The Concept of Expression: Jamie Albert Hills

DISCLAIMER: THIS PHOTOSHOOT WAS PRODUCED WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING IN PLACE THROUGHOUT TO ENSURE MINE & JAMIE’S SAFETY.

The next subject I’ve photographed for the series is Jamie Albert Hills.

Back in May, Jamie & I travelled to Battersea Park to do a photoshoot considering it was the first time in almost two years since we first met up at Croydon Pridefest in 2019, and it was the perfect reason to make up for the lost time.

Life Plays Itself Out in Front of Me. How Am I Supposed to Feel When Everything I Feel Now Feels Like It’s Putting The Weight of The World On My Shoulders?

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-800
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 300mm

All This Pressure & Weight On My Shoulders & I Feel Like There’s No One To Turn To For Help & Support.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-640
F-Stop: f/4.5
Focal Length: 180mm

Did You Need Something From Me?

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-500
F-Stop: f/4.5
Focal Length: 180mm

Has Life Ever Been Easy?

Lux: +50
Contrast: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-800
F-Stop: f/5
Focal Length: 260mm

I Need Some Time Alone.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/4.8
Focal Length: 220mm

I Feel Overcome With Emotion & This Is The First Time in a Long Time I’ve Felt This Overwhelmed.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/4.8
Focal Length: 220mm

The day we met up, the weather was overcast with intermittent moments of rainfall and sun, which was perfect as the rain provided a different backdrop for me to produce rain shots on and off.

It’s Hard For Me To Put Into Words Exactly How I Feel. I Feel Like Life is Going Nowhere For Me.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-450
F-Stop: f/4.8
Focal Length: 220mm

I’m Just Having a Moment to Gather My Thoughts.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/4.5
Focal Length: 135mm

It Feels So Good Soaking In The Fresh Air!

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/4.5
Focal Length: 135mm

Nature Provides a Better Understanding of Life in The Woods!

Lux: +50
Brightness: -50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-6400
F-Stop: f/4.2
Focal Length: 140mm

I Feel Like Everything’s At a Crossroads for Me Because My Emotions Are All Over The Place & I Feel Like I Have No One To Turn To For Help & Support.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-6400
F-Stop: f/4
Focal Length: 85mm

I Feel Like a King! This Fresh Air Makes Me Feel Alive As I Can Soak In The Smell of Nature Around Me As The Rain Pours Down On Me!

Lux: +50
Brightness: -50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/5
Focal Length: 100mm

This photo-set is my first attempt at producing a photoshoot in heavy rainfall as Battersea Park faced a few batterings of rain. I covered my camera under my coat every time the rainfall was heavier.

Am I Sure That I’m Making The Right Choices?

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-250
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 123mm

Something Good Is In The Air. I Can Feel It. This Is My Vibe & I’m Here Living & Embracing It!

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-320
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 123mm

Something Tells Me I’m Not Going to Like What I’m About to See.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 147mm

I Don’t Know Why They Think They Can Judge Me. They’ve No Idea What I’m Going Through.

Lux: +50
Contrast: +25
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 147mm

Sometimes I Wonder Why Some People Love to Judge Others When They Haven’t Got The Faintest Idea What Any of Us Have Been & Are Going Through.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/6.3
Focal Length: 127mm

I Wonder What Goes Through People’s Minds When They Judge & Hurt Others For Their Own Personal Gain? Does It Make Them Feel Good? If It Makes Them Feel Good, Then I Wonder How They Can Sleep At Night Knowing They’ve Negatively Impacted Other People’s Lives As a Result?

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/6.3
Focal Length: 127mm

To my surprise, I’m genuinely impressed with some of the rainfall shots! They came out better than I anticipated!

What Are They Doing?

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 450mm

Macro: On

What I’m Curious About Is How People Think Mental Health Doesn’t Exist In Their Eyes When Mental Health Does Exist? Do People Forget to Realise That Mental Health Is The Very Reason We Exist? Mental Health Gives Our Lives Purpose & Allows Us to Process Our Genuine, Unseen Emotions & Show Others We’re Allowed to Express How We Truly Feel.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 450mm

Macro: On

The Rain in Sunlight Sparkles But Also Signifies As a Reason to Open Up More Even to Those Who I Know I Can Turn To For Support.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-800
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 450mm

Macro: On

I Just Need a Moment To Shield Myself From The Light.

Lux: +50
Shadows: -100
Vignette: +75
Sharpen: +75

ISO Speed: ISO-450
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 450mm

Macro: On

I’m Feeling Good. This Is My Kind of Vibe! I Love The Fresh Air The Water Brings From The Sprinklers; It Makes Me Feel at Ease.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/5
Focal Length: 330mm

Looking Out Amongst The Horizon, I Can See Hope & Wisdom.

