Interview Urban
Colin Templeton
Photographer Colin Templeton photographs serene everyday scenes with strong but elegant compositions that truly resonate with me.
Tell us a little about your background – what path led you to becoming a photographer, and to doing what you’re doing today?
I was given a camera for my 11th birthday. I went out and photographed everything I could. I wasn’t very good, but I was immediately hooked.
What does photography mean to you?
Photography is very important to me. I do paid work, but I also take pictures for myself. If I get to be an old man, I want to look back on work that means something to me.
What led you to the type of work you’re making now?
I got a lucky break shooting football matches for The Sun newspaper. I have zero interest in football, but it opened a door for me.
Tell us about your first camera
My first camera was a Kodak Pocket A1 camera. It was a small plastic instamatic type, which took 110 cartridge film. A couple of years later, I switched to a 35mm SLR, and the upgrade in picture quality was remarkable.
Which other photographers, designers, artists or creative people are you loving at the moment?
I can never get enough of the work of Stephen Shore and William Eggleston. To see the world the way they do, it kind of blows my mind. They make it look easy, and of course it’s not. With Stephen Shore’s work - especially Uncommon Places - I want to step into his pictures and wander around.
© Pictures by Colin Templeton