What people say
The legend that is John Shinnick and the amazing Sarah Shinnick have captured our day perfectly.
Thank you both so much for everything, you've given us our day to treasure forever.
Anna and Matt xxx
Wow, what can I say? The album is absolutely fantastic and we are both thrilled.
I showed some work colleagues; their reactions were that "they had never seen such a beautiful album!"
You have such a talent.
A big thank you from Mr and Mrs Dunn :-) Xx
If anyone needs head shots I cannot recommend the wonderful and charming John Shinnick enough for all artists of all disciplines and companies!
A Master xx
Heather
Thank you to everyone that attended Red Ribbon Diaries Live.
We can't wait to unveil our pics to you taken by the incredible John Shinnick.
Reforma Movement Theatre
John was our photographer for our wedding, engagement shoot and boudoir shoot and all I can say is FANTASTIC.
He is very professional in all of his work before the shoots and after. His photographs are amazing but the most important part for us is that we felt very comfortable around him. On our wedding day he felt like a guest which took a lot of pressure off us. I would highly recommend John's work he definitely went above and beyond the call of duty and did everything to make all of the times we met memorable. We would definitely use him in the future; his attitude toward his work, his photographs, he did things exactly the way we wanted them to be done and the results really put a smile on our faces. If you are looking for a top quality Photographer john is the man for the job
Cherice and David
A Stone's Throw solo exhibition
Working in Manchester this morning, gave the ideal opportunity to pop over the street in Deansgate to see the work of a talented former colleague, John - an unconventional accountant, an unusual photographer and an uncommon man
Simon
I knew it was his work as soon as I saw the images
Lisa
BUS STOP STORIES : Creative Tourist Review April 2014
Smartphones connect us to a thousand facts, planes whisk us across the world while we watch the latest Hollywood films and supermarkets sell asparagus the whole year through: the future has truly arrived, in all its splendid plenty.
But one thing in short supply is reflection: how often in our daily lives do we have time to do, well, nothing? There is perhaps one place in the city where we can escape, an urban oasis that offers time for contemplation on the human condition: the humble bus stop.
It is this zone of zen that Manchester-based photographer John Shinnick sought out for his photographic series Bus Stop Stories, now on display at the John Rylands Library (20 February – 22 June 2014). Shinnick started the project as a way to challenge himself; “I wanted to work at speed, in different light, with different people…and I had a picture of this bus stop on a rainy day…so I decided to stake it out for a few hours.” Those few hours become weeks and then months as he got caught up in capturing more than just pictures. “I didn’t realise how open people can be,” says Shinnick, the enthusiasm clear in his voice. “People were willing to share some very private thoughts.” From a mother dealing with her son’s heroin addiction to an old man jokingly claiming he was a gangster, each human experience offers a different insight, documented in the exhibit through conversational captions.
It is not, however, a series that just uncovers dark and difficult personal dilemmas. Instead, it highlights hope, happiness, and the surprisingly sunny outlook with which people face life’s challenges. The everyday nature of the subjects and location give the collection a universal quality; or, as one viewer put it, “I can find myself in these pictures.” The bright, open faces in the photos match the spacious and clean-lined atrium of the Rylands, and Bus Stop Stories makes for a pleasant diversion when passing between the more solemn stuff on display. Shinnick is now planning to exhibit the images further afield, and is working on another project that will photograph supermarket products through the food chain back to their source. But, for now, he is enjoying the reception his pictures are receiving, especially from the subjects themselves, “When I showed one guy his portrait he said, ‘look at me…I’m art!’ and I loved that reaction.” Bus Stop Stories is a lovely way to commemorate the reflective, mundane moments we all need more of.