Viewfinder: Joe Jackson

Viewfinder: Joe Jackson

In this week’s Viewfinder, we sat down with photographer Joe Jackson (@joejackson7). What began with a second-hand camera and a fascination with capturing sunsets has grown into a lifelong passion for photography. While not his day job, his work and travels have taken him to some incredible places, with a camera rarely far from reach. Inspired by the people he's met and the experiences along the way, his images reflect a curiosity for the world and a desire to document it. We caught up with Joe to chat about how it all started, the places that continue to inspire him, and the stories behind five of his favourite images.

What's your story?

It was back when I was at high school, my parents took a bit of a punt and bought me a second hand bridge camera for Christmas. I hadn’t really shown any great leaning towards photography prior to this but it turned out to be the best present I’ve ever received. I was out almost every night. I remember it had this mad optical zoom and I was just always taking photos of sunset or the moon. Loved it. My taste has widened a bit since then but that was the initial spark! That would have been 2012 I got that camera I think? Then 2017 I went to an Instagram meet up of a photo page and met a load of cool people. That seemed just as important moment. Up to that point I’d really only shot by myself but hanging out and shooting with all these people with the same hobby it really took off. A lot of the guys I met that day I’m still close with now. It’s all snowballed since then, dare I say an obsession!! Photography isn't my day job but I am lucky enough to have a job that takes me to some incredible places so when the time allows, my camera isn't far away to try and document that.

Tell us about 5 of your favourite images



Cornish Dolphins

Dolphins riding in the bow wave of our ship was fairly common, you’d spot them coming in but by the time you’d walked the 200m length of the ship to get up forward to try and get a photo, they’d inevitably have mugged you off and disappeared! This image was shot on my last day at sea with my old job, the waters of the south Cornish coast were as flat as a mill pond and the conditions must have been ripe that day for them as they leapt and jumped for an age as I excitedly clicked away.


Elephant Island Gentoo Penguin

I could penguin watch all day long. I never get tired of observing these characterful creatures doing their thing. This photo was special because it was shot at Point Wild on Elephant Island, where Shackleton’s Men were 4 months stranded awaiting rescue on the icy frozen ends of Antarctica. This guy hopped out the water and slowly edged his way round me up to further up the rock where his colony was. I love the gentle nature of as this penguin cautiously navigates the slippery slope.


Beach Shadows

I’ve always enjoyed capturing a sense of scale in my photos and the Cornish coast often lends itself well to this. Having a tiny person in and amongst the dramatic sea stacks of the north coast coupled with the long winter shadows made this setting feel like something out of Jurassic Park. I remember bouncing up and down in excitement as this scene unfolded in front of me.


Crescent Beach

Another demonstration of scale. I loved this evening. One of my best mates and I were on a road trip to the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. All week, we marvelled at how fortunate we’d been with the weather as we enjoyed gorgeous golden hour after gorgeous golden hour. This evening in particular was the pick of the bunch, parking up our van and having one of the most beautiful beaches all to ourselves.


Ruby the Labrador

I had to throw one film shot in. I’m not usually so good at photographing people but this moment unfolded so perfectly candid in front of me. It’s a bitter sweet shot for me as sadly we lost our family Labrador last year but this photo of Ruby the labrador and my sister perfectly encapsulates that relationship we all have with our pets. This will forever be one of my favourite shots, somehow all the more satisfying being on film.


What would be your dream location or subject to shoot?

If you’d asked me a year ago, I’d have said just anywhere in Antarctica. Runs in the family a bit so it had been a dream of mine to visit since I can remember. This time last year, got a seriously fortunate break getting a job as crew onboard a research ship operating in and around the frozen continent. If I had to be really picky and refine that dream now it would be to see and photograph a colony of Emperor Penguins up close. I’m no wildlife photographer but those creatures are special. My old man has some epic old film shots of Emperor chicks and to see those with my own eyes, let alone take a couple of clicks would be ridiculously magical.


What's the wildest thing that's happened on a shoot?

Recently I was doing some aerial photography of an iceberg in my current job when a family of Blue Whales popped up right next to it. Two parents and a calf swam all the way up to the ship and did 2 or 3 circles of the vessel before moving on. It’s rare to see Blue Whales, let alone up close. It was like some sort of emergency situation onboard ship! People appearing out on deck, half dressed, still pulling their jackets on hurriedly asking where the whales were. I think that moment will stay with me forever seeing those beautiful creatures so close and clearly. The ship was just fizzing with excitement after that.

