Brighton and America inspire Behind The Lens snapper

Tyrone Campbell

What do you love about taking pictures?

I love the creative process of both taking the photos and then editing them. Bringing that captured scene to life makes me feel that I’ve achieved something special that will last for years.

Where is your favourite place for taking pictures?

So many places, from Knepp Safari and Cuckmere Haven to all the wilderness adventures in between. I can never pinpoint an exact location as to me they all have their own individual beauty with amazing wildlife.

Lond-horned cattle, Knepp Safari

What equipment do you use?

I now use a Canon EOS R with five basic RF lenses. I challenge myself and only take one lens out at a time to see what I can do with it. It’s always interesting to discover what you can achieve with one lens when you think you need to carry them all.

Beachy Head lighthouse

Why did you join The Argus Camera Club and what do you like about it?

It is a fantastic way for local creators to express their love of photography. You get to see the beauty through the eyes of our explorers.

What tips or advice do you have for others who want to take up photography?

I would advise not to worry about what camera or equipment you have, just express your story with what you have to hand, as the story you’re telling is more important.

• READ MORE: Photographer shares stunning pictures of Hove and the coast

What is your favourite picture?

It is very difficult to choose my favourite picture from all those I’ve taken as there is such a wide variety.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?

Since I can remember, I’ve always had a passion for capturing the essence of this diverse city, whether it be on photo or on film, from the early days of using disposable cameras in the late 1990s to the first camera phones which started coming out in the early 2000s. I never could afford a professional camera, so I made do with what I had to show my story though any lens available. I was snapping away at everything that I felt drawn to, from wildlife in their natural habitat to breathtaking landscapes, all while subconsciously learning the basics of photography such as composition, ISO and exposure.

Wild moose in Utah

A bit later in my early adult life, I put down the camera for the most part and pursued a huge desire to travel. I packed my bags and travelled all around some of the most breathtaking parts of Europe, while exploring wonderful places and meeting extraordinary people.

Tyrone's brother Paul

Five years ago, I re-lit my dormant passion for photography after the devastating loss of my big brother, Paul Campbell, to cancer at the age of 44. After he passed away, I was sorting through all my personal photo albums to gather pictures of Paul for his three beautiful children, Preston, Maddie and Sam. It was then I noticed there weren’t that many photos of him, which was a bit strange as I thought I would have had loads. At that point I felt an overwhelming sadness and realised I owed it to him and myself to give my reignited passion another go and to create those special moments for myself and loved ones. I had to rise up like a “phoenix from the ashes” once again to capture those special memories and freeze them in time.

Before my brother passed away, I managed to live in North-East Brazil for two years, which was a crazy experience to say the least. When I came back to Brighton, I realised how privileged we are and that we should not take what we have on our doorstep for granted. I then focused on what I wanted to do as a career and soon realised it’s not so much the destination, but the journey which counts too. The ambition and desire to be a freelance photographer was coursing through my veins.