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Viewfinder: Soo Burnell

Viewfinder: Soo Burnell

In this week’s Viewfinder, we’re stepping into the world of Soo Burnell (@soo.burnell), Edinburgh-based photographer. Inspired by architecture, history and the quiet presence of people within a space, Soo’s work captures moments that feel timeless and personal. From historic bathhouses in Japan to swimming pools closer to home, each image tells a story. Find out more about Soo Burnell and her inspirations by reading on.

What's your story?

I've always been fascinated with people and architecture. This goes back to my childhood growing up in Edinburgh and being surrounded by so many incredible historic buildings. I think as a child you can soak this in without being aware of it. That was my experience during a shoot at Glenogle Baths in Stockbridge, which I thought would be a one-off project, but it was the catalyst for something much bigger as I went on to photograph more and more pools for my poolside collection. As a child, I'd spent years jumping in and out of the Glenogle pool without paying any attention to the details and the scale and grandeur of the space. I only really appreciated the architecture when I returned as an adult, but those childhood memories made that connection feel deeper. I got my first camera when I was 13, and I bought my first dark room with money that my grandad had left me. All my early photos were portraits of my friends. When I started developing photographs I never wanted to stop, and, to be honest, I still miss making images that way. After leaving school, I went on to study photography. While my work now focuses on architecture and spaces, there are always figures within those spaces, grounding each scene. I'm still drawn to the presence of those figures and to their untold stories.

Tell us about 5 of your favourite images



At the Onsen

I photographed this piece at Hōshi Onsen, at Chojukan, in the Gunma mountains in Japan, for my collection At the Onsen. The hot spring baths are housed within this incredible timber building, and while the baths are shared, the changing rooms are separated with red fabric for women and black fabric for men. I loved this warm colour and the 'hidden' feeling of this moment.


A Place to Ourselves

This piece was also photographed at Chojukan, at a second onsen, Tamaki No Yu. There are two baths here: a large cypress bath indoors and this open air bath. I love the stillness of this moment, and this sense of sinking deeper into the hot water while enclosed by trees, gazing up towards the sky.


The Plesman Staircase

I photographed a collection at The Plesman in The Hague when I was artist-in-residence there, and the collection is on display throughout the hotel. I love the dynamic form of this spiral staircase as you move up through the building, and the soft, chalky tones work so beautifully with the natural light here. This gentle palette guided my approach with the figures and their styling.


The Beach of Scheveningen

Part of The Plesman Collection, I also photographed at locations around The Hague, including the beach of Scheveningen. I'm drawn to the simplicity and the fluidity of this moment on the beach, with this very restrained colour palette that I love. While calm, I also enjoy the feeling of movement within this scene.


Summer Swim at Molitor

This photo is from a series I shot at Molitor as part of my bigger collection of Parisian pools called Dans le bleu. I was fascinated by the history of this building as Molitor was one of the city's most popular swimming baths for six decades, from 1929 until it closed in 1989, after which artists moved in and transformed the abandoned building. When the site was redeveloped to create the hotel, the indoor and outdoor pools were rebuilt to reflect their original aesthetic. I love the strong colour blocks and the symmetry of this pool.


What has your favourite shoot location or subject been?

It's really hard to choose one, particularly as I spend months researching and planning each shoot, so I become very involved with each location. But if I had to choose, I'd say the mountains of the Gunma Prefecture in Japan. I visited the historic onsen at Sekizenkan, and then travelled higher into the mountains to shoot at Hōshi Onsen and Tamaki Onsen at Chojukan. I spent just over a year planning for my collection At the onsen, researching traditional bathhouses – both the onsen I visited in the mountains and the urban sento in Tokyo. But travelling up into the mountains was overwhelmingly beautiful. For me it's also about the people I meet on these trips. In Japan, I was meeting the families who have owned and run these bathhouses, in some cases for centuries, and listening to their history and their stories. It was an incredible experience.


What's your favourite thing to do that has nothing to do with photography?

Forest walks with my dogs Ruby and Nola always come top of my list. I enjoy exploring galleries, particularly Modern One gallery on Belford Road, and I love the Royal Botanical Gardens. I have been spending a lot of time there lately for a new project I am working on. And great coffee houses, always, particularly Ante on Haddington Place or The Milkman on Cockburn Street.