 

A huge thanks to Joe for taking part in this edition of our Viewfinder series. Keep up with Joe Jackson and his work by heading to his Instagram @joejackson7 or website. If you'd like to take part in our Viewfinder series, please get in touch at hey@tenslife.com for more info.

Related Posts

Viewfinder: Liz Moore

Viewfinder: Liz Moore

In this week’s Viewfinder, we sat down with photographer Liz Moore (@lizpov_). Drawn to photography through a love of exploring new places, Liz has developed a style that blends landscape, nature and street photography. Whether travelling further afield or documenting scenes closer to home, her work is rooted in curiosity, observation and a genuine appreciation for the world around her. We caught up with Liz to learn more about her journey into photography, the places that inspire her, and the images she can't stop thinking about. What's your story? I remember a family holiday about 10 years ago where we visited one of those big butterfly enclosures, and I took a bunch of photos on my old iPhone 5c. I remember showing them to my mum and her telling me they were really good, and from that point on I barely put my phone down for the rest of the holiday. I started sharing my photos to Instagram, then a year later I bought my first camera, a Canon 1200d.  Then the rest is history and photography became an important part of my life . I took that camera everywhere I could, whether it was a holiday or somewhere closer to home. Living in the countryside naturally led me towards landscape and nature photography, but now after exploring cities like Barcelona, Lisbon and Prague, I’ve fallen in love with street photography. For me, there’s something about wandering around a new place, taking far too many photos and then eagerly going through them all when I get home. Years on and I still feel that same excitement after taking a photo as I did in that butterfly house. Tell us about 5 of your favourite images Winter Wonderland I always look forward to winter, as it means ski season is just round the corner. I took this on a ski trip to the Alps on a wander around a lake just after sunset. I love the contrast of the cosy cabin and the vast snowy forest surrounding it, with the moon hanging above. The cabin feels tucked away, but not isolated. The atmosphere around the lake and theother wooden structures dotted around, especially at dusk at this point felt like out of astorybook. I’m always in awe when I visit this part of the world, it doesn’t quite feel realsometimes. A true winter wonderland.   The Green Door This was taken during my first ever solo trip to Portugal. I spent the day wandering around the small streets of Faro, taking photo after photo. Nothing about it is particularly grand or famous, but that’s exactly why I love it. I’m often drawn to the little details that most people would never see. It’s a simple scene, but sometimes all it takes is good lightand an interesting door.   The Milky Way I’ve only dabbled in astrophotography over the years but I love the technical challenge and childlike wonder that comes with it. This photo, which is actually made up of 29 stacked exposures, was taken on a summer night in the middle of nowhere in France. I remember heading out with more hope than confidence that I’d be able to make it work but seeing the final image come together felt incredibly rewarding. Standing under the stars never gets old, and being able to look back on your own work with a sense of wonder is why I love photography.   Last Light This photo was taken on a family camping holiday in Wales, a place we often visited during the summer. It’s a nostalgic image for me and it feels like the epitome of a British summer evening. The golden light and stillness brings back memories of cycling through the countryside as a kid.   Daydreams I always come back to this photo as my absolute favourite. I love it because it looks like it could have been painted. The softness of the clouds and show of colour feels dreamlike, and is something I’ve never been able to capture in another photograph since. It was a fleeting, one of a kind moment that existed for mere minutes. What's been your favourite shoot location? Definitely the French Alps during ski season, no question. I love being in the mountains, its truly my favourite place on earth. Being surrounded by never-ending peaks is surreal and feels like another world when I’m there. If my camera roll is anything to go by, I’ve photographed the mountains more than anything else, yet I will never get bored of it. I captured the Alps on film for the first time earlier this year which was a super fun and rewarding experience. I can’t wait to keep coming back to take more and more photos of this incredible place. What's your favourite thing to do that has nothing to do with photography? I grew up listening to my dad play the piano all the time and I remember wanting to be able to play these pieces I had heard so much. I pestered him to find me lessons and after I had turned 9, I finally started to learn the piano. Although I never really enjoyed the grade exams, I absolutely loved it and I’d practice every day after school. Fast forward to 15 years later, and I still love it just as much now as I have done all the years since learning. Being able to go into your own world and just focus on playing the notes and feeling the music, is truly special and something I hope to still be doing when I’m 80. A huge thanks to Liz for taking part in this edition of our Viewfinder series. Keep up with Liz and her work by heading to her @lizpov_ or portfolio. If you'd like to take part in our Viewfinder series, please get in touch at hey@tenslife.com for more info.

