My name is Joseph Atwere, I am a London based street photographer.

My interest in still photography began in 2007. I bought my first camera which was a Canon 350D whilst on vacation in the US. I had quite a steep learning curve and spent many hours trying to get my head round the basics such as learning about f-stops etc.  During this time I tried all types of photography with varying degrees of success. I discovered street photography by chance whilst doing some online research.  I now take shots of people around London on a daily basis.

What I look out  for when I shoot on the streets are strange weird and unconventional people. If you stay out on the streets for long enough you are bound to find them.

When I walk  around London I scan crowded places and look for people who stand out. The adrenaline rush you get when you shoot on the streets in my opinion is immense. There is always a fear element when you put a camera in a strangers face. But also excitement when you strike lucky and get that shot. At times I have found this irrational fear to be all in my own mind and all part of the process.

At the start of 2011 I invested in a lighter more compact mirrorless camera, Fuji X100 for my street work. For me it was a complete game changer. Combined with a wrist strap it becomes an extension of my arm and a lot less intimidating than my DSLR camera for street work. This allows me to move on the streets more covertly and when I see my target I can shoot quickly. In terms of my work I do enjoy the more confrontational “in your face “type of street photography however more recently I tend to approach my subjects and ask to take a picture. Sometimes getting to know the subject can be as rewarding as taking the shot. Since 2012 I have been working on the street photography project under the guise of Jayninety on Flickr. I also publish my best work on social media sites such as G+ and 500px.com.

In terms of influences I have totally embraced the online community and regularly view work on sites like Flickr,500px and G+. There are so many talented street photographers out there and the ability to share work instantly and give and receive constructive feedback is a great motivator. In terms of photographers I admire the work of Vivian Maier, Elliot Erwitt, Robert Frank and Gary Winogrand. I am also inspired by more contemporary photographers such as Frank Jackson (LA), Rinzi Ruiz (Street Zen), Juergen Buergin, Rupert  Vandervell,  ifotog (Queen of Manhattan), GK Sholanke to name but a few.

I am currently doing a street portrait series and I plan to exhibit the best of the street photography project at some point in the not too distant future.