Picture This - A Friendly Place to Improve Your Photography

The TV participants represent some of the UK’s most exciting new digital photography talent, chosen for their postings to this website in late 2007.

They’ll go head to head during the series, stretching their creative and technical abilities in challenging photography assignments assessed by a panel of famous industry judges.

And the most talented of the bunch will go on to win the title of Britain’s best new digital photographer, getting their work published in an exclusive book and showcased in a dedicated exhibition.

You’ll get the chance to view and comment on TV participants photos in detail on this site in the New Year and they may even drop by to comment on yours in return

Read more about the TV contestants below.

Jay Mawson

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Biography

Born in Leeds 1974 - grew up in Huddersfield, Uni at York (Politics, Philosophy & Economics) then moved back to Leeds.

Short foray into hotel management before becoming a Stockbroker for 6 years (fun!) then taking a project management route. Currently Business Information Director for OCS Group UK Ltd (property services company).

I've been married to Ruth for 2 years and we have a lovely, erm, cat.

Bought my first camera in December 06 and haven't looked back.

Other interests include eating out, films and music...this complete lack of any real interests is probably why I took to photography so quickly ;)

Why did you fall in love with photography?

Photography gives me a way to show people my view of the world – what I find beautiful or interesting. One of the major pleasures is when people look at things in a different light, or with a different perspective, after looking at one of my images. The actual making of a photograph and the reaction to it from both myself and an audience are equally important to me.

What/who influences you?

Beauty, geometry and my environment are my biggest influences. When I started with photography I had no references other than images we all see everyday - mainly through films and magazines. Much of my work has a cinematic element to it. As I've become more involved I've started to devour images by other photographer through books, magazines and the internet. My influences seem to change weekly, but at the moment I'm enjoying images by Klaus Thymann.

www.thymann.com

What is your favourite photograph that you've captured and why?

My favourite photograph changes frequently - that's part of the beauty of photography. My favourite photograph is always the next one. At the moment, it's a shot titled 'I Can See For Miles & Miles' which was the result of a recent shoot I planned out from scratch and spent some time researching. My other favourites include one of the shots I took as part of Picture This (the portrait of Lucinda) and an early shot called 'Deliverance' of a crucifix and power turbines in France.

I Can See For Miles & Miles

What would your ideal photo shoot look like?

My ideal photo shoot is either of two scenarios. I still enjoy Street photography - so visiting a new city with my camera is always something I relish - not a conventional shoot, but still a legitimate setting. If I'm setting up a shot from scratch, then a shoot in a location with striking geometry, colours and people is what I favour - it's as much about the environment as the person in the photograph. I guess that's inherent in all of the shots I've mentioned as favourites above.

What is more important, creativity or technique?

You can produce technically perfect photos of the dullest subjects and they will be dull. Something I've learned recently is that blurry, hurried or badly exposed photographs can be far more exciting than the most perfect technical shot. So - to answer the question - I'd say creativity. Although it does help if you understand how a camera works...

What skills do you definitely need as a photographer?

A skill that I learned from some of the other guys on Picture This was patience. Even within Street Photography, patience is a virtue. For every 'grabbed' shot there are 10 better ones to be had by forseeing an event that might occur in a specific place. I know now that this is what photographers (since Bresson) call the Perfect Moment. A love of people also helps if that's a direction you wish to go in – people skills can be very important.

Are good pictures more the result of good planning or spontaneity?

The question spans several genres and has different answers within each. For example, in portrait photography, you can plan a shoot to the nth degree, but it's a moment of spontaneity that you're looking to capture. With Street Photography, you can plan the location, but again the moment is spontaneous. Perhaps the only shoots where spontaneity isn't an issue is andscape and product shots. Even with landscapes though, there's a moment when the sun breaks through unexpectedly. Planning can increase your chances of a good shot, but it's not a critical factor in my photography.

Illustrations of spontaneity:

Which experiences did you gain during the tv show?

Picture This actually completely changed my photography. Prior to the show, I had probably 5 images with people in them - I actively avoided shooting human subjects. As the theme of Week 1 was Portraits, I was thrown in at the deep end a little (to say the least!) with both the subject matter and the use of a studio and lighting equipment. Since then, I've rarely taken an image without a person in it, and have invested more and more in lighting equipment. At the end of the day photography is about light, and being able to understand light is key to the vast majority of photographs across any genre.