Learn more
Viewfinder: Gstee

Viewfinder: Gstee

In this week’s Viewfinder, and to coincide with World Ocean Day, we sat down with Cornwall-based photographer Gstee (@gstee). Known for his striking aerial imagery, Gstee captures the natural world in a way that reveals patterns, textures, and moments that are often overlooked from the ground. Through his work, he encourages a fresh appreciation for the seascapes around us. What's your story? I got into photography while I was working as a touring live sound engineer, and searching for a bit of balance. Spending so much time in loud, hectic environments made me truly appreciate the calm of Cornwall whenever I came home. The quiet coastlines, sunrises and sunsets, and time in and around the ocean. With a family background in aviation, I was lucky enough to go flying and experience aerial perspectives from a young age, seeing the landscape from above. That perspective has always fascinated me. Gstee originally started as a playful creative escape for the moments in-between gigs as a way of reconnecting to this, but over time it’s become a way of sharing an often unseen, impermanent perspective of the natural world and bring the calm of it into peoples homes. Tell us about 5 of your favourite images Forgotten Dreams This is probably my favourite image I’ve ever taken. I shot it close to home at the edge of a tidal estuary, during a small window before this sand island disappeared beneath the incoming tide. Watching the water interact with the sand felt like a dance between the waves and the shifting tide. It was one of those moments where everything aligned perfectly for just a few minutes.   To The Sea I took this at my local surf break during winter a few years ago while experimenting with the movement and energy of both the waves and the surfers in the cold water. It’s one of the few images I’ve shot that isn’t taken directly from above, and I think that shift in perspective gives it something unique. It’s one of those photographs I know I’d never be able to recreate in exactly the same way, and that unpredictability is what I love most about shooting the ocean.   Volcan This was the shot from that super windy and risky moment in the Canary Islands. Thankfully, the images made it back in one piece. It was one of my first times shooting landscapes like this rather than the ocean and I remember being drawn to the contrast in the volcanic terrain. It felt like I was capturing something otherworldly and a completely different energy and environment to what I’d shot before.   Lone Surfer This image came from one of my very first shoots using a drone. It actually sat dormant on my computer for quite a while before I rediscovered it, and when I came back to it I instantly fell in love with it all over again. What draws me to the photo is the way the stormy sky reflects back onto the surface of the ocean, almost blending sea and sky into one. The lone surfer in the frame gives a real sense of scale and solitude.   Break ‘Break’ is a fairly new image and what I love about it is how it seems to hold so many different states of movement within a single frame. For me, it captures that constant ebb and flow between calm and chaos; the way the ocean can feel both powerful and peaceful at exactly the same time. What's the weirdest or wildest thing that's happened on a shoot? Nothing too outrageous thankfully! A few years ago I was shooting in the Canary Islands and launched the drone from the top of a volcano in seriously heavy wind. It definitely felt like one of those moments where I thought, “this thing might be disappearing forever.”, but I knew the perspective was going to be epic. Thankfully, it survived, and the photos ended up being worth it. What's a must-have item you can't live without on a shoot? I mean… sunglasses feels like the dangerously obvious answer, but genuinely, a good pair is essential. My work involves flying drones mostly over water in bright conditions, so being able to actually keep sight of it in the sky is pretty important. Other than that, probably good coffee!   A huge thank you to Gstee for taking part in this edition of our Viewfinder series. Keep up with Gstee and his work by heading to his handle @gstee or wesbite. If you'd like to take part in our Viewfinder series, please get in touch at hey@tenslife.com for more info.

