Last night, we had the privilege of hosting Steve Russell, a local photography talent from Steve Russell Studios, who was joined by two members of his team, Tom and Abbie. The evening was nothing short of extraordinary, as Steve shared his vast expertise and unique insights into the world of commercial photography. His focus on high-end image creation, particularly for documenting artists’ works in stunning detail, captivated the audience.
Steve’s demonstration of the Hasselblad system was especially noteworthy, showing why his studio prefers it over Canon R5s! The level of detail in the images, supported by well-chosen slides, gave everyone a clear sense of why this camera is his tool of choice for precision work.
A standout moment was Steve's discussion of photogrammetry, where he introduced us to cutting-edge photography through 3D modeling and augmented reality (AR). Attendees were amazed as they viewed an owl in flight in full 3D AR on their phones, showcasing the future of how we capture and experience the world.
Steve also touched on his collaborations with internationally renowned sculptors and his long-standing partnership with Pangolin Foundry. Among the notable artists he's worked with are Paul Oz and Sabin Howard, the latter being the designer of the new World War I memorial in Washington, D.C.
Additionally, Steve’s work is frequently showcased in galleries, including a current exhibition by Tessa Campbell Fraser titled Whales – A Deeper Dialogue, at Messums Gallery in Wiltshire. This involved Steve enlarging and printing the artist’s interpretations of sperm whale ‘coda-clicks’—recorded via underwater hydrophones—onto silk, creating an evocative representation of these majestic creatures.
The generosity Steve and his team showed with their time and knowledge was exceptional. The audience left inspired, their heads filled with new possibilities in this exciting and rapidly evolving field of photography.