In the thirty fourth edition of our special features celebrating our favourite south coast based Instagram users, I catch up with Josh Osmond (@joshosmondfilm).

Can you tell me a little about yourself?
My name is Josh Osmond, I’ve been in and out of photography for around twelve years now, for work I run my own outdoors brand with a degree of success and my hobbies include hiking, photography and movies.

Awesome, can you tell me a little more about this outdoors brand?
Sure. No Safe Route was formed alongside working freelance for clothing brands, I’d shoot a lot and get talking to people about how they do things, how their process works and I started being absolutely fascinated by it, so a little research and a small bedroom in Southsea five years ago has now grown to be a loved eco-conscious fashion brand specialising in recycled activewear and with adventure at its core! I still get to be visually creative with it, but in more of a directorial role, I recently had a photoshoot completed (see attached photos) in which I directed digitally over zoom, which was an experience!

Can you tell me more about your photographic experience; is this something that you’ve studied or maybe a hobby that you’ve developed?
my photographic experience started a little late, I studied video from 16 to 23 and freelanced in that too, whilst I was at University in Bristol I started really enjoying the process of photography, I think at the time and especially at University the process of video had to be meticulously evaluated and reasoned, whereas I found photography to be quick and give me the opportunity to capture anything that caught my eye.

Do you have a favoured camera or device that you use for your Instagram photography?
I used to exclusively use Canon DSLR’s and stick to that, the fake war between Canon and Nikon meant I stuck to it, however a few years ago I picked up a Lumix GX85 as a second and more portable mirrorless camera and I have to say I am absolutely in love with it and use that as my main on most days.

Exploring the theme of local, the south coast has a wide variety of climatic conditions, buildings and landscapes. Are there any places or environments that are personal to you or that you love to photograph?
I grew up on the Isle of Wight, so to me coastal landscapes are a favourite of mine, I do however tend to favour extreme or beautiful sky conditions within my photography, you’ll notice a lot of my images have heavy sky and that’s something I find beautiful, It’s a myriad of colours and no two are ever the same, even at the same spot! Location wise I’d have to say setting up near Portchester castle and looking over the Portsmouth skyline is up there for me.

For you what makes a good photograph stand out?
It’s been drilled into me about the rule of thirds and composition, so I always notice that first. Mainly straight horizons, however the older I get and the more I consume I love things that are different, taken from a different perspective and truly made to be the photographers on! Also back to the sky theme, I absolutely love seeing and creating vivid colours.

It’s been drilled into me about the rule of thirds and composition, so I always notice that first. 

Would you say that you take photos more for yourself or for others?
It used to be ONLY others, when freelancing you tend to take on some not so creative jobs to pay the bills, but since leaving that behind all the images I take and display on Instagram are all for me, It’s obviously great if others like it too but it tends to be a moment or idea that I want to capture.

Are there any other photographers who either influence you or that you would encourage our readers to also check out?
So as I take more of a documentary stance with my images, I love the work of @gregforaday 100% worth your time to check out, I also love the starkness and adventure photography of @jordan.t.price he tends to capture an aspect of the outdoors that isn’t done to death on Instagram.

If you would like to get involved or know of a photographer that you think should be on our radar then please drop me an email at stu@strongisland.co.