Whilst attending secondary school, I became interested in Art through the encouragement of an inspirational teacher. This interest in Art later led to an involvement in photography while working at an advertising agency after I left school.

I went on to study for a photographic qualification from Paddington Technical College in London-it was during these studies that I became fascinated by ‘candid’ photography- taking pictures of people on the streets, trying to tell a story by shooting a single frame and capturing a second of someone’s life.

‘When I am walking the streets I never know what to expect- will I get any pictures at all? I can never answer that question. But I do know that if I keep looking and walking and remain patient something will eventually reveal itself’.

‘I sometimes feel like the intruder when taking a picture as if I am prying into someone’s private moment, but once I have the camera up to my eye it acts as an imaginary ‘shield’ and that moment of intrusion passes – That is not to say I do not have a feeling of guilt afterwards’.

‘I always shoot in black and white which I feel adds more impact and I try not to crop any of the images when printing- all what I see through the viewfinder is what I want to show – I do not want to cheat the viewer’.

Andrew J. Mason