Learn more
Viewfinder: Michael Lazenby

Viewfinder: Michael Lazenby

In this week’s Viewfinder, we sat down with Michael Lazenby (@michaellazenby), UK-based photographer. Inspired by a childhood immersed in film and years spent exploring the Lake district with friends, Michael’s work is rooted in storytelling and atmosphere. Self-taught across both photography and filmmaking, his work blends cinematic influence with a deeply personal approach to documenting the world around him. What's your story? For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to creative mediums as a way of expressing myself. Going to the cinema and watching movies at home was a huge part of my upbringing, and the films of Spielberg, like Jurassic Park, had a huge impact on me. I became instilled with a sense of awe and wonder from a young age. Fast forward to my early 20’s, I was looking for some direction and purpose in my life. My friends and I started having day trips to The Lake District to walk the fells, and we were seeing some truly breath-taking sights that re-ignited the same feelings I had when I was younger. I wanted to document those experiences in a more tangible way, so I bought a camera.  I taught myself the ropes of both photography and filmmaking over the next 10 years, and along the way I managed to turn it into a successful career. I believe Creative work is a deeply personal act of self expression, and throughout my journey with a camera I’ve always maintained a strong connection between me and my work, always leaning back to what first inspired the younger me. Tell us about 5 of your favourite images Ullswater, The Lake District I’ve always loved how winter can completely transform a familiar landscape, but often the conditions are fleeting and difficult to predict. This day was different, calm conditions, fresh snowfall and blue skies. I was driving along Ullswater last winter and spotted these swans gathered at the shoreline. Hastily, I parked the car and sprinted down to the lake. I loved the filmic look to the scene and the soft light on the swans against a wintery backdrop.    Havana, Cuba The photograph that heavily influenced a new direction in photography for me. I took this image on a trip to Havana in 2022 with my partner. I had no experience of street photography at the time, but I was experiencing a period of burn-out and thought a change in subject might help me navigate through it. It’s since become one of my favourite images, and a turning point in my career of what I enjoy shooting. A lot of the work I now share is from the streets, and I’m so glad I allowed myself the opportunity to experiment and try something new by taking my camera with me on this trip.   Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire This was the first photograph I took on a Fujifilm camera in 2022. Saltburn is my “home away from home”, a local seaside town I frequent with my camera. I’ve always loved the Wes Anderson aesthetic of the tramway’s ticket office, and as I lifted my camera to take the photo, the operator, Eddie, took it upon himself to stand in the doorway for my photo, which just gave the image that much more of a story for me. Eddie sadly passed away in 2024. When his daughter reached out to me asking for a print of this image to remember him, I felt a huge sense of pride that a piece of work I made could have such a profound emotional value to someone else.   Crinkle Crags, The Lake District I’ll never forget the morning this photo was made. I’d just driven through the early hours of the morning to get to The Lake District for a walk up into the fells for sunrise, with two friends and fellow photographers. Reaching the summit for about 6am, we started to notice a cloud inversion off into the distance. “We’ve picked the wrong fell” one of us said. Then, as the sun rose, the cloud started to roll further towards us, weaving its way through the troughs and peaks of the landscape. It got ever closer, and then, this moment unfolded right before our eyes.   Seville, Spain One of my most recent and favourite images, taken on a photography trip to Seville with two of my close friends. This was taken on the last day of our trip. After a few days of very mixed weather, we finally had a picture perfect afternoon, and the streets just had so much more life to them. I love everything about this image. The colours, composition, subject and feeling of movement. I eyed up the scene and sat patiently on a very uncomfortable bollard for the right subject, and just as I was about to give up, this family entered the frame. For me, it encapsulates everything I’ve learned about street photography over the last few years; documenting the life of a place whilst creating a body of work that focuses on storytelling. What would be your dream location or subject to shoot? As of late, my favourite subject has been street photography. Around 4 years ago I went through a year-long stint of burnout. My partner and I had just booked a 2 week trip to Cuba, and our first week was in Havana. I had no experience of photographing a city and quite frankly, no interest. But I’d just bought my first Fujifilm camera, and it was the perfect travel companion, so I brought it along without much expectation. Turns out, it was exactly what I needed, and I loved the process. Since then, street photography has become a huge part of my work, and I’ve learned more about storytelling through photographing the streets than I ever could have in any other environment. What's your favourite thing to do that has nothing to do with photography? For the last two years my partner and I have been self-renovating our first home, and I’ve loved the process. I fully believe in the statement ‘your home is a reflection of you’ and that's what I’ve most enjoyed about bringing it to life, creating a space that feels our own, mirroring the connection I feel to my work. My commercial work in hotels has given me a better understanding of what makes a space feel inviting, and my partner has a great eye for colour and texture, so it feels like a team project we can both be proud of. A huge thanks to Michael for taking part in this edition of our Viewfinder series. Keep up with Michael and his work by heading to his @michaellazenby or website. If you'd like to take part in our Viewfinder series, please get in touch at hey@tenslife.com for more info.

Learn more