A chance meeting with the American guitar legend Jimi Hendrix in London convinced a young Jim Rice that he wanted to pursue a career behind the lens. He shared some tips with HSBC to help competition entrants make sure they get the best possible shots.
During his career Jim has carried out commissions for, among others, GQ magazine, Esquire, Loaded, Tatler and Harpers & Queen and commercial clients that include Alfred Dunhill and Toyota. His work has also been represented in collections at the Museum of London, National Portrait Gallery and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
Jim offers his two golden rules for taking a good photograph: keep it fun and don't over complicate.
"When you are taking photographs the less equipment the better. With a minimum of equipment it means you are concentrating on what is happening on the other side of the camera. You certainly don't need expensive equipment to take a great photograph, just enthusiasm to get the shot," says Jim. "But the most important advice I can give is to have fun. You will meet some very interesting people when you are taking photographs. All of them will have a story to tell and so do you, through your camera!"
People portraits are a speciality of Jim's and require a different approach. He has been recording life in London and the people who live there for the past 30 years. Two celebrated photo projects include documenting the disappearing working life and the people of Deptford Creek in the shadow of HSBC's London HQ, and one focusing on the Jewish community in Whitechapel.
In January 2005, he visited Sri Lanka following the devastation of the Tsunami to photograph the rebuilding work around Galle and Mirissa by volunteers. His approach to portrait photography, whether it is a boardroom executive or an East End barrow boy, is always the same."Most times I will not even show my camera but will first talk to the people I want to photograph. This way really breaks the ice and puts no pressure on you or the subject."
‘Culture' means different things to different people. For Jim, it means London and Londoners. Whatever you choose as your subject, he advises to keep a camera with you at all times - even if it is only the camera on your mobile phone - and be persistent.
He says: "Be ready to take a shot of anything that interests you. After a while you will develop an instinct, a sense that something is going to happen. You may have to wait a while but something will happen, probably something you would never have expected. Be patient, a great photo will happen in front of you."
