His personal style, he feels, has remained consistent over the years. This allows me to capture images that I might have otherwise missed.' Using any other camera this way would deliver missed images, but the X1D has no issue delivering consistent and accurate colour all the way up to 12800iso. 'I tend to push the sensor to its limits regularly using it handheld in lowlight in excess of 3200iso. 'The larger sensor really lets me consider my subject and composition in a way that I never had to before. 'I really enjoy the feel of the X1D, the grip is excellent, and with the 45P, the camera is about the same size as a full-frame mirrorless camera,' he continues. 'But photography lets us capture the feeling of a moment and store it for the future. 'All too often, feeling in the human experience is something that can be so fleeting a feeling can come and go as quickly as it is perceived,' he explains. Because without photography, I wouldn't be who I am today.' Michael Pacheco: 'It allows me to express my feelings in ways words can't.'įor Michael Pacheco, a photographer based in Brooklyn specialising in nightscape, street, and documentary, photography has changed how he interacts with people on an emotional level. And that it is helping them be more confident with themselves when they see the images and the beauty I can capture. 'Portraiture is where I am now, but I'd like to think that what I'm creating is unique to myself, as well as the person who is in front of the lens. From there, I wanted to help people create worlds where they truly felt invincible. But after some time, I realised how powerful my mind and my creativity was. I think everyone feels that same way too. 'Growing up in NYC, I wanted everyone to see my perspective. 'All I ever tried to capture was what I saw,' she says. I've been hooked ever since.'Īshley first started shooting about six years ago. 'I settled for a Mamiyaflex once I felt like I was creatively ready to move from 35mm to 120mm. 'Growing up, I have always been obsessed with TLR cameras, in particular, a Rolleiflex,' she says. Right now, she's using another Canon AE1 (all black), Mamiya C2 and a Sony A7Rii. 'After this, a few years had passed, and I was gifted a Canon AE1, which I currently still have but do not use.'

'I actually accidentally broke it on the very second week of having it: entirely by accident,' she recalls. I am someone who I have always dreamed and wanted to be.' Ashley's photographic journeyĪshley's journey began with her first camera, a Nikon D3200 with a starter lens. 'Some of us aren't naturally confident, but when I immerse myself within my photography, I am someone completely different. 'Who I am as a photographer is separate to who I am as a regular everyday person,' she adds. I like to call myself a late bloomer because it took me a while to learn that through photography, I felt confidently free. 'I never grew up creatively expressing myself. 'Photography has allowed me to express myself in ways I'm not comfortable doing in the non-creative world,' she explains.

That's been the case for Ashley Abreu, a photographer of Dominican descent, born and raised in New York City, who specialises in portraits, street photography and cinematography. As I've become more confident in my skills, as well as sharpening my emotional intelligence, I enjoy connecting with the people I'm photographing and listening to their different stories.' Ashley Abreu: 'I call myself a late bloomer.'Īnother way that photography can change your life is by giving you a unique opportunity to communicate your thoughts and perspectives with others.

'When I first started shooting, I was shy to photograph people one to one. 'Within the past two years, I've been working more in portraiture,' she says. I have a range of lenses for the film cameras, including a 55-110mm and 28-70mm.'Īs her kit has evolved, so has her work. 'I've also added some film cameras to my kit, and those include a 35mm point-and-shoot Canon Snappy Lx, Minolta 4000si SLR, and a Pentax 645N medium format camera. 'I'm currently photographing with a FujiFilm XT3 using a 23mm lens (35mm equivalent on full-frame) and a 35mm lens (50mm equivalent on full-frame),' she reveals.

Canon snappy lx photos