About Cymon Taylor
About Me
“Seeing is not enough; you have to feel what you photograph.”
I'm Cymon Taylor, and I'd like to say hello, tell you a little bit about myself, and provide solutions for any photo-related problems.
I am a British professional photographer who has been living between London and Tuscany for the last 20 years. Over the course of a long and enjoyable career, my work has covered a wide range of photographic genres for clients in the advertising, editorial and sports world. More importantly, I have specialised in portrait, travel and landscape photography for over 40 years.
The quote above is from a photographer who has been an inspiration to me throughout my career. His words, for me, encapsulate the intuitive, emotional approach that underpins all of my work, so it seemed appropriate to start with them.
My Photography Workshops
In the last few decades, my photographic work has taken me all over the world, from Monaco to the Bahamas. But it’s the radiant, ethereal light of Tuscany that inspires me, and it’s also where I call home. Toscana, the picture-perfect backdrop for the motion and stills industries, is right on my doorstep, and it never fails to inspire.
That’s why I’ve created a number of fine art photography workshops offering retreats in the heart of Tuscany, including photo workshops, tours, and courses to help you develop your own visualisation, workflow, and creativity. My one-on-one mentoring will be especially beneficial if you want to progress from amateur to professional photographer.
Whether you want to come to Tuscany to improve your photographic skills on a small group workshop or a private photography course, please call or email me – I’m here to help in English or Italian.
My Photography Background
The early years
After receiving a disposable camera, as a Christmas present in 1972, it revealed an inner affinity with photography. I purchased my first SLR Canon AE -1 and 50mm lens whilst still at school and a few years later in 1980, relocated to London. Even with no previous working experience, it was possible to make a living of sorts until 1983, considering photography courses were rare and not even regarded by professionals of the day.
When a spell in the British Army ended, an adventure into the dark rooms and underground studios of Christie’s South Kensington where a magical friendship and creative photography ensued. Being welcomed by Ted, a veteran large format photographer, who treated me like his newborn, in a period of two years it was possible to study medium and large format camera operation and movements, lens choice, construction and defects, lighting theory applied to a very diverse range of surfaces, film developing and printing techniques whilst at the same time creating my own body of personal work.
Hungry for a more specific post to try my newly acquired skills, after a phone call and an interview work started one Monday in ’88 with established advertising photographer Robert Dowling a great year of campaigns, travel and constant learning. Aware of my desire to work in NYC, Robert dispatched me to find him a US agent and we managed to root out Jim Moffat of Visual Team the meeting was organised and the doorway to the States opened when Jim asked if I would consider working for Annie Leibowitz.
Professional work
Following my first Leibovitz shoot in Paris and subsequent shoots in various locations in England, an offer was accepted to head to New York mid ‘89. After eighteen months with Annie, it was time to go freelance for another two years in NYC, fortune was on my side whilst collaborating with many masters of the era and completing commissions for Interview magazine
Returning to England in late ’92, London agent Horton Stephens welcomed the body of work produced in New York and we set about selling to major agencies and exhibited the twenty Image Creative Face series at the AOP (formerly AFAEP) Gallery. The next four years were a busy growth period, work being split between advertising campaigns, automotive above and below-the-line commissions and sports work in the form of team contracts and various worldwide publications covering the British Superbike, WorldSBK and MotoGP championships.
The onset of the millennium saw a move to Italy and a new agent Visual Team in Milan. In 2004 Photo Station was opened in Arezzo Equestrian Centre which provided a full photographic service at National and International equine events. In 2009 Photo Station closed as personal contracts were finalised for the world’s most respected Equestrian Events, Tours, private clients and owners. The horse chapter was finalised after attending the 2012 London games and publishing the London 2012 Olympic edition book in collaboration with Horse Times Egypt.