Lighting the way

Stu Meech proves that our young Apprentice doesn’t need pro gear to develop his skills and take superb shots

P hotography has a reputation for being an expensive hobby and there’s no denying that camera kit can get very pricy, very fast. But while it’s nice to have the best cameras and a large collection of the finest glass, serious investment isn’t required to become a great photographer. Stu Meech and his Apprentice, sixth form student Jack Pawlyn, met at Queen Square in the historic city of Bath, and the discussion soon turned to gear.

“That’s a nice camera,” said Jack as he eyed up Stu’s Nikon Z 6. “What is it?” Stu explained the difference between a mirrorless and Jack’s DSLR.

“This is just a tool though,” said Stu. “It’s nice to have, but it isn’t the most important thing when starting out.” Jack admitted that his photography classmates cheekily rib his D3400 for not being the coolest camera.

THE PRO

NAME: Stu Meech CAMERA: Nikon Z 6

Stu is a self-taught, award-winning photographer based in Stratford-upon-Avon. Between photo shoots, writing photography-based articles and running camera workshops, he still finds the time to work as a freelance theatre production electrician. His background in stage lighting influences his work, and as a past resident of Bath, he’s the ideal mentor to help Jack get the most out of the city’s photogenic streets. See more of Stu’s work by visiting www.stumeech.co.uk

THE APPRENTICE

NAME: Jack Pawlyn CAMERA: Nikon D3400

17-year-old Jack is currently studying photography at A Level and has ambitions to become a professional landscape photographer. He spends most of his time photographing in and around Bath, and is particularly fond of editing. Jack caught the photography bug while travelling with his family and enjoys shooting landscapes, portraits and light trails. He’s hoping Stu can help him get the most out of his limited kit and shine a new light on the city streets he’s so accustomed to.

TECHNIQUE ASSESSMENT

APERTURE PRIORITY

Stu says… I shoot with Aperture Priority. Light can change very quickly, so I rely on the camera to automatically adjust the shutter speed and maintain the correct exposure, so I can focus on composing and capturing the shot. I also have full control of my aperture, so I can control the depth of field.

LOCK AND LOAD

Stu says… There are times when you don’t want the camera to adjust your exposure settings, like shooting panoramas or using filters, so my AF-ON button is mapped to Auto Exposure-Lock. This lets me fix my exposure settings while in Aperture Priority, as if I were shooting in Manual.

FLICK OF A SWITCH

Stu says… My Z 6 has three user presets, which I set for my favourite genres: U1 is wildlife, U2 is general use and U3 is landscapes. The latter sets the camera to ISO100, f/8, turns off IBIS and uses the electronic shutter: perfect for landscapes on a tripod.