Steve Carse

Steve Carse is a graduate of Wednesday School of Photography and Arts University Bournemouth, and has spent over 35 years as a commercial photographer. His portfolio covers a wide range of subjects, including jewellery, footwear, clothing, food, architectural interiors and exteriors, fashion, education, and more.

One common thread across all these subjects is the importance of lighting; the key to showcasing subjects at their best. While studio work offers easy control, exterior photography requires patience and observation, waiting for the perfect moment to capture a cloud, a shadow, or a highlight.

Steve approaches each subject as a challenge, drawing on the golden trinity of shutter speed, ISO, and apertures to achieve the desired effect. He uses high-end digital cameras and his iPhone to capture everything in camera, using RAW mode (similar to the original negative), and utilises Photoshop sparingly – it can be a valuable tool: but overuse takes away the feel of a traditional photograph.

Although the darkroom has been replaced by digital alternatives, such as Photoshop and Lightroom, Steve still uses old-school editing techniques to achieve finished results. These include cropping, resizing, contrast control, adding a border, dodging and burning, and highlight and shadow control.

A regular exhibitor at the RBSA since 2020, Steve is enjoying the opportunity to work creatively, producing landscapes, still life, portraits, and social comment, unbound by the constraints of the commercial brief.