Streets ahead

Alistair Campbell joins Darren Ridgway for some candid captures on a wander through Bristol

- Alistair Campbell

Darren Ridgway first developed his passion for street photography when he travelled Europe for his work as a removal man. With lunch breaks to wander around with his camera candidly snapping away, he quickly built a large portfolio from many different countries.

Capturing street on a compact camera
“There are some key skills to being a street photographer, including being able to find small pockets of light, seeing a shot before it happens and being quick off the mark,” says Darren. “But none is more important than avoiding bringing any unwanted attention upon yourself, essentially being present but remaining inconspicuous. That’s why I use a Ricoh GR III – most of the time, this is the only camera I have with me. It’s similar in size to a smartphone but it packs a punch.

“When switched off, the lens retracts and the camera fits easily into my pocket, making it the perfect travel companion. They say that the best camera is always the one you have with you, and this really is one of the best cameras you can ever hope to find in your pocket. With 24MP and a startup time of less than a second, you’ll rarely miss a shot – I reckon it’s the ultimate snapshot camera.”

I’m due to meet Darren at Castle Park in Bristol but, with an overcast sky and cloud cover, it’s less than optimal weather for punchy street photography. However, Darren is optimistic.

“The thing about shooting on the streets is that conditions are never perfect,” he says. “You can go out all day and get nothing, but when the odds are stacked against you, that’s when you can really push yourself to take some great photos.”