy working on photo stories as projects. Some of the photos I am well-known for, I am not sure I would even take anymore. Styles and techniques from my time working in press, are not necessarily how I would approach my work now.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?
I feel it is important to capture emotion at an event, taking a sensitive approach when the subject needs it.
𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵?
Most of my documentary work is shot with Leica Q-P and landscape with Fuji GRX50S Mk2 with a 63mm lens.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘃𝘀. 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆?
I always shoot spontaneously.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝘀𝗲?
I don't really edit my photos other than converting them to monochrome and maybe a bit of dodge and burn.
𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆?
Digital always, because I spent my early career working with film and to deadlines. Having to process film and wire images in a sport media rooms was always challenging!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴?
I am working on improving my landscape photography.
𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆?
My inspiration around photography is wide ranging with not one stand out hero but heavy influenced by Sebastiao Salgado. In my teenage years, I watched a documentary on Tim Page, that influenced my ambition to pursue photography as a career.
If you would like to see more of Stuarts work you can find him on foto @stuartemmerson or on his website www.thewallingfordproject.com
