Pan Saville
Name: Pan Saville
Camera: Canon EOS 90D
Favourite type of photography: Nature, wildlife and street photography
Location: Colchester, Essex , UK.
Instagram: @pantogss
How did you get into photography?
I started a small series called "Healing through Self-Portraits" on my Instagram account whilst I was working through an emotionally turbulent time.
Do you have any photographic qualifications or accolades?
I do not.
What's the first photograph you remember seeing or shooting?
One of the very first photos I took was of a duckling, standing on the edge of the pond in the park, the sunlight shining behind it, at the height of summer in the late afternoon. It was a complete fluke, but I've adored it ever since.
What do you love about photography?
I love that you can capture moments in time and things that are completely innocuous are given the space to be recognised. For me, it's about taking the everyday things and making them a little bigger.
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What do you wish you'd learned about photography earlier?
That, as much as it is about shooting, it's also about walking around, seeing how the light falls wherever you are. Some days you'll take 50 shots, others none and both outcomes are still good, you learn from not shooting anything too.
Where is your favourite place for photography?
I live very close to Colchester Castle Park and a lot of my photography is from there, especially the nature and wildlife shots. Alternatively, London is brilliant for photography.
Do you have a favourite photographic technique?
I'm a big fan of the bokeh effect on pictures, the blurred background colours can give the main focus of the image a complete shift in ambience!
Can you briefly outline your approach to image processing?
I rarely process any images I take - I only have my phone for storage and Adobe Lightroom Mobile for editing. Every now and then, I might change the light and exposure etc, but I try to get the shot as perfect as possible without it.
What's your favourite lens?
At the moment, my 50mm.
Do you have a favourite accessory?
I do not.
Have you found the perfect camera bag yet?
I haven't! I'm still using the one that came with my camera - basic!
Which photographers have influenced or inspired you, and how or why?
Sean Tuck is a big influence because he made photography more accessible and less daunting for me as a beginner.
Vivian Maier inspires me to pursue street photography with her bold, no-nonsense, black-and-white shots.
Henri Cartier-Bresson and his love for the 50mm lens.
Please recommend 2 or 3 female photographers to follow on Instagram.
Fiona Louise Larkins @fiona_lark, Tiffany Roubert @tiffanyroubert, Wendy E Tuffin @wendys_art_of_the_lens
Is there a camera, lens or accessory that you don't have yet but you'd like to buy at some point?
I would love to get an 80mm lens, just to give me that little bit extra for street photography. I'd also like a robust, waterproof camera bag/casing!
Is there a genre of photography that you love but that you haven't tried yet?
Portrait photography
What's your proudest photographic moment?
Being asked to take photos of the Colchester Pride Parade from the balcony of the town hall last year.
If you could have one superpower that could help you with photography, what would it be?
Invisibility!
Your favourite baked goods are?
Cinnamon buns.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm a golden retriever human being, which basically means that I'm always up for a walk, I get excited to run errands with people and I'll do anything if there are snacks involved!
I'm still at the beginning of my photography journey, but I'm a huge believer that creative practice (I'm also a poet and love to play with UV/glow-in-the-dark paint) is extremely beneficial for a person’s emotional and mental well-being.
I also volunteer for my local LGBTQ+ charity: ‘The OutHouse’ and live in Colchester with my cat, Neko (or ‘Sneaky Neeks’ as I like to call her).
