Walkers Nigel Atherton

NIGEL SAYS: ‘Six months into the pandemic, I had barely left my 3x2metre garden office and hadn’t taken any proper photos. Not one to wander aimlessly, looking for pictures to come to me, I needed to set myself a project but it had to be achievable during lockdown, and easy to fit into my routine. I walk my dogs on the South Downs around Brighton at the weekends so I hit upon the idea of photographing fellow walkers. This would take me outside of my comfort zone by forcing me to approach complete strangers, and to add to my discomfort I decided to get to know a camera that I hadn’t used much before – the highly regarded Sony A7 III with its famously impressive Eye AF, along with the 35mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.8 prime lenses.

‘The first subject I tentatively approached was a middleaged couple with a labrador. They seemed delighted to be asked, and their friendliness would be repeated by almost everyone I met. Not wishing to inconvenience my subjects, each portrait ‘session’ comprised no more than about five or six quick frames, taken on the spot using available light. I never shot more than three or four subjects per walk. Over time I became more selective over who I asked, as I thought about the pictures I already had and sought out subjects that were different. I looked for locations that would offer varied and interesting backgrounds, so I got to discover some new walks. Over a period of three months I took about 80 portraits: singles, couples, families, friends, with and without dogs. Very few people turned down my requests for a picture, and I met some really nice people. Many of them asked where they could see the pictures so I created an Instagram account for them; and then, deciding this was inadequate, the project became the catalyst for me to finally build my own website: www.nigelatherton.com.’