This month we are delighted to introduce Ben Harvey - photographer, qualified architect, and friend of The Grain Store Lewes. Ben graciously took the time to answer a few questions that we have been really excited to ask.

Read on for Ben’s honest and inspiring answers to our most pressing questions.

Can you start by telling us a little about your background and how you initially became involved in photography?

I first found photography when I started studying architecture at university, as we have to superimpose our designs into contextual photographs. I spent what little money I had on a digital camera and started to learn how to use it and well as digital manipulation using photoshop. That was around 20 years ago.

I really started to become obsessed around 2010 when I was asked to photograph a friend's wedding, and me being me I was going to do it properly or not at all!

If you want the longer version of this then watch this video, as it is the only video that I have made about 'why' I take photographs.

Am I addicted to Photography?

You have done so much beautiful work, do you have a favourite project that you have photographed?

I have quite a varied portfolio, and that is down to the fact that I don't rely upon my photography for an income. I therefore get to choose what I photograph, experiment with new techniques and work at my own pace. I enjoy landscapes and architecture most, and it gets me out of the house and exploring new places.

If I had to choose one project then it would be fine art architecture and it is a combination of photography and digital manipulation, which allows you to create a complete unique image through the editing process.

Fine Art — Ben Harvey Photography

How do you prepare for a shoot? and what is the first thing you do when you arrive on site?

If we take a real estate photoshoot for example, maybe a building that I have designed, then I will consider the weather and direction of light first of all. Typically I will shoot within the first and last hour of the day, as well as at twilight, when the interior and exterior lights really dominate the scene.

When I first arrive at a property I usually have to tidy up something, remove clutter, polish the windows / shower screens etc as photographs have a tendency to emphasis imperfections. I have a printed shot list so that I stay on track and I can prioritise if time or light is limited.

Following a shoot, what takes place, before the images are ready to publish?

If it is a commercial shoot then I have to deliver the photographs quickly, perhaps because the property is going on the market. Whereas my personal work there can be weeks sometimes month between taking the photograph and sharing them. This is a deliberate decision, so that I can remove the emotional attachment from the photos.

If I go out at sunrise, climb a bit hill and it is -3 degrees, when I get home I won't want to 'throw away' any of those hard earned photos. At the time the majority of the photos will be keepers. If you look at the photos with a fresh set of eyes one month later, it is much easier to see which images should be shared.

Is there a particular message, feeling or sense that you want your images to convey?

Most of my landscape photography I would say it quite close to how it looked to my eyes. I enjoy shooting long exposures, which is not representative of what we see, but my editing I would say is subtle, and generally I want my photos to have a natural look to them.

If you can tell us ..... what are you currently working on and what is influencing your work?

I have recently started a project called 'the prime challenge' which is simply heading out with one camera and a fixed focal length. In some ways this can be easier than using a zoom lens, as you have less options, but it also makes you work harder to find compositions that suit that fixed lens.