Ben Moore, Nikon Europe Creator, is an urban architectural photographer who understands the grind. His passion and tenacity for pushing himself have led to a career of stunning image creation.
Born in London, Ben is a self-taught photographer. He's walked the long road every photographer has had to take, from small weddings to club photos to grungy nighttime shoots. But, from early on in his career, after selling his first photo, he knew he was committed to photography. There was just no other option for him. Now, 13 years later, he's a Nikon Z9 user and has worked with many well-known brands, such as Adidas, Samsung, Google, and Nissan.
Ben speaks about the grind, and it becomes apparent that a relentless spirit is burning in him. He’s humble but hungry, and he talks about how he always had his camera with him, always searching for a shot. He also mentions how when you start, you get completely immersed in the craft, and sometimes, you need someone to give you a bit of reassurance. This praise now comes from his kids, who keenly share dad’s website at school with their friends.
His urban art started with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED Lens on a D800 body and a friend with some smoke grenades. People began to notice his work, and before long, he was on a new building every night. There was no time for tripods or thinking about settings. “You had to adapt super fast; it was intense and fun.” He always tries to find an angle or a shot that has not been seen. This is one of the first things you notice when seeing a Ben Moore frame: it's unique. You know the place, but you’ve never seen it like this.
He’s been on the Z9 since January last year. “That camera is like Excalibur, and it's scary because you know cameras are going to get better.” He uses the Z9 as his primary body; the other is a Nikon Z7, with the Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Lens. Often, he composes a shot and waits for a person to walk through the frame, and the Z9’s autofocus does not let him down. With 405 autofocus points in auto-area AF, Ben says the AF latches on and follows the subject, giving him multiple frames to choose the exact moment that works with his composition. Recently, he got the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S Lens and took it for a test run on a car. Now, it's permanently in his gear bag. “It's crazy sharp.”
On how he gets his unique photos, he responds that with practice comes experience and that feeling you get when you know it's going to be a good shot and it makes you press the shutter. “It’s part of my style I feel what I shoot That's experience.” Ben notes that there isn’t one particular space that is his dream to photograph. For him, it's more about the feeling when you get there: how do you see this space differently? What can you discover that everyone else has overlooked? This further demonstrates his commitment to the process rather than the result. This process is so important for creatives to understand. It makes humans different from machines and gives us life experience to further grow and improve our craft. When asked about the influence of artificial intelligence on his style of photography, he is unphased. It's another tool in the camera bag; he decides when to use it, but as an artist, he believes that true art will prevail. It's a shortcut to a result, and that’s not why Ben picks up his camera. He’s all about the journey, not just the destination.
In the future, Ben’s mind is set on imparting his knowledge and experience to others. He wants to educate, as he feels that there are still many misconceptions about photography. He notes that so many people are under the impression that they have to follow exact rules, that there is a formula for every photo. This is not true. Too many variables are at play before you even factor in the individual’s artistic ability. “If every photographer thinks the same way, all the work is going to look exactly the same.”
Ben Moore's perspective on the world around him
Ben is an inspiration to any new photographer. He is a testament that hard work still has a place in the world, that nice guys don’t have to finish last. His drive is his gift; we should all be grateful that he’s willing to share it with the world.
Images used with permission of Ben Moore.
Art indeed, and what a unique perspective. Love Ben's work.
Hi Stephen, I'm thrilled that you enjoy Ben's work. He truly does see the world around him from a unique perspective. All of this while being one of the nicest people to talk to! He is offering workshops soon (if not already), so if you're in the London area, look him up! Cheers.