Viewfinder: Ben Ingram

Viewfinder: Ben Ingram

We’re excited to re-introduce Tens Viewfinder; a series where we shine a spotlight on the photographers and filmmakers who inspire us. It’s all about stepping behind the lens and hearing the stories that shape their work.

First up is Ben Ingram, a UK-based photographer. We chatted with Ben about how he got started, what draws him to natural light and real moments, and why slowing down helps him create images that actually feel like something. Let’s get into it.

What's your story?

I studied Media Production as a Bachelor's degree, and during my time at university, I was introduced into so many different avenues that the media industry could offer - from programming, to lighting installations, to assistant producers on a film set. The choice was somewhat overwhelming, however I found that even amongst the sea of all the options, I kept coming back to how much joy I got with a camera in my hand. Throughout my 3 years at university, I kept honing in on my craft at using cameras to make photos and videos, and then by 2021, I decided to ignore all the career pathways that were suggested by my lecturers, and start my own business as a photographer and videographer. Now, 4 years later, I'm still going strong.

Tell us about 5 of your favourite images



Durdle Door, Dorset

The story behind each of these photographs is unique, because each photo is from a different place, and period along my photography journey. In this shot of Durdle Door, I took this photo on the day that I quit my job to become a full time self-employed photographer - so this photo will always mark a bit of a waypoint for me as the point in my life that I started being a freelancer, and making my life the way I wanted it to be. Not only does it hold that sentimental value, but it also just has a nostalgic summer feel to it, with the contrasting of the blue sea and sky, with the bright yellows of the beach and the rock, telling a story with the kayakers enjoying a day out, all those elements coming together really make it a favourite of my back catalogue.

 

Cloud Inversions, Madeira

The cloud inversion at the very top of Madeira is another shot that is always going to be a favourite of mine, because it was my first ever trip abroad with my camera. I travelled to Madeira with another photographer for 3 days, and it truly sparked my love for travel, as well as adding even more fuel to the fire for my passion for photography. In many ways, not only does this photo remind me of how giddy I was being up in the Madeira mountains, but it also feels like the start of my love for exploring, travelling and documenting new places.

 


Glimering Ocean, Gran Canaria

This is one of my most recent favourite photos, it was taken on a simple point and shoot film camera, on a very bright day in Gran Canaria. It's a very simple composition of some steps leading down into the ocean, but the way it was rendered on film with the starburst halations over the glimmering sunlight in the water, as well as the rich blues and yellows, really creates a nostalgic summer feel to the image. I love how it evokes so much feeling, even though it was taken on a 34 year old film camera. It goes to show that having expensive gear is not everything in photography.

 

Amlafi Coast, Italy

Back in 2023, I remember seeing a video of someone riding a vespa through Amalfi, on the Amalfi Coast of Italy, and I literally booked flights to take photos there based on that one video I was recommended by Instagram. Walking around at Positano, one of the prettiest places I've ever been, let alone in Italy, with my camera at golden hour, was certainly a top 3 photography moment for me. Could it have been the copious amounts of pizza, cannolis and birra moretti in my system? Or just the fact that everywhere I pointed the camera looked amazing? This photo always stands out to me as an image that I constantly wish I could transport myself back into.

 


View from Cafe, Swiss Alps

Also in 2023, I travelled to the Switzerland alps, with 6 other people. We had an amazing week with a roadtrip exploring all around the Bernese alps, as well as the Zermatt area. I'd never been anywhere like it before, and the sheer scale of everything around me was always dropping my jaw to the flaw. However, I often found respite in scenes like this one, something that still shows the giant scale of the mountains, however through a cafe window, a way for the viewer to find some peace in the scale. This cafe also served some amazing Swiss beer and pastries, and you could walk outside to the longest glacier in the whole of Europe.

You shoot a variety of styles - which is your favourite to shoot?

I really hate to niche myself down as a photographer, as I rather enjoy shooting a lot of different genres. I think where I find the most joy, is mixing both portraiture & landscapes together, in a documentary/lifestyle way. Capturing somewhere, something or someone, for myself, or on behalf of a brand, always leaves me with a big wide grin on my face. My dream thing to shoot would be to capture a lifestyle campaign, including photographing people and places, for a travel brand. There's something that excites me about working in places that are unfamiliar to me.


Is there something that sticks out to you as a favourite or significant moment in your photography journey?


Honestly, getting to travel to new places and capture somewhere with a fresh eye will always be my favourite. Something that sticks out to me in particular, was last year in November. Getting to document Gran Canaria for a week on the newest Fujifilm camera with one of my best mates, who is also a self employed photographer, and then literally the following week, we both flew to Portugal to photograph and video a lifestyle campaign for a household name brand for their summer marketing assets. It felt like a real pinch me moment, that this was my job and my lifestyle, to travel with my friends to new and exciting places, and to get rewarded doing so. I'll never forget it.

Huge thanks to Ben for sharing these amazing images and stories with us. If you’d like to see more of his work, which we highly recommend that you, you can follow him on Instagram at @framesbyben

Tags: Viewfinder

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