Next up in our Viewfinder series is Luke Davis (@lukeckdavis). With a creative background rooted in music and years spent performing across Europe, his journey into photography was driven by a desire to capture the same energy and atmosphere he once felt on stage. Now working across travel and commercial projects, his work blends cinematic tones with a natural, story-led approach.
What's your story?
Before picking up photography in my early 20s, music was my life’s goal. Performing, writing, touring, you name it. I was in a very heavy metal band from age 15 to around 23, and during that time I was fortunate enough to do just that: playing to crowds of 1 to 1,000 all across Europe.
I’ll always look back on that period fondly; however, the uphill battle of ‘making it’ in the industry, coupled with my changing tastes, left me looking for other creative outlets. There was a photographer in the scene who captured many of our UK shows, and there was this atmospheric, filmic quality to their work that always grabbed my attention in a way that still images rarely had until then. It was that moment that spurred me to pick up my first, albeit old and beat-up, DSLR.
From there, I sunk my time into an embarrassing amount of YouTube tutorials, learning the fundamentals and being inspired by household names like Peter McKinnon and James Popsys. I used any free time I had to get out on the Jurassic Coast where I put those theories into practice. This was my journey up until COVID, during which I was out of work and faced a fork in the road: keep photography as a side project or hunker down, hone my skills, and try to pursue a freelance career. I count my lucky stars every day that I chose the latter. As the world began to open up and I started making connections within the industry, traveling to beautiful destinations with like-minded creatives became an ever-increasing reality. Coupled with the strides I was making in finding my first commercial clients at the time, the rest is history!
Tell us about 5 of your favourite images
Dubrovnik, Croatia
This image is one I’ve always been proud of. Taken a couple of years back, on my first project with Fujifilm, by where I set out to document Dubrovnik, Croatia in peak Mediterranean summer. Atop a cliff overlooking the old town I spotted both locals and tourists enjoying the crystal clear waters of the coast. I loved the painterly look of the scene and did my best to mimic that feeling in the edit.
Durdle Door, Dorset
Having been born and raised just down the road from this coastal landmark, I’ve visited dozens of times over the years, both with and without a camera. I took this on an impromptu outing late last year, and whilst the door itself remains the same, the conditions surrounding are always so unique. This fiery sky looks like it was ripped straight out of Blade Runner 2049! The final image serves as a reminder to myself to not overlook locations just because I’ve seen them already, and that there’s always something new to discover.
Bonfire Night, Dorset
As much as I love travelling to some of the world’s most stunning locations for my photography, I find just as much joy in seeking out the smaller moments. Taken on bonfire night last year, I debated whether bringing the camera out that evening would be worth it, but I’m so glad I did. Seeing this little girl experience the wonder of the fireworks display and developing what will no doubt be a core memory for her made carrying the gear about so worth it and taught me that no excursion is too small to pack the camera.
Lake Como, Italy
Last Summer my partner and I were lucky enough to be able to squeeze in a quick personal getaway to Como, Italy. I brought minimal camera kit with me, as this wasn’t strictly a ‘photo trip’ but when location, weather and subject all align it’s hard to turn down the opportunity. Sharing an understanding nod with her, I sprinted down the pier to snap this before the boat sped off. This image gives me a sort of Studio Ghibli vibe that lines up perfectly with the calm, joyous atmosphere Como gave us.
Switzerland
In March 2023, as the world began to open up again after *the 2020 event*, I was able to travel with six other creatives to a blisteringly cold Switzerland. On one of the first nights, we were graced with an incredible sunset that drew my eye to the layers of mountains surrounding the village we were staying in. Taking this image gave me that ‘this is exactly where I’m supposed to be’ feeling, and it’s that feeling that I’ve been chasing in my photography journey ever since.
What would be your dream shoot location or subject?
Ever since I was a kid I have wanted to visit Easter Island, I even have a Moai statue tattooed on my arm! I would love the opportunity to not only visit, but to document the Island, it’s landscapes and famous structures, but also the people of Rapa Nui and their incredible culture.
What's your favourite thing to do that has nothing to do with photography?
I’ve been an avid gamer my entire life. I blame my Grandad for giving me an N64 on my 4th birthday but it’s been a constant in my life ever since. I suppose that idea of escapism lends itself to my photography mantra in many ways, although always having a camera in my hand definitely gets me out of the house a lot more than gaming ever could! Second to that, I’ve been really into bouldering in recent years. I had a mild quarter life crisis a few years back, wanting to take a little more care in my health. Bouldering became a form of exercise and pseudo-meditation, helping to improve my life, both physically and mentally. Helps that it’s crazy fun too.
Huge thanks to Luke 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 do, you can follow him on Instagram at @lukeckdavis or check out his portfolio here.
