Hi Nathan, thank you for taking the time to answer some of my questions. I’ve had you on my radar for a long time, more than two years to be exact I have been following your photography eagerly. I love your style and find your photographs very pleasing and a joy to look at.
Hello Bastian, thank you very much, I’m also an admirer of your work and it’s a pleasure to speak with you.
It was after a trip to New York with a friend, he was using a professional camera and I remember he had loads of great photos to show when we got back, while I just had some snaps on my phone that I wasn’t too proud of.
Are you a fan of video games, or am I misinterpreting your nickname?
Haha, you are not misinterpreting, I was very much a fan of video games as a child and Crash Bandicoot was one of my favourite games. I chose the name crashbandishoot as I wanted a catchy name that people would remember and it just came to me in a light bulb moment one day.
How and when did you find out you were interested in photography? You once told me you started around 2015. Was there any interest in the subject before that?
It was after a trip to New York with a friend, he was using a professional camera and I remember he had loads of great photos to show when we got back, while I just had some snaps on my phone that I wasn’t too proud of.
I had no interest in photography before this but I had always wanted to travel more and I was really disappointed when I didn’t have any good photos from my trip and quite jealous that my friend had all these great momentos.
So I decided to buy a camera when we got back to London, (Nikon D3300) and I joined a basic photography course and once I learnt the basics it went on from there.
I don’t actually know how I ended up in street photography.
That was a great decision. I do not know the Nikon D3300, but I am glad you did that step.
How did you find yourself in the street photography genre?
I started by taking photos of buildings and nature, just things I found interesting and I actually used to not like having any people in my photos. I don’t actually know how I ended up in street photography, I guess I just started to find people more interesting and became more observant to life the more I walked around with my camera
I would definitely like to try more minimalist photography using shapes and colours instead of people.
Your photos are very colorful and you often use close-ups. I find the photos very attractive and one can recognize your own style very well. Is there a style that you would like to try but for some reason have never implemented?
Indeed, thank you Bastian I’m very glad you like them and it’s always the greatest compliment to hear someone recognizes your work from the image. Most definitely, I think I’m still experimenting with different styles and I’m always learning, I would definitely like to try more minimalist photography using shapes and colours instead of people.
Are you aware of your influences? If so, what are your influences?
I never really started street photography with any influences, I kind of just ended up in it through naturally being drawn to things in general life whilst walking with a camera. However there are so many artists I take inspiration from on Instagram and of course the greats from before my time such as Saul Leiter and Fred Herzog I think inspire all us street photographers in some way
I definitely agree on that.
What is your personal favorite photo of the last few months?
I haven’t shot much at all in the last few months due to the current situation but thankfully due to a glorious day of snow, I have a photo of a snowy car I really like which is also hanging on my wall
There is so much to see in London that you’ll always stumble across new things to photograph.
How do you feel about social media, especially Instagram?
Honestly I try not to feel too much about it at all, it’s so easy to become invested in social media and lose sight of your actual goal. I enjoy using it to share my work and get inspiration from others.
London is a dream city for many street photographers.
I’ve heard that a lot, especially on social media. Is this true?
A few years ago I would have said yes absolutely, but since the pandemic I think we’re all waiting for London to become the vibrant city it once was again. So my answer would be yes absolutely as I think most of us street photographers feel a little safer blending into a busy city, and there is so much to see in London that you’ll always stumble across new things to photograph.
Do you have one or more places you would like to visit for photography?
I would love to visit New York again, for the reasons I mentioned before, I feel New York is the pinnacle for street photography yet I’ve never taken a street photo there, so that’s always been a goal of mine since I started street photography. Also Reykjavik in Iceland, is probably the most amazing country I’ve visited and again somewhere I didn’t get photos I was happy with so I’d love to try that again. I’ll throw in Tokyo in Japan as that’s the one I’ve never visited and always wanted to!
You mentioned, you are useless with all the technical aspects of photography. How do you mean that exactly?
I think photography can very complicated, cameras have so many settings, people give you so many rules and I just find all it quite overwhelming, so I try to use my camera in a way I find as simple as possible and not follow rules really. I think having an eye for a photo is a lot more important than knowing every technicality, that’s not to say I don’t want to improve or learn more about my craft, I just find a lot of it unecessary.
I would tell my younger self to not take life for granted and prepare for 2020
And speaking of technology, what kind of camera do you use, and do you have a favourite focal length?
I’m currently using a Fujifilm X-T30 and a 50mm F2, however due to covid I haven’t really used it that much, most of my photos were taken with the X-T20, some with the 50mm, and also with the 56mm F1.2 and 35mm F1.4.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I feel like I’m mentioning the pandemic a lot but again I think because of this a lot of our perspectives have changed on life. I would tell my younger self to not take life for granted and prepare for 2020 I guess haha.
Don’t compare yourself or try to copy others, just be yourself.
And what would be your advice for people struggling finding their own style in this genre?
That’s a tough one, I don’t think you should be trying to find any sort of style, I think you should take photos of things you like as much as possible and you will find your own style. Don’t compare yourself or try to copy others, just be yourself.
My last question is: Has social media influenced your photography? If so, how?
I don’t know in all honesty, I think I’ve definitely been inspired by all the other great photographers I’ve had the chance to communicate with and by all the amazing work people produce, but social media itself is just a platform for me, I just want as many people to see and enjoy my images as possible and social media helps me do that, well when the algorithm allows me to lol.
Nathan, I really appreciate this interview. Thank you for taking the time.
It’s been my pleasure Bastian, thank you for choosing me for this interview and I’m humbled by the opportunity to speak with you.
Interview written & conducted by Bastian Peter