What railway photography means to me
In addition to my writing for newspapers and magazines, I also work as a photojournalist and run a picture library, marketing my own images. The style of the images within the library vary from classic 3/4 views to creative and people centric photographs – able to serve the requests of every picture researcher. I also carry out commissioned photography. Link to picture library Here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathanwebb/
I will, and often do, spend ten plus hours on a station, mainly making candid pictures of passengers and staff, where the train plays a supporting role, along with the more 3/4 classic views of trains. The 70-200mm lens has now become my ‘standard’ lens for such work – the compression really appeals to me. Last month I spent two full days at Stafford station – pictures will be uploaded in due course – making approximately 1,000 pictures. One of my favourites was staff helping tourists unload luggage from a CrossCountry Voyager.
Rail photography is about impact. I love the work of Ogle Winston Link, Colin Garratt, Peter Cavalier and Hans Steeneken . I hate the over processed computer look –preferring to shoot as much as I can in the camera. My best selling ‘ Funny Thing Happened on the Train’ books are not only packed with unfiltered stories – some very graphic! – about railway life, but also Illustrated with the style of candid images that show trains in the context of their surroundings. These include people reading books on Clapham Junction’s platforms, as their train is seen approaching in the distance, passengers reduced to a blur as they rush for their train at Paddington, a lady in a stunning red dress as she makes her way to a Grand Central class 180 at London King’s Cross, a passenger lost in her thoughts at Crewe station before she catches an Avanti West Coast service and a passenger scrolling on their mobile as a West Midlands Railway class 323 rounds the bend into the station. Links to books here: https://www.chimewhistle.co.uk/shop/p/afunnythinghappenedonthetraintothemidlands and https://www.chimewhistle.co.uk/shop/p/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-train-to-london Both are to be printed shortly and there are very few unreserved slots in the 1,000 print run, so if you don’t want to miss out you need to order now!
When it comes to commissions I’m pretty easy going, but I don’t like being forced into a straight jacket – I have to have freedom to do things my way. While I will follow a brief, I’ll also give the client my own interpretation too – an added bonus for the client!
I don’t like working with professional models – they don’t suit my style. Stereotypical professional models don’t look ‘right’ because they have standard ways of standing and holding themselves. When I do PR photography work for railway companies, I will find willing passengers to photograph. This can be time consuming, but the pictures have a warmth and naturalness that one just doesn’t get with professional models, with their fake smiles and laughter. One can spot a shoot using professional models from a million miles away – and that’s not a compliment!
Winning a photography award is something that many aspire to, but just how meaningful is it if the photographer has to pay to enter? To me it’s nothing more than a vanity award , where the person entering is the product. A meaningful award is one where not only is there free entry, but where one is judged by one’s peers. Pay to play awards are utterly meaningless in comparison.