I found a whole new side to myself

He has been with the NHS for some 30 years and says it is an “absolute privilege” as he works with “the most kind and inspirational people”. He was born in Brighton but moved to Worthing as child. He has four daughters, aged from four to 27, and is married to Sarah, who is in charge of three GP practices in Shoreham. He is also stepdad to her two children.

When and why did you get into photography?

I’ve been taking photos for four years. I had a bit of a rough time which coincided with the death of my mum, the birth of my fourth daughter in my early 50s and then the death of my incredibly brave older brother from cancer.

I found myself quite poorly and off work and I needed to do something to get my mental health back into shape and me back into the world. I found that getting outside helped and walking helped even more. I had a decent camera and I just started taking it with me. It’s as simple as that.

Dominic Ellett

I got on to a few local Facebook groups, including the Argus Camera Club. My interest began to take off when I saw what local photographers were doing and where they were going. Despite living in Sussex for most of my life I hadn’t been to some of the wonderful places I was seeing. People were posting photos from all over Sussex.

Places like Ditchling Beacon, the harbour arm in Newhaven, Bodiam Castle and places in Brighton that I had never actually stopped to look at properly. And I was getting phenomenal support and encouragement from camera club members.

No criticism at all for some quite dodgy early shots. Just a wonderful sense of enthusiasm for photography and the world around us. It was and still is an uplifting community to be a part of.

What do you love about taking pictures?

I literally take my camera everywhere with me now and I spend a lot more time outside with my family because of my photography. If you see me, you will probably see me mostly with my children.

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I like to think that I am trying to give them a love of the outdoors. An appreciation of the joy that you can get from just being outside. Sometimes I feel a little guilty about my motivations, but I know that our whole family has got to experience so much more together because of my photography.

Where is your favourite place for taking pictures?

It has to be Worthing Pier. I love the way this man-made thing interacts with the world of nature. The way that it throws reflections at low tide. The way it absorbs the sunlight at the beginning and end of the day. And the fact that it gives you the best views of Worthing at any time of day.

As much as I love my kids, the best times are when it’s just me and the camera. It becomes a meditative experience, where it’s just you and the picture you are taking. I get to be in the moment. Totally focused on what I am trying to get from the shot and what I need to do to get it.

Dominic Ellett taking pictures with his dog

I think what I have found is that photography speaks to the best and most generous part of human nature – the desire to share what we find beautiful and interesting with others. I try to take pictures that can grab people’s attention and which speak directly to their emotions. I don’t think that I take pictures which are powerful. I would love to but right now I think I probably fall into the wanting to make people smile bracket.

What is your favourite picture?

I think it has to be a black and white one. I took it in August 2020. We had a summer storm and I went down to Newhaven to watch the waves. It’s a phenomenal experience where you are watching nature in its most powerful state. Getting the right shot on the day is a mixture of luck and judgement.

It was summer and the light was pretty good and I risked getting a soaking by standing at the edge of the harbour to get both waves and the whole of the lighthouse in one shot. You have to take loads to get one which is perfect.

What equipment do you use?

I am not a technical expert by any stretch of the imagination. I have a Nikon D7200 and it’s a lovely camera but I think my skill is primarily in having an eye for the final shot and that’s what I tend to immerse myself in.

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Photography makes me so much more observant and aware of the wonderful little things that surround me each day. I notice things like light, shadows, patterns, frames, and colours. I notice clouds, reflections, architecture, and how we interact with nature.

I never thought of myself as a creative type. I have always appreciated photography and the work of professionals and artists, but it took me some time to really adopt it as a hobby because I believed I wasn’t artistic enough. Photography has really helped me to discover and develop a side of me I didn’t know existed.

What tips or advice do you have for others who want to take up photography?

Taking pictures is completely personal. You really don’t need a fancy camera or a creative background to start. I’ve seen amazing photos taken with a phone.

There are lots of easy and fun things to learn about composition, light, exposure and editing that will easily and quickly take anyone’s photos up to the next level.

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