Image above: Ullswater © Jon Gibbs
Jon Gibbs is a UK landscape photographer and gallery owner who focuses on his local Norfolk coastline. He shares his dream photographic project and why he takes less images now than he used to. We put him in the OP spotlight.
Outdoor Photography: Hello! First of all please introduce yourself: tell us the type of pictures you like to take and how you first got into photography.
Jon Gibbs: I’m a professional landscape photographer and co-owner of a photography gallery. I got back into photography at the turn of the millennium after being a keen photographer in my late teens.
Image above: Marsco, Skye © Jon Gibbs
OP: How often are you able to get out there and photograph, and is there a particular location you normally go to?
JG: I go out as often as possible but a lot less than I used to. Being a full-time photographer means I can be more selective about where and when I choose to make images – it’s true to say I used to make far too many images. I love to photograph my local Norfolk coast though my photographic heart is in the north west of Scotland.
OP: What are you working on at the moment?
JG: I’ve recently started to regularly photograph a lovely location in the Norfolk Broads I hadn’t visited for years, it’s become a bit of a mini project. Aside from that I am always trying to make better images of the Norfolk coast.
OP: Where do you find your inspiration?
JG: The simplest thing to say is in the outside world.
OP: What’s your dream photography project?
JG: I’m obsessed with beaches and beautiful dune systems; we have so many stunning examples in the UK. My dream would be to produce a lovely large format book with this as the subject matter.
Image above: Holkham Bay
OP: Is there one thing in particular you think would improve your photography?
JG: I have a constant desire to see and photograph as much as possible of the UK and I believe I make my best images when I’m away from home; a few more pennies in my pocket to enable me to travel more would be a big help!
OP: What do you think is hot right now in the photography world?
JG: I’m not interested in what is trendy in the photographic world. Unfortunately the internet and social media puts pressure on people to visit certain locations or buy the latest bit of kit but for me photography is about beautiful experiences in the outside world.
OP: Where do you see your photography in five years time?
JG: In terms of business I hope I can remain a professional photographer and still enjoy making images. At present I’m really enjoying running group workshops, so I hope that is something that I can build upon in the next few years.
Image above: Winterton © Jon Gibbs
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