My love for photography started 44 years ago when I received an Olympus OM-2 and a 50 mm Zuiko lens for my 16th birthday. That camera documented family events, teenage exploits, and all my travels.
In Barcelona where I lived in the early ’90s, I learnt to develop and print my own negatives, both in monochrome and colour. I was an early digital convert too, snapping up Sony’s first mirrorless bodies in the late ’90s and upgrading with each new generation. In each of the six countries where I lived, I used my cameras to document my travels and experiences.
A fresh spark came in 2023 when I turned my lens to street photography. Candid moments and street portraits now fascinate me. To develop my skills, I’ve attended talks at Smethwick Photographic Society, completed four one-to-one street-photography workshops in Birmingham and London, joined the RPS Contemporary Central group and taken part in two RPS portrait workshops.
Nostalgia called me back to film and in 2024 I treated myself to an OM-4Ti with prime Zuiko lenses and a medium-format Mamiya 645 Pro. These days I shoot happily in both worlds, alternating rolls of film with digital on my Fujifilm X-E4 and Canon EOS R5 cameras.
A little about me beyond photography: I was born in Paris sixty years ago. I lived in France, Spain, Mauritius, Comoros Islands and Morocco, before moving to the UK in 2008. I now live in Stourbridge, West Midlands, with my husband Mark and our rescue dogs, Jake and Sasha. After thirty-seven years as a senior executive across several industries, I’m retraining as an executive coach—blending boardroom experience with a passion for helping others thrive. Free moments find me enjoying photography, throwing pots in my garden studio, tending the allotment, touring in our campervan or experimenting new dishes in our kitchen. I also speak candidly about my journey with prostate cancer a decade ago and my ongoing conversations around mental health.
I’m enthusiast about photography, and the chance to serve as Regional Organiser for the Central region feels like a perfect way to give back—connecting with members, strengthening our community and welcoming photographers of every level to share in the joy of the craft.
Visit my website: https://brunovinel.com