 

Huge thanks to Soo for taking part in this edition of our Viewfinder series. Keep up with Soo Burnell and her work by heading to his Instagram @soo.burnell or website. If you'd like to take part in our Viewfinder series, please get in touch at hey@tenslife.com for more info.

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Viewfinder: Freddie Roach

Viewfinder: Freddie Roach

This week in the Viewfinder, we're catching up with Melbourne-based photographer Freddie Roach (@freddieroach._). From the quiet streets of Japan to everyday moments closer to home, Freddie's work is rooted in observation, capturing honest, unscripted scenes that invite us to slow down and look a little closer and find beauty in ‘mundane’ moments.  What's your story? Photography started as a way to process the world without having to be at the centre of it. I’ve always been an observer, someone who prefers to watch how life unfolds rather than step into the fray. That curiosity naturally led me to a camera, it gave me a reason to engage with my surroundings on my own terms. My perspective really shifted during a trip to Japan. Being in such a vibrant and high-energy place, I realised that photography wasn't just a hobby, it was a way to express myself. I found that by looking for the small and quiet details that most people walk past, I could better understand the cities I was visiting and the people living in them. I’m drawn to the "mundane", the fleeting, everyday moments that actually make up the bulk of our lives. In a world that feels increasingly loud and overstimulated, I’m interested in documenting the pauses. I want my work to reflect the authentic pulse of a place, capturing those honest and unscripted instances that define how we live. For me, photography is simply the art of slowing down and paying attention. Tell us about 5 of your favourite images Merc There was this old, neglected Mercedes parked a few streets away from where I was staying. I’d run past it in the dark almost every morning but one day I was running a little late. Just as I passed, the light caught the front of the car and I realised that if the sun hit it at just the right angle, it would cast a perfect shadow. I sprinted home, grabbed my camera and fumbled to load a roll of film before sprinting back. I spent those next few minutes just watching the light, crossing my fingers that the morning dew would hold out against the sun. Luckily, it did. It’s one of those shots that wouldn’t have the same soul without that bit of moisture catching the light, it turned a quiet, forgotten moment into something worth holding onto. Mirror I spent last Christmas in Tokyo, juggling a few projects but I had one specific mission in mind: finding the perfect convex mirror. They’re such an iconic part of the city's backstreets and I had this vision of what I wanted the shot to look like. I ended up dedicating an entire day to wandering the narrowest alleys I could find, just hunting for the right angle. It didn’t exactly mirror the scene I had mapped out in my head but there’s a certain honesty in that. Sometimes you go looking for a specific frame but the city decides to give you something else entirely, and honestly, that’s usually how the best ones turn out. Shadow Play This was one of those shots where the vision was way clearer in my head than it was in practice. I’ve always been obsessed with shadow play and I really wanted to pull off this specific alignment. It turned into a bit of a technical wrestle, fiddling with the settings while trying to get the geometry of the shadows to snap into place, but all that back-and-forth was worth it. I’m stoked with how it came together. Tokyo Tower Reflection I spent that day drifting through Tokyo without a map or a destination. My only objective was to observe and absorb. I eventually found myself gravitating toward Tokyo Tower, but as I hit a crosswalk, I happened to turn around and caught this reflection. I actually revisited the same spot months later at the precise hour, hoping to replicate it, but the light refused to cooperate. It’s a humbling reminder that while we can prepare for the shot, serendipity often plays a more significant role in capturing something worth keeping. Shrine Cat I was making my way up the stairs at Fushimi Inari in Kyoto when I stumbled upon an elderly couple tending to the shrine cats. I held back at first, deciding to simply observe out of respect for the moment, until one of the cats stood up and shifted the energy of the scene. I’m glad I eventually took the shot, it feels like a small, private favour granted by that cat. Some of the most rewarding images come from knowing when to step back and wait for the subject to give you an opening. I owe that cat! What would be your dream location or subject to shoot? My dream gig is definitely working as an on-set stills photographer for a feature film. I’ve always been drawn to those behind-the-scenes shots that capture the raw, candid moments you never see on screen. There’s something fascinating about the atmosphere on a movie set, the mix of high-stakes pressure and intense creativity. I’d love to be in that environment, documenting the quiet focus and the small, human interactions that happen between takes when the cameras aren't rolling. To me, capturing that level of intimacy while surrounded by artists at the top of their game would be incredibly inspiring. What's a memorable moment from a shoot that's stayed with you? My favourite moments usually happen when I’m out shooting, specifically the connections I make with people who don't speak the same language as me. There’s something incredibly genuine about those interactions, where you’re both trying to bridge a gap without a single word that makes sense to the other person, but you still find a way to communicate. Those raw, unfiltered exchanges are honestly the highlight of travelling for me. It’s a reminder that we can find common ground almost anywhere if we just pay attention. Capturing that humanity and being able to connect with people from completely different walks of life is what makes the whole process so rewarding for me.   A huge thanks to Freddie for taking part in this edition of our Viewfinder series. Keep up with Freddie Roach and his work by heading to his Instagram @freddieroach._ or website. If you'd like to take part in our Viewfinder series, please get in touch at hey@tenslife.com for more info.

