I’m David Priestley, a photographer based in Portsmouth, England.
Most of my work comes from simply observing the world around me - particularly along the British coast. I’m drawn to quiet moments: people looking out to sea, figures moving through the landscape, and the small details that give a place its character. I usually work in black and white, where light, weather and timing become the main elements of the photograph.
Alongside this work, I’m developing Wildheart, an ongoing project at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary on the Isle of Wight. The sanctuary is home to rescued animals, many of which have come from difficult pasts. Rather than photographing wildlife in a traditional sense, the project focuses on atmosphere, behaviour and the spaces the animals now inhabit.
I also run Zuikography, an online project dedicated to the Olympus OM film system and the photographers who still use it. Through articles, archives and personal work, it explores the cameras, lenses and philosophy behind one of the most elegant film systems ever made.
My approach is simple: walk, watch and wait. Most photographs come from paying attention to what’s already there.
Thank you!