Jon Nicholson how I work, and what I use.

I was first introduced to Jon Nicholson when he came to our college to discuss his work and life within photography.Not only was he a fantastic orator and photographer, but he was also lovely and very approachable man, only to willing to answer any questions that were thrown at him by the very interested audience.

As part of the brief about finding out about the creative process of a photographer we admire, his was one of the first names I thought of.I contacted Jon explaining who I was, and what I was doing as part of the course at a college he had visited no so long ago(2019).Using his links with one of our tutors(Fiona)as an ice breaker,I then proceeded to ask my questions, awaiting his response.

Later the same day,I received the answers to my questions (with the added bonus of if I had any further questions, he would be more than happy to reply and answer them for me).

My fist question was How do you generate ideas?

His response was, they come on their own really, it's a combination of what I feel and what is going on around me, and how to turn that into a picture.

How do you develop your idea's?

The best way is to going and take pictures, and see if you can translate the idea into a story or set of images.The more you take pics, the more you will know if the idea is strong or noter you may need to revisit it in the future.

What are your working methods and processes?

Umm..on big projects I take a lot of time to think of the output.Only then can I know what style or cameras I will use.On short stuff, it depends on weathered I shoot black and white or not.Recently I have been out mountain biking, taking a camera with me, and see what's what, especially during the pandemic asI have been going nuts!! Portraits are different,I have to know a lot about the person to be able to show them how they feel at ease.

I use photo-mechanic to edit and organise images, and then photoshop.I also use the NIK software plug in especially with black and white.I have a Leica monochrome which only shoots b/w,but always think how will it look in print.

Do you go through set stages or do they vary?

Pretty much the same.

What is your favourite subject for taking images of?

Again that varies on how I feel.The woods and landscapes are very calming, but I am a photojournalist at heart ,so travelling and big issues are for me.

What equipment do you use?

LeicaMP240 and monochrome, with 35mm and 50mm,28mm and 90mm.Nikon Z7 with 35mm,50mm and 24-70mm.Hasselblad film camera,8x10 plate camera and 4x5 plate. Mamlya 6x9 film camera with 65mm lens.I mix my Leica lenses with the Nikon Z7,so I get the increased file size but Leica quality(I also have a 1950 Leica lens which I put on my Nikon with adaptors).

What is your favourite, most used camera?

Leica monochrome

Do you still love doing what you do?

Yes I do, Photography is a life thing, it's not about the money so much, but how I see things ,although the buisness is tough and will get tougher after the virus.People don't see the importance of an image so much now.

Do you still

take your camera everywhere you go, and just snap something that catches your eye on an average day?

Most of the time, you never know what's going to happen and if I didn't have it,I'd have to use my phone(which I did a few days ago, and I got an amazing picture)