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Behind the Scenes: The Bandit

Behind the Scenes: The Bandit

Raised on the Isle of Tiree, Ben Larg has gone from surfing Scotland’s wild coastline to taking on some of the biggest waves in the world. Now Scotland’s first professional surfer, Ben competes Internationally throughout the year and has become a key figure in the Scottish surf scene. Read our full Q&A with Ben below on how this Tens collaboration came about, the inspiration behind the new Bandit frame, and plans for the Summer ahead. How did this collaboration with Ben come about? Steve: Well, obviously we've been aware of Ben for a long time. He's one of Scotland's top surfers, we followed him on Instagram, he's a really cool guy, and someone we've wanted to do stuff with for a while. Then we were filming something at Lost Shore surf resort, and I think it was our marketing manager, Izzy, that bumped into Ben, chased him down and got him in a pair of Tens. I think after that we just kept bumping into Ben and his family. We did an interview with his parents for the Meander Apparel magazine and we thought we've got to do something here, and came up with the idea of creating Ben's perfect sunglasses and doing something together. Ben, tell us about the time you first tried Tens? Ben: Well I actually I saw Tens for the first time quite a while ago. I think I first saw the brand through a friend mutual friend of ours, Jacob Mellish, when he had a set on. I saw the glasses and I thought oh those are super cool and then someone from the brand sent us a load of the glasses to try out. I had a few cool sets but all my mates were stealing the glasses and I managed to keep one set for myself that I wore for two years... then I think they got stolen by a mate as well. How have you guys found the design process? Ben: Yeah it's been really exciting for me, I've never really been involved in kind of making my own branded glasses from scratch or anything like that so, you know, I've really enjoyed the design part of it along with the Tens guys. Yeah it's been fun. Steve: Yeah, I'd say Ben has been really involved, it's not just putting Ben's name on a pair of sunglasses and using him in all the imagery. We had our first meeting where we brought Ben's favourite sunglasses and a few from the Tens range together, and I'd say Ben's got a really good eye for detail. He picked up on things like the front angle of thesunglasses and came up with the idea for some pearlescent under the arm that looks cool when you put the glasses up to the light. Then when we've been trying on the prototypes, Ben picks up on these small things around how it's sitting on the nose and for someone who doesn't have a design background, I'd say you've got that real eye, something you could probably do after surfing I reckon.  Ben, what's bringing the Good Vibes this summer? Ben: What's bringing the good vibes? Wow, well, I'm going away to Indonesia so I'm excited about that, I'm definitely going to need my glasses there. Then also Tyree Music Festival in July, I'm excited for that, that'll be good fun and I think you guys are going to join us there. And finally, what are the new frames named after? Ben: Well the new sunglasses, it was actually my mum that thought of the name I think the guys, my mum and dad, they've always called us bandits since I was a kid, I don't know why but it's been like my nickname so the glasses are called the bandits now so that was my mother's doing. Shop the Bandit frame: click here  

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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.

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