GILES PENFOUND | ASSOCIATE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

 

In Neale’s words

I’ve known Giles for a number of years and have a huge amount of respect for his work as a documentary photographer. Creatively drawn by the indubitable candor of his war and conflict documentary work of the past, I am genuinely thrilled and equally honoured that Giles should become my first Associate Photographer. I’m mindful that clients recognise the decision to see our working relationship as that of associates. We are undoubtedly our own people photographically.

In Giles’ words

“We all write too much, speak too much, preach too much. It would be better if we just said what we have to say in photography. After all, we are photographers; if our work has ‘what it takes’ it will not need the embalming of words to perpetuate it.”
Ansel Adams

There are two distinct parts to my life each vitally important and without which, I just couldn’t survive. Now while this may seem to most somewhat melodramatic I can assure you it is true. My wife and daughters are without doubt my bedrock, greatest achievement, truest passion and the keepers of my heart but it is photography that occupies my soul.

It’s all too easy to say one is passionate about something, and indeed it’s become a prerequisite of any photographer to say as much without perhaps truly believing in the meaning of the words. For me photography goes beyond passion with my own photographic practice being more than a job, a hobby or a pastime; it is who I truly am and it defines me. I see this wonderful world I live in as a series of connected still images each one I create being a greater attempt than the last to tell the story better.

At heart I am a documentary photographer. Essentially I tell stories but specifically visual stories, which are a reaction to the world I inhabit. I make no claim of ‘truth’ just the honesty and integrity of the visual story without intended deception or hidden artifice.

Some of the greatest influences of my life have been my experiences as a war photographer in Bosnia and Iraq as well as having the privilege of working alongside some truly remarkable photographers such as Roger Allen, Gilles Perres, Chris Morris and Matt Timbers to name but a few. I have always had an unconditional love affair with Leica cameras, particularly the M6 and am without doubt a ‘Mac freak.’

Joining forces with Neale James as an Associate Photographer was for me an opportunity not to be missed. Neale is a truly inspiring photo documentarian with a great passion for the art and a beautiful eye for the detail of a story. I believe we share a common ethos about wedding photography that it should all be about the subject and not the photographer.

In an attempt to hold true to the words of the great Ansel Adams I will spare you any further written explanation of who I am and direct you to my images, for they speak far more eloquently of who and what I am than I ever could.