Insight #12: Ash Kingston

His pictures reconcile the melancholic purity of the livid skies of Wales and the strenght of the sparkling beauty of youth. Ash Kingston is only sixteen but his works could be easily confused with some of the finest urban-styled haute couture editorials: his up-and-coming success is inevitable (proof are the 1,500+ votes that one of his pictures got on PhotoVogue.it)!

In this special number of Insight, I had the chance to see in absolute exclusive some shots from his new photo-set, which title is “Lost Nature”. Keep reading to discover some more about this gifted lad and the stunning frames I’m rambling about.

The photographer

Age: 16 years old
Born: in London
Raised: in Wales
‘Wishes he was: in New York, London, Milan or Paris!
In a word: “exciting”
Typical day: college in the morning, come home, edit pictures, eat, get a bath, go to sleep
Equipment: Canon 5d Mk II with a 50mm 1.4 USM and a Panasonic Gf1
Inspired by: Terry Richardson
Why photography: it takes my mind off of things and I really love it because I can inspire myself
Loves: eating chinese food and listening to music with my family
Hates: going to college
Dreams to: become a world known fashion photographer
Listens to: The xx, Skrillex, MGMT, Mark Ronson, Miike Snow, The Strokes, The Drums, David Guetta, Kanye West and that kinda stuff
Favourite model/s: Yuri Pleskun and Daphne Groeneveld
Favourite garment: my black suede creepers
When he’s bored: I sit in bed listening to music and thinking of concept for photographs
Motto: if I push myself I will get where I want to be!

The shooting

Why this title?
I chose it with the help of Harry (the model). The reason we used this is because we both think people are losing touch with out surroundings and with the countryside in general. Everyone, me included, like I said before, wants to move to the city, that’s the idea.

What’s your relationship with nature?
I don’t find it difficult to feel nature in the city I live in, since it’s very small. There is a lot of nature, like trees and the lake as well, but it just doesn’t excite me like a metropolis does.

How do you choose the places you want to go shooting?
It’s not casual at all. When walking I usually spot places I’d like to shoot, so I take pictures of them, mark down where they are and then go back there on shooting days to take pictures with models as well.

How do you pick your models?
The model who worked with me here is my good friend Harry Daniels. Yeah, at the moment I’m just using friends and goodlooking people I know, I’d really want to start using other people though, like proper models!

How do you find and choose clothes for the models?
I usually let the models wear their own clothes, so they can feel a little more comfortable. In some ways, this helps them to express their personalities better.  I also try to get clothes which can fit in better with the theme. For example, I love when I have matching colours!

What do you do the day before a shooting?
I just make sure that my batteries are charged and that I have enough space on my memory card, I then write down some more ideas to expand on.

Back at home, how do you usually edit your pictures?
I use Photoshop CS4, I normally just add curves to adjust them, after retouching them a bit, which takes a majority of the time. That’s about it, really.

How much experimenting is important in what you do?
Experimenting is a big part of me. It helps me to find out new things and then I learn from that, it’s like one big cycle.

See more of his works on flickr & on facebook

Qs by Sara Scialpi