My life through a lens: Thomas Jackson
We've been asking North East photographers to open up their archives and select a double handful of images which encapsulate life as they've captured it
Thomas Jackson is a full-time photographer who specialises in capturing live events.
A former software developer for the NHS (‘photography is a lot more interesting!’), the County Durham-bred and now Gateshead-dwelling 44-year-old is the top man at Tynesight Media.
Although he can’t remember the first photo he took for sure, there’s an old pack of prints at the back of his wardrobe from a school trip to the Farne Islands when he was about 12.
“I’m happy to say my skills have improved,” he says.
It was music which prompted Thomas to start snapping.
“I started taking a pocket camera to concerts and music festivals and taking photos from the crowd.
“Then a friend who ran an online music publication, commissioned me to photograph gigs for him. The money wasn’t great but it gave me an insight into how the industry worked.
“I spent the following two summers photographing 15 music festivals in two years whilst still working full time. It was my version of art school!”
Thomas cites a willingness to keep learning and improving as a way of keeping things interesting, and doesn’t hesitate when asked what he’s best at photographing.
“Live music. I find the unpredictability of it wonderfully inspiring.”
And what’s most challenging?
“Probably also live music — I think the challenge is what I enjoy in it!”
Turning the focus onto the photographers he admires, music remains a theme.
“I’m a huge fan of Jill Furmanovsky. Her portraits of musicians are unparalleled. Dave Hogan’s live music work is also a massive inspiration.
“And there are some wonderful music photographers locally as well - Sam Wall and Victoria Ling are both very much worth keeping an eye on.”
And talking of up and comers, Thomas is happy to share a trio of tips for aspiring snappers everywhere.
Persevere. It won’t happen overnight.
Be picky with your edits. Ten great photos look better on their own, than scattered inside a set of 50 ‘ok’ images.
The camera you have is good enough. You can make great art with what you have, even the phone in your pocket.
Thomas’ top 10 selection from his archives.
I was commissioned to photograph the First Lady’s keynote presentation at SXSW in Austin, Texas in 2016. I’ve never been more nervous in my life. The photo ended up being used in newspapers around the world, and it’s an image I’m immensely proud to have taken.
The Glasshouse International Centre For Music was still Sage Gateshead when I took this. The early morning colours in the sky were breathtaking, and I took a detour along the Quayside to get it.
I didn’t know it at the time, but this was the last concert I photographed before lockdown in 2020. I was lucky enough to be able to work (legally!) through the pandemic, on some behind closed doors and socially distanced events, but this photo always reminds me how easily it could all go away again.
Latitude 2021 was the first full scale music festival that was allowed to take place after lockdown. I’ve photographed a lot of music festivals, but I’ve never known a crowd, or an atmosphere, quite like it. I’ll admit to having a tear in my eye walking into the main stage photo pit on the Friday morning, with 40,000 people standing behind me in a field.
I adore travel, and try to take portraits when I can. This portrait of an elephant in a Sri Lankan national park is on the wall in my home, and the beauty and wisdom in her face stagger me every time.
I was commissioned to photograph Prince Harry’s visit to Gateshead in 2017. I’m not a royalist, but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity. There were a lot of the usual PR setups, but this image of him sharing a joke with a young soldier stuck with me.
I’ve been lucky enough to be the go-to photographer for Royal Northern Sinfonia for the last six years. A couple of years ago, they agreed to my (almost weekly) requests to shoot onstage with them during rehearsals. I think the constant badgering paid off!
New York is one of my favourite cities, and Grand Central is my favourite part of it. It’s not a train station, it’s a cathedral to travel, and I adore it.
I’m a sucker for large scale public art, and the first NOVUM Festival in Newcastle in 2023 did it superbly. Olivier Grossetête’s giant cardboard structure was a masterpiece, but the public destruction of it at the end of the festival was just as impressive.
I couldn’t not include this. This was taken on my last visit to Sycamore Gap, at the end of the pandemic. It took on a whole new poignancy when the tree was brutally felled.
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