Meet Will Daulphin, or Daulphino, which you may be more familiar with.
He is probs one of the most talented, camera-wielding creatives to come from Brum town. You may as well say the camera is an extension of his own hand. Portraiture, architectural, landscape or street photography – Will does it all and does it well. If you’re a regular reader, you may have already seen some of his shots in my Adidas post. But that was all the way back at the start of the year. Since then, Will’s skills have gone from strength to strength and his style has evolved even further into something more defined and experimental. The move from Birmingham to London, to study photography at the Uni of Westminster, probably has a play in this.
As well as his photography style, there’s his fashion sense – and I’m a big fan of both.
The first time I met Will, I remember his outfit being a perfect balance of nude tones and blue denim, even down to the socks. His accessories always coordinate with the rest of the attire – talk about attention to detail – and he manages to look so wavy without seeming to try. I’m a sucker for his laidback style, even more so for his biker and bomber jackets (that Y-3 in particular is pretty tasty).
Will and I had an overdue chat about his fashion choices and all things photography…
What three items in your wardrobe represent your overall style the most, and how? I feel like one of your many pairs of Converse may show up on the list…
Converse 70’s, that is all I seem to wear nowadays! XL Gildan soft style t-shirts are another favourite, eBay special, cheap and cheerful. Also my brown leather bracelet I bought in Barcelona last year stays on my wrist whatever the weather.
What’s your favourite clothing item or accessory you own?
At the moment, it is probably my dark grey Zara denim jacket. Place Beyond the Pines vibes.
Tell me about your first ever shoot.
My first ever 1 to 1 photo shoot was with my friend Anton (@anton.leon) back in August last year, to raise awareness for a project he was doing where he was going to sleep rough on the streets for a night. As far as I can remember, it was all laughs and chatting, then came the photographs!
When did you know you wanted to pursue photography seriously?
That is a tough one. I would probably say just after the first shoot I did with @milocuki. It’s actually funny, because I used to work in retail with her and the first shoot we did was the first I felt truly proud about. Since then, we have done about four more shoots. She is my experimental partner.
What changes have you noticed in your style and subject focus since you first picked up a camera?
At first I wanted to fit the entire subject into the frame using mainly a wide focal length, but since then, I have been varying my focal lengths and compositions. Sometimes zoomed in, intimate. Also, I used to roll up to a shoot not really knowing what I wanted to capture, just winging it, but now I go to every shoot knowing roughly what I want to get from it.
You already know I’m a huge fan of the experimental turn your photography has begun to take. Yet your new style isn’t just about the edgy aesthetics – there are underlying messages within the work itself. What are you trying to convey in your newest work? What effect do you want it to have on people?
Before photography, for me, came graphic design. I started to become a bit bored of ‘just taking pictures of people’ for the sake of a good aesthetic, so I thought why not incorporate some of my design influence to my work to add further meaning. So here I find myself venturing into the realms of mixed media art, with notions such as consumerism, politics, and modernity being flirted with in the form of subliminally placed visual information.
How has the transition from Birmingham to London been, in terms of creativity? Has it been difficult or inspiring?
Refreshing. Birmingham will always be home, but in terms of creativity, networking and activity London is obviously the winner. I am here for uni but I do not plan to live here for the rest of my life – the world is too big for me to stay in the UK.
What’s been your biggest achievement, photography-wise, so far?
It is early days. My work has been recognised by the likes of VSCO and Basement Approved, but my biggest achievement doesn’t come in the form of recognition. It comes in the form of experimentation and dipping my foot in loads of ponds, not resting on a specific style and constantly pushing myself without a regard for what other people will think. Outside of photography my biggest achievement was probably Civilians, the first independent exhibition we held as a design collective earlier this year . Every time I am down or having a creative block, I look back at that exhibition and feel brand new again.
Your favourite shoot of all time and why?
My favourite shoot was probably the one I did recently with Poppy Ajudha, great person. When the location of the shoot is where the subject feels most comfortable, that is when I am most comfortable. Chilled out vibes. I just enjoy being on location. Obviously being in a studio has its advantages, but it just hasn’t been for me.
Who are your top three favourite photographers and why?
This is a really random mix but currently; William Eggleston because he captures an era, almost poetically, Robert Capa because he had huge balls to do what he did with such skill, and Jenifer Bin because, well…look at her Instagram feed.
What words of advice would you give to budding photographers from the West Midlands?
This applies to all creatives, not just photographers. Don’t feel you have to conform to what the next person is doing. Also don’t feel that London is the only key to success because it is not, realise the potential Birmingham does have. Instagram is a great tool don’t get me wrong, but it is just Instagram so don’t let the concept of follower amounts and virtual recognition drive your practice – generically speaking, ‘just do you’ and the fruits of life will follow. Finally, support fellow creatives. There seems to be an air of bitterness, lack of co-operation and encouragement within photography and other art forms that I have noticed lately and it is unhealthy.
Let’s come up together. Less ‘enemies’ and more friends.
To keep up with his photography, you can find Will on Instagram and check out his portfolio site here. Will makes some sick mixes too, so check out his Soundcloud.
[ALL IMAGES TAKEN BY/BELONG TO WILL DAULPHIN | SOURCED FROM WILL’S INSTAGRAM/PORTFOLIO SITE]
Back with the Q&A Series and it's time to get to know Daulphino! Click the link and meet Will Meet Will Daulphin, or Daulphino, which you may be more familiar with. He is probs one of the most talented, camera-wielding creatives to come from Brum town.
