About Charity Shot

Street photography from across Hampshire, shot predominantly with cameras found in charity shops.

The majority of my gear comes from local charity shops—Fujifilm digital cameras, vintage film bodies, lenses that shouldn't work but somehow do. It started as an experiment to prove that gear doesn't matter as much as we think it does. Turns out, it doesn't.

Why Charity Shop Cameras?

It started with a Canon SX30 IS I found in a charity shop for £15. That camera forced me to stop obsessing over gear reviews and forum debates about sharpness and bokeh. It just worked, and more importantly, it made me shoot.

When your entire kit costs less than a decent lens, you stop making excuses. You shoot more, think less about megapixels and autofocus points, and actually pay attention to the light and the moment. That's what this project is about.

Hampshire & Beyond

Based in Portsmouth, I photograph across Hampshire and the surrounding area. Salisbury's medieval streets, Emsworth harbour, the quiet lanes around Idsworth, Havant's nature reserves—there's endless material if you pay attention.

Most of my gear comes from charity shops, though not all of it. The constraint keeps me focused on the photography rather than the equipment. When you're shooting with a £15 camera, you can't blame the gear.

About Me

I'm a software engineer and photographer based in Portsmouth. I built this site from scratch using Astro, WooCommerce, and Cloudflare Pages. If you're interested in the technical details, I wrote about the architecture here.

When I'm not writing code or taking photos, I'm probably checking charity shops for camera gear. It's become a habit.

The Prints

Each print is produced on premium archival paper and shipped worldwide through Gelato's print-on-demand network. Nothing is printed until you order it, which eliminates waste while ensuring quality.

Work With Me

Photography is a hobby, but I'm always happy to chat. If you like what you see and want something specific—a particular location, a custom print size, or want to join a photo walk—get in touch. No pressure, no hard sell.

Get in Touch

For custom prints, collaborations, or just to say hello, email hey@charityshot.co.uk or find me on Instagram.