{"id":8700,"date":"2013-08-19T11:36:00","date_gmt":"2013-08-19T10:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amateurphotographer.co.uk\/uncategorized\/a-man-of-many-arts-reader-profile-scott-hills-8700"},"modified":"2014-10-22T14:31:08","modified_gmt":"2014-10-22T13:31:08","slug":"a-man-of-many-arts-reader-profile-scott-hills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/a-man-of-many-arts-reader-profile-scott-hills\/","title":{"rendered":"A Man of Many Arts – Reader Profile – Scott Hills"},"content":{"rendered":"

Image Above: \u2018Playing with silhouettes’.Scott tried these using the Wi-Fi on the camera to link to his phone, turning it into a remote Sony NEX-5R<\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

A Man of Many Arts – Reader Profile – Scott Mills<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

\n <\/img>\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n As a firefighter, mixed martial arts enthusiast and lens collector, how does AP reader Scott Hills find time to take photos as well? Debbi Allen finds out<\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

It can be difficult for most of us to find the time to get out and take photographs, but for AP reader Scott Hills this is something of an understatement. Scott’s busy schedule is taken up first and foremost by his job as a firefighter. \u2018I’ve been doing the job for nearly five years now, and for me it’s the best job in the world,’ he says. \u2018I genuinely look forward to going to work every day. Well, apart from bonfire night!’ Away from his career, Scott also enjoys mixed martial arts and Thai boxing – sports he’d like to get further involved in through his photography. <\/p>\n

When he does have time to spend on his photography, Scott not only switches between genres, but he’s also started to dabble in film as well as digital: \u2018I’ve collected a few film cameras and would maybe one day like to learn how to develop my own photos,’ he says.<\/p>\n

From The Start <\/img><\/h3>\n

Image Above: \u2018Union Canal’. Scott says he went to see the colourful arches,
\n but they didn’t turn the lights on! \u2028Fujifilm FinePix S100FS<\/em> <\/p>\n

Living in Scotland, Scott believes his passion for photography started when he first learned to drive a car. \u2018I was able to get up to the Scottish Highlands on my days off,’ he explains. \u2018I couldn’t believe the scenery and atmosphere up there and wanted to share what I was experiencing.’From here, Scott started to teach himself the art. He read books and magazines, joined the AP forum and discovered techniques through \u2018trial and error’.<\/p>\n

Picking up a copy of AP for the first time in 2012, Scott found inspiration within. \u2018The software tutorials are a great resource for me, as are the photographic technique ones,’ he says. \u2018I also like the camera reviews and Photo Insight is a good source of inspiration.’ <\/p>\n

Like most amateur photographers, Scott finds that feedback is especially
\n important for improving his photography. \u2018The appraisal gallery on the
\nforum has been extremely beneficial to me, and I really appreciate the
\nadvice and critique I get from the other forum members there,’ he says.
\n\u2018Essentially, it’s a free education in photography!’ <\/p>\n

\n <\/img>\n <\/p>\n

\n Image Above: Opheodrys aestivus, commonly known as the rough green snake, is a non-venomous North American snakeSony NEX-5R <\/em>\n <\/p>\n

Taking photos with his phone, Scott soon discovered that he’d need to invest in some new kit if he wanted to progress his hobby, so he bought a Fujifilm FinePix S100FS bridge camera, which was recommended by an AP forum member. From this, Scott has progressed to a Sony NEX-5R compact system camera, as it was able to accept a huge range of old legacy lenses via appropriate adapters. \u2018I like the fact I can use almost all the old legacy lenses with the NEX system,’ he says. \u2018It helps me get lens quality I wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.’<\/p>\n

This is a feature Scott is making full use of, having so far collected 14 lenses, including Yashica, Konica and Mamiya models (see below for the full list). \u2018My favourite lens has to be an old manual OM Zuiko 50mm f\/1.8,’ says Scott. \u2018It is sharp, compact and well built. I find myself using this lens more than any other.’<\/p>\n

Eclectic tastes
\n<\/h3>\n

\n <\/img>
\n Image Right: Taken at the Edge Martial Arts Edinburgh Open, at Meadowbank Stadium, July 2013Sony NEX-5R<\/em>\n <\/p>\n

Although Scott cites sport and macro as two of his favourite things to shoot, like most amateur photographers he’ll basically photograph anything he can. \u2018I really do enjoy photography and like how I can combine it with lots of other interests,’ he says. \u2018I like taking photos ranging from everyday street scenes to abandoned mental asylums. I also like sports and macro photography but find these much more challenging. I’m on a limited budget for lenses, which makes macro and sport difficult as I tend to use old fast manual primes to help freeze the action, and clip on macro filters and extension tubes to \u2028get in close.’<\/p>\n

