Brian Duffy
© Brian Duffy
Brian is a street and portrait photographer based in Hertfordshire. Originally from Glasgow, he moved to London in 1989 and now lives in Sawbridgeworth, a small friendly town on the border with Essex.
His interest in photography began at school when his art teacher started a lunchtime camera club. Sadly, this folded after a few weeks due to a lack of interest but despite this, a spark was ignited that grew into a passion for photography. A few years later Brian bought his first “proper” camera; a Vivitar V3000S with a 50mm f1.7 lens and taught himself through magazines, books, constant practice and many mistakes.
Brian now shoots with Canon and Fuji equipment, using Canon EOS 5D MkIV, Fujifilm X-T5 and Fujifilm X100V.
When taking portraits, Brian looks to capture his subject in direct eye contact with the camera to create a strong, engaging, and personal connection between the subject and the viewer.
Brian photographs in both colour and black and white, depending on the subject and the mood he is looking to convey and is comfortable shooting in both natural light and flash. With flash he tends to use simple lighting setups, with one or two lights.
Brian recently completed an HND in Photography and is currently studying for a BA(Hons) Degree in Photography through the British Academy of Photography.
© Brian Duffy
London Photo Show Exhibition
What inspired you to curate this particular collection of photographs for your exhibition?
Over the last couple of years, I have been developing my portrait photography skills. Working with the Urban Photographers Club gave me an opportunity to exhibit some of my street portraits.
Could you share some insights into the creative process behind these photographs?
These are examples of how I have taken myself out of my comfort zone in terms of street photography by approaching people in the street and simply asking if I could take their portraits. I wanted to capture the subject’s character and environment such as these shots of a trendily dressed man in Brick Lane, East London and a woman at a rally in London’s Trafalgar Square.
What emotions or messages do you hope viewers will take away from experiencing your exhibition?
The saying goes that the eyes are the window to the soul and my intention in using direct eye contact is to focus on the subject, creating a strong, engaging and more personal connection between the individual and the viewer.
Are there any specific stories or moments from your photography that you would like to highlight in this exhibition?
My portrait photography is developing but I already see a style where I use strong direct eye contact to engage the viewer.
How do you see your photography evolving in the future, and how might that influence your future exhibitions?
I have recently completed an HND in Photography and am working towards a BA(Hons) Degree in Photography. The course, alongside portrait and lighting workshops, has allowed me to develop my portrait and lighting skills and I am looking forward to developing my skills and exhibiting more of my work in the future.
What has been your experience with UPC in regard to this exhibition?
The UPC introduced me to the opportunity to exhibit at the LPS 2023. The support has been excellent with regular meetings and discussions on social media groups and was my encouragement to exhibit again in 2024.
© Brian Duffy