Episode 1

View Jay's profile

Jay Mawson's Projects

Self-Portrait

Self Portrait

Uploaded on 10/12/2007

28 comments

1 Versions

Documentary

Walk On The Wild Side

Uploaded on 10/01/2008

5 comments

1 Versions

My Passion: A Personal Project

I Can See For Miles & Miles

Uploaded on 12/01/2008

8 comments

1 Versions

Decay

Walk. Don't Walk.

Uploaded on 23/01/2008

4 comments

1 Versions

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Please leave a helpful comment here. When you give feedback make sure you let people know exactly what is great about their photo as well what does not work for you, always include useful suggestions on how the photo could be improved.

lucinda.chua said...

it was my first full day back in the uk and channel 4 had been down my neck getting me to create an account! i've been left out of the participant section though?!

Posted on 29/12/2007 19:26

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J L M said...

I noticed that - thought you'd done something really really bad ;)

Posted on 02/01/2008 16:59

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timemaker said...

Love the self-portrait, nicely framed. I was impressed with your comment on leaving the show. You can use this experience as a stepping stone. I like the silhouette, makes you wonder what the girl is chatting about to her friend. All the best.

Posted on 07/01/2008 11:40

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-D.A.M.I.E.N- said...

i watch the show yesterday and i was very sad about the result....you deserve to pass.kind regards

Posted on 08/01/2008 00:00

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fresco3000 said...

Sorry to see you exit the show, judges are a tad full of it. I had you down as a winner. Keep it up : )

Posted on 09/01/2008 15:13

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louisehunt said...

You were the last person I ever expected to leave the show!!! absolutely shockin!! don't know how half of them got on the show as ( the most upcoming photographers??????) did anyone actually go around and look at students portfolios??.........who knows....... perhaps I missed something during my education. Hey just remember you didn't deserve that but use it as a positive to push forward and suceed and prove them wrong!

Posted on 09/01/2008 15:50

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knicknac said...

I also picked you out as a sure thing to continue on the show, to be honest i'm a bit mystified at the result!

Posted on 10/01/2008 17:04

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Paul Collins1 said...

J, just want to say,I feel the judges got it wrong,I thought your photographs were better than some still in there,I thought you had a nice style,and manor about you, I really like the picture of the small lads having ice cream, you did well. Paul

Posted on 10/01/2008 21:18

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J L M said...

It was good experience and I had the time of my life - I'll leave it at that :) Besides, where the hell is Michelle McManus these days? (thanks for the support & time taken to comment - and you're damn right hehe)

Posted on 11/01/2008 23:38

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kjhart8 said...

I agree, the image of the 2 boys was excellent. k

Posted on 12/01/2008 10:45

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rovingricey said...

I agree with the people above, I was sad that you weren't chosen to stay in the programme for longer. I thought the picture of the two kids in Brighton was really good. I wish you lots of luck with your photography and hope 2008 brings you the creative satisfaction you obviously deserve.

Posted on 13/01/2008 18:45

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Snorkiesnork! said...

Thankyou for the kind comments on my portrait, if you want to see more I have a website. I thought your Brighton pictures were the best on the first episode, I also agree with what seems to be the mass opinion that you should have been in the next round. I think it sends the wrong message out to not send anyone without a formal qualification in photography through to the next round, as I believe an eye for an image cannot be learnt. Joy recognised this, I would respect her opinion a lot. At least you had the chance to be mentored by her for a while, and you seem to have taken the whole experience onboard and taken it all in good spirit and I’m sure you will do well in the future.

Posted on 14/01/2008 01:16

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Snorkiesnork! said...

Thankyou for the kind comments on my portrait, if you want to see more I have a website. I thought your Brighton pictures were the best on the first episode, I also agree with what seems to be the mass opinion that you should have been in the next round. I think it sends the wrong message out to not send anyone without a formal qualification in photography through to the next round, as I believe an eye for an image cannot be learnt. Joy recognised this, I would respect her opinion a lot. At least you had the chance to be mentored by her for a while, and you seem to have taken the whole experience onboard and taken it all in good spirit and I’m sure you will do well in the future.

Posted on 14/01/2008 01:39

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