Lux: +50
Brightness: -25
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/4.8
Focal Length: 330mm

Jamie conveys his body language and emotions perfectly; from feelings of curiosity to feelings of anger and mixed feelings of doubt and positivity, his feelings and expressions spoke volumes visibly that mental health affects everyone differently.

I’m Hopeful For The Future.

Lux: +50
Brightness: -25
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -25
Vignette: +75
Sharpen: +75

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/5.3
Focal Length: 420mm

Macro: On

Looking At Me? Of Course You Are! What Do You Want Now?

Lux: +50
Brightness: -50
Highlights: -25
Shadows: -25
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/5.3
Focal Length: 420mm

Macro: On

Something’s Happening Over There. I Know The Rain Just Stopped But I Want To See What They’re Doing Over There.

Lux: +50
Brightness: -25
Contrast: +25
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/4.5
Focal Length: 105mm

Ooooh Hello! Something’s Caught My Eye That I’m Interested In!

Lux: +50
Brightness: -50
Contrast: -75
Highlights: +25
Shadows: +25
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/6.3
Focal Length: 127mm

Sometimes I Smoke To Release The Pain I Feel Inside.

Lux: +50
Brightness: -50
Contrast: -75
Highlights: -25
Shadows: -25
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/7.1
Focal Length: 105mm

Sometimes I Smoke To Hide My Pain, But Every Puff is A Release of The Pain I Feel Inside, Physically & Mentally.

Lux: +50
Brightness: -25
Contrast: -50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/7.1
Focal Length: 70mm

What’s heartbreaking about mental health is it’s overlooked by many; it is a grey area to some who still believe it doesn’t exist.

Why Am I Suddenly Experiencing Feelings of Doubt?

Lux: +50
Brightness: -25
Contrast: -50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/6.3
Focal Length: 70mm

The Sunny Weather Cleanses My Soul!

Lux: +50
Brightness: -25
Contrast: -50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/6.3
Focal Length: 70mm

I Love When Nature & The Sunny Weather Come Together; It Gives Me a Reason to Lose Myself in The Moment.

Lux: +50
Brightness: -50
Contrast: -50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/6.3
Focal Length: 70mm

Please Bare With Me A Moment While I Finish Puffing This Cigarette.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +50

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/7.1
Focal Length: 70mm

Sometimes I Sit Back & Wonder Why I Feel Like This. Then, I Remember That Everything Happens For A Reason. Everything That Happens is A Test of My Strength.

Lux: +50
Brightness: -25
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/7.1
Focal Length: 70mm

Why Are You Looking At Me? Please Give Me Space To Allow Me To Feel The Way I’m Feeling.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +100
Sharpen: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 70mm

How would life have a purpose if mental health didn’t exist?

I Feel Alone. My Emotions Are Getting Too Much For Me To Handle & I’ve Never Felt This Depressed in My Life.

Lux: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-500
F-Stop: f/4
Focal Length: 75mm

I Sometimes Wonder Why I Bother.

Lux: +50
Brightness: -25
Structure: +25
Shadows: -25
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/5
Focal Length: 70mm

Looking Ahead & Forward To The Future!

Lux: +50
Brightness: -50
Structure: +50
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-400
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 70mm

I’m Taking This Moment To Let This Positive Energy Sink In.

Brightness: -50
Structure: +25
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/8
Focal Length: 125mm

This is Who I Want To Be! This is Me!

Lux: +50
Contrast: -25
Structure: +25
Highlights: -50
Shadows: -50
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-200
F-Stop: f/8
Focal Length: 125mm

What On Earth Are They Doing Over There?

Brightness: -25
Contrast: +25
Structure: +25
Highlights: -25
Shadows: -25
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-3600
F-Stop: f/5
Focal Length: 360mm

This is The Happiest I’ve Ever Felt For Such A Long Time & It Feels So Good To Feel This Way!

Lux: +50
Contrast: +25
Structure: +25
Highlights: -25
Shadows: -25
Vignette: +100

ISO Speed: ISO-500
F-Stop: f/4
Focal Length: 75mm

Mental health provides purpose because it shapes everyday life for everyone; how we feel, the way we think, and the way we express our true selves is vital!

For too long, the world has been silent on mental health.

Now, and beyond the pandemic, we must open up more because anyone we know could be battling depression in silence.

Let’s use this opportunity to open up and keep opening up, and encourage everyone around us to open up more because we all must check in on each other to make sure everyone’s coping and managing, even if we’re on our own or not.

In the New Year, I’ll be publishing the photoshoots I originally intended to publish this year, and I’m excited for all of you to see them!

Please feel free to comment below what you thought of this photo-set, and if this set of Jamie inspired you, please let me know as I want all of us to keep opening up more as mental health matters!

Alex Smithson

Equipment Used:

DSLR Used: Nikon D3300
Lens Used: TAMRON AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2

App Used: Instagram (Free)
Filter Used: Inkwell

Date of Photoset Produced: Saturday 15th May 2021