I'd like to introduce you to our July Photographer of the Month, Sarah Franklin.

Blue Door, Blue Wall

Shot in the town of Chefchaouen in the Rif region.

Sarah was born in London in 1971 and spent her formative years at boarding school where she enjoyed playing the piano, being the art scholar, trying to find edible food and using her first SLR camera and learning the magic of developing and printing photographs. During her lovely long holidays she was often family by the seaside or in various European locations - always with her camera. After school came an Art Foundation course in London and more time in the darkroom and then a most splendid and creative three years working on her Graphics BA in Stoke on Trent where she honed her interest in decay, collapse and the generally run down.

Then came years spent in a variety of occupations - chef, shop girl, creative director of a fledgling restaurant chain, office person, partner in a chocolate shop and cafe. All the time with her interest in photography growing and turning digital. When this long list of occupations recently came to an end, she found herself to be a photographer which is where she is today.

Sarah hopes to have a long and rewarding career taking photographs which make people happy. She is available for commissions on (almost) all subjects!

WE: How did you get interested in photography?

SF: I honestly cannot recall a time when I wasn't interested in photography so there wasn't a particular moment when the bug bit. Whenever I went on holidays as a child the photograph taking was almost as important as the food! I used to love the anticipation of waiting for the films to come back a week later, which of course is no longer the case as I'm 99% digital now.

WE: How long have you been a photographer?

SF: I had my first camera when I was about six, but I suppose I started to think about actually making a living from photography very recently, just in the last year or so, I'm not quite there yet, but I'm working at it.

Waiting to Dye - Fes Medina

WE: Do you have trouble traveling with cameras, film, etc, especially in airports?

SF: I've never had any trouble with film or kit when traveling. All the scanners seem geared up to not wrecking film and I really don't carry a lot of stuff, just my camera over my shoulder and a lens bag with my heavy zoom buried in a suitcase so I don't have to lug it around the airport along with my Holga and 120 film. I don't have a vast amount of kit anyway, I like to keep things simple. The worst thing for me is the amount of cables, chargers, batteries, cleaning stuff, adaptors and all of the other electrical paraphernalia I seem to need and I am constantly paranoid that I'll leave some small but vital component at home and I'll be somewhere where it can't be replaced. Luckily this hasn't happened yet!

WE: What is your favorite place to photograph? Or subject?

SF: The most productive and creative place for me so far has been Morocco, I've been twice and it really does seem to be an endless source of inspiration and amazing sights and I'd love to go back for a longer trip and really get to grips with it. I really like to take photos in seedy seaside towns preferably when they are off season, I love the handwritten signs and the tacky shop fronts. I've two long term ongoing projects, the first is to photograph the handwritten birthday messages on sheets which are usually on roundabouts or hung on railings, I don't see them very often and they are usually particularly awkward to get at, therefore the resulting images aren't my best, but they are the most satisfying! The second project is roadside cafes which are usually converted caravans and busses in lay-byes on main roads and I think that will make a really nice little book eventually. I find great satisfaction in seeing little scenes in very mundane and everyday things especially just on the street where I seem to spend vast amounts of time photographing walls, bricks, signage and graffiti. I'm not a great fan of the pretty and landscapes aren't my thing as they involve too many early mornings!

Castello d'Empuries Cathedral Dome

Crosby Beach

WE: Any tips you want to share?

SF: Just keep your eyes open wherever you are as there's a picture just waiting around every corner however unpromising it may seem and have a camera with you at all times, even if it's just your phone. And most importantly have fun with your camera, just take what catches your eye and you won't go wrong.

On the Holy Island Causeway

No Parking 51

WE: Thanks so much, Sarah. Your work is superb!

For more information on Sarah's work, and to purchase her photos, please see: http://eyeshoot.co.uk/ and her shop, at http://www.etsy.com/shop/EyeshootPhotography

Solitary Chess