For 23 year old Olly Woods, photography isn’t just about taking pictures - it’s about documenting moments, subcultures, and the changing landscape of the North. Originally from Holmfirth, a small countryside village, Olly has since rooted himself in Manchester, where his lens is focused on everything from urban architecture to the city’s thriving music and youth culture scenes.
Photography has been part of Olly’s life for as long as he can remember. His school photography class first introduced him to the technical side of the craft, and when his parents bought him his first camera, everything clicked into place.
“I studied photography at college and university, and over the years, I developed my aesthetic. I honed in on what I enjoyed, what I was good at, and how to articulate my process,” he says. “One of the biggest things I learned was how to network and pitch ideas - these days, being able to promote yourself through social media is just as important as the work itself.”
Right now, Olly is inspired by the people around him. His mates have just started a band, and he’s been documenting their journey from the beginning, capturing the excitement and growth that comes with making music.
Another close friend runs exhibitions in Manchester, providing a platform for local creatives to showcase their work. “It’s inspiring to see the art people are making purely out of passion, and knowing there’s a whole community of like-minded creatives here.”
Beyond that, the city itself is a constant source of inspiration. “I love capturing Manchester’s changing streets and buildings. The city is in the middle of a massive building boom, and it’s interesting to document how things shift over time.”
Olly’s creative process is rooted in documentation. Whether he’s working on a big project or just walking through the city, he always carries a point-and-shoot camera to capture moments as they happen.
“I think my style is a combination of everyday life photography and the bigger projects I’m working on, like my series on rappers in the North and my upcoming zine on the next generation of Northern creatives.”
Living and working in the North is central to Olly’s identity as a photographer. “I live in the North, I shoot in the North, and my creative community is almost entirely Northern,” he says.
While he acknowledges that there are still fewer opportunities here compared to the South, he also sees a growing movement of people investing in the North and creating new opportunities. “There’s a real push to keep grassroots music and creative scenes alive, which is something that seems to be fading in other parts of the country.”
