Laowagrapher
Dolomites in the summer rain
Name: Robert Beasley
Location: Oxford, UK
Number of years as a photographer: 8
Which kind of photography do you specialize in?
Landscape, Architecture and Street
What camera(s) are you using?
Lumix S1, Lumix GH5, DJI Mavic Air 2 and on occasions iPhone 11 Pro
Oxford based photographer and videographer by day, explorer and international pizza taster by night’. Whether it’s exploring a new city at night from street level, in the middle of an electrical storm high up in the mountains, or out on a long walk with my wife; the biggest buzz I get from photography, is in that split second I spot a composition I like, bring the camera viewfinder up to my eye, draw a deep breath like a sniper lining up their target and make that moment permanent by firing the shutter.
lens: Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D
How did you start photography?
Documenting the world around me in some form or another has always been close to my heart; as a kid I would sketch through pad upon pad of paper and the occasional wall (sorry Mum & Dad); Many years later I completed my University degree in traditional hand drawn and stop-motion animation; where I met my wife @nicolabeasleycreative who was studying photography at the time; I became her photographic “padawan”- ‘teach me the ways of the camera she did’, since then I haven’t been able to shake the habit.
Whose works had inspired you the most?
Purely for his fun approach to photography and the range of things he shoots – @petermckinnon
For breathtaking cityscapes and his unreal edits @6stops
lens: Laowa 7.5mm f/2 MFT
What is the most rewarding part of being a photographer?
Photography is an absolute blessing for me; I find it gives me an opportunity to allow myself to pause for a moment, to truly take in and appreciate my surroundings before even getting the camera or drone out of the bag. There are so many rewards (along with health benefits!) to taking photos, the places it takes you, the friends you create along the wayand the memories you’re able to make permanent.
Are there any tips you can give to new photographers?
1 – SHOOT, SHOOT, SHOOT! When you’re starting out in photography the important thing is to get the general principals to become second nature; you want your hands to have muscle memory with your chosen camera, know where all the buttons are and how it works, again without having to overthink it.
2 – Take the time to know your camera (whether it’s your phone, a compact, mirrorless or DSLR) , lenses and settings inside out (Sounds boring but read the manual!)
3 – Don’t be afraid of “copying” images – learning how an image was captured and then being able to reproduce that with the correct settings for yourself is an amazing and fast way of early development. Once you’ve got that down you can start adding your own spin to shots.
lens: Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D
Share one of your favorite photo
It is the photo that taken with Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D when I was in New York.
Share your memorable experiences with 12mm f/2.8
The whole experience of shooting my first visit to New York in 2020 with the Laowa 12mm f2.8 Zero-D was something I’ll never forget. The ultra wide perspective it offered really allowed me to capture the scenes and the architecture of the city, whilst also replicating that epic sense of perspective and awe I had looking up at these monuments I’d seen in countless movies and tv shows. Watching the sunset over Manhattan from the Top of the Rockefeller Center was incredible… hopefully I can return soon, with Laowa lens in hand!
What photographers would you recommend this lens to?
Anyone! I’ve shot landscapes, portraits, interior and exterior architecture with this lens and seen some incredible astrophotography taken with it, which I’m eager to try out for myself! I urge any photographer or videographer finding themselves in a bit of a creative rut to try out a Laowa lens (not just the 12mm) have some fun, view unique perspectives and change the way you see the world! If you’re anything like me, it’ll help reinvigorate your passion for photography and bring your work on leaps and bounds!
Original article can be found over on Laowa’s website here.