Tom Hanslien

I am a freelance photographer based in London. I enjoy a big love for travelling, which not only takes me around the world – with many great new images as a result – it's also a continuing source of inspiration which influences and feeds my passion for photography.

With a background that started with drawing and illustration, which in turn lead to graphic design I believe the foundation of the way I compose my captures is very much affected by this. I often look for very graphic compositions with strong lines, large areas of strong colour, negative space and pushing the boundaries of traditional rules of composition.
There is also a different approach to the way I like capturing my images when it comes to more travel reportage images. Still looking to isolate my subject, either by using shallow focus, leading lines, concentrating of light, picking out splashes of colour, and other techniques. Most images are very much as a spectator, fly on the wall if you like - I generally don't like posed images. I feel I get a truer picture when I don't interfere, but also I'm not hiding in the distance with a tele-lens - I like to be close to my subjects in plain sight.

BA (HONS) in Photography at Kent Institute of Art and Design (1998).
Visual Communication, Nauma Videregående Skole, Namsos, Norway. (BTEC ND equivalent) (1994).
Foundation Course; Illustration/Graphic Design, Nauma Videregående Skole, Namsos, Norway.
(BTEC ND equivalent) (1992).