Scott continues: \u2018Even though I find it the most challenging, I’d say macro is the most rewarding for me. Some of my favourite photos are close-ups of spiders or other small creatures because I know the effort and patience it took me to get the shot.’<\/p>\n

Talking about his landscape shots, Scott admits he’s pretty lucky to be living in an exceptionally beautiful part of the world, which makes it a little easier for him to take landscape photos. \u2018I feel like I am cheating half the time as some of the places I visit are so scenic that if you get the basics right it’s hard to go wrong,’ says Scott. \u2018Good light always helps, and I think the fact that I’m usually out climbing Munros or exploring places off the beaten path makes getting interesting shots easier.’<\/p>\n

Although he loves shooting near his home, Scott is also ambitious to jet off and document other lands, and says he’d love to visit Bulgaria. \u2018I like places with atmosphere: Mount Buzludzha in Bulgaria has an abandoned communist headquarters and monument at the peak, which looks like something from another world,’ he adds. \u2018Chernobyl and Pripyat [in Ukraine] are also places that appeal to me. The thought that thousands of people up and left in a matter of days and allowed nature to reclaim the cities would make for some great photographs.’<\/p>\n

Scott has this tip for creating great images within cityscapes and tourist areas: \u2018If I find something I like the look of, such as an empty lane, a tunnel or stairs, I like to wait for someone to walk into the shot. I’ll usually compose the shot so they are on a third and use them as a focal point.’<\/p>\n

Forward thinking
\n<\/h3>\n

\n <\/img>
\n Image Above: Self-portrait\u2028Sony NEX-5R<\/em>\n <\/p>\n

With a job that keeps him busy and many hobbies to vie for his attention, Scott isn’t too preoccupied with turning professional. \u2018I worry that if I had to take photos of something, I might not enjoy it as much,’ he says. However, his lack of desire to achieve professional status doesn’t mean a lack of ambition, as there’s still plenty that Scott would like to achieve with his photography. \u2018I would like to get into some mixed martial arts events or boxing\/Thai boxing shows,’ he adds. \u2018I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to get good results with my current set-up, so I think I’d need to invest in some new gear.’<\/p>\n

Having already used his photography to gain free entry to the local Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions in return for some of his shots, Scott has had a taste of the commercial side of photography. \u2018I’ve also been asked to do three weddings, which I’ve had to turn down,’ he says. \u2018I’m under no illusions how much work is involved in a professional wedding shoot, and I know I’ve got a lot to learn before I tackle something like that!’<\/p>\n

Behind the scenes<\/h3>\n

<\/img>Image Above: Glaswegian jumping spider, Scott says he has taken lots of photos of this \u2018little guy’ on his Flickr page (see below) Fujifilm FinePix S100FS<\/em> <\/p>\n

\u2018Jumping spiders like the sun, so you’re more likely to find them on south-facing walls on bright sunny days,’ says Scott. \u2018I found this one on a canal-bridge wall in Glasgow in late August. She was about eye-level on top of the wall when I saw her, but by the time I got my camera ready she had wandered over to the south face. I pulled myself up and hung over the bridge wall to see a 40ft drop on the other side! The spider was still there so I quickly got it in the frame of my Fujifilm FinePix S100FS (with a Raynox DCR-150 lens attached). Because of the Raynox I lost autofocus, but it kept the auto-exposure settings so I could just concentrate on focusing. As soon as she turned to face me, I took a burst of raw images while moving the focal plane across the spider, hoping for at least one sharp shot of her eyes.’<\/p>\n

With a strong collection of photos taken in limited free time, on both
\nthe AP gallery and via his Flickr page, Scott is an inspiration to any
\namateur photographer who claims not to have the time to take more
\nphotos, and he has this advice to fellow amateurs. \u2018Just enjoy it, and
\ntry to combine photography with other interests you have,’ he says. \u2018I
\nalways find I take better pictures if the subject is something I’m
\ninterested in. Get posting in the appraisal gallery on the AP forums as
\nwell. That was and still is a huge benefit to me.’ <\/p>\n

Scott’s favourite photo<\/h3>\n

<\/img>
\nImage Above: Somewhere I shouldn’t be, Shots like this show how good the Sony is in low-light situations \u2028Sony NEX-5R<\/em> <\/p>\n

\u2018I took this photo
\n in an abandoned Second World War air-raid shelter near where I grew
\nup,’ says Scott. \u2018I didn’t plan it out very well as I forgot to take a
\ntorch or a tripod. I had to wander through some pitch-black tunnels
\nusing my pre-focusing light to see. There was a dead sheep that I had to
\n navigate round, but I got the shot I was after even though it was
\nhandheld.’<\/p>\n

<\/img>Scott’s lenses<\/h2>\n

Scott uses his Sony NEX-5R with the following new and legacy lenses to achieve his photos.<\/p>\n