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My name is Stephen Wright. I'm 41 years old, and was born in Nottingham (I was actually born in the Woman's Hospital on Peel Street) where I've lived all my life. 

I've been a photographer for around 25 years, but my love for photography started much sooner when my sister bought a Poloroid Instant camera back in the early 70s. I was hooked.

I got my first 'real' camera as a teenager - a Praktica fully manual film camera. 

My first attraction was architecture, and I had a particular affection for shooting churches and the Fothergill buildings around Nottingham were a particular favourite.

Street photography

Though I have been known to photograph anything and everything, I first discovered the genre of Street Photography when I was browsing through the books in the library and came across Elliott Erwitt. 

'Rain Dance' by Stephen Wright

I was stunned at the images he'd produced; candids - people just going about their daily lives. All the people in his book were just strangers in the street just doing their 'thing'. 

I was instantly taken with this form of photography, and realised this was where my heart was. I felt I'd found a direction - something to aim my creativity at. I've never looked back since. 

I went on to discover other famous street photographers like Gary Winogrand and Bruce Gilden, the latter of which was a massive influence on me. 

I watched a video on Bruce in action, and adopted his style for myself; working very close with a short lens and getting in among the crowd - which is where the action is!

I'm actually a very proud Nottingham-ite - and love documenting the people of my town. 

Picture by Stephen Wright

I can't always explain why I'm attracted to a certain character or scene, but all my shots are taken for a reason. I find people fascinating, strange, zany, weird. 

I walk the streets of Nottingham every single day. I look for characters; people that stand out from the norm amongst the hustle and bustle of city life. 

I try and capture their emotions, the stress and anxiety.... the things people are going through. 

I can see it in their face when I take the picture, and it's what I want the viewer to see when they look at my images. 

Street Photography is about capturing the moment - a split second of time. Sometimes a shot just jumps out at me. You have to think and act in milliseconds - or the moment is gone forever.