About me
Born in Aberdeen and growing up in Newcastle, Robin Sinha moved to London in 2003. After completing a BA in Photography at the London College of Communication (UAL), Robin began assisting at London’s Big Sky Studios, working alongside some of the biggest names in the industry. His personal freelance photography career began soon after.
Robin describes his photography as ‘people-led’. Although commercially he may move in other directions, people are what he’s mostly interested in. With a passion for street photography, he prefers to wander the streets without preconceived ideas and a sense of curiosity. He brings this mind-set to his portraiture while attempting to unveil an aspect of his sitter’s personality.
In 2009, Robin joined Leica UK where he works part-time as an Akademie Ambassador and lead photography workshop tutor.
In 2018 Robin was shortlisted for two prestigious photography awards: The Portrait of Britain and the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize.
Projects
- Cockfighting, Bankura, West Bengal, India, 2011A crowd gathers for an evening of cockfighting. Although an illegal activity, cockfighting is almost a daily occurrence in Bankura, West Bengal. The cocks, referred to as gamecocks, are specially reared to maximise endurance and strength. Blades, that often reach two and a half inches, are attached to the cock's leg. Before the fight commences, the birds are paraded amongst the crowd while wagers are taken. After initial goading by their owners, the birds instinctively fight. A fatal blade wo
- Hope within the HumdrumI draw great pleasure from simply watching the intricacies of the day unfold on the street. With my camera in hand, it gives me a purpose to watch and a reason to be there. I had never visited the States, and I wondered what New York could teach me about myself as a photographer and [what I could learn] about the city itself. More often than not, taking a street photograph is a split-second decision. I see a subject of personal interest and feel compelled to frame it through my viewfinder. Often it’s not until I review my images later that I’m able to question what interested me in the first place. Perhaps it’s my leading a privileged life and not really wanting for anything that explains why I’m so often drawn towards documenting the more impoverished areas with my camera. I feel I can learn more here and capture a more genuine portrayal of the city. These photos show the humdrum of everyday life in one of the world’s most ethnically and culturally diverse cities. They depict a doggedness of character and people going about their everyday business. A life lived in monotonous routine has made old age a struggle. Hard times spawn creativity as subway singers filled carriages with soulful sounds in an attempt to earn a living. I met a lady sitting under a concrete arch in Brooklyn. A dog sat on her lap, grinning as he munched on his bone-shaped biscuit. A pram used to carry her possessions stood besides her. “Are you a photographer?” she shouted as I walked towards her. “I’m part of the Brooklyn furniture, you can photograph me!” I learned that she visits the same spot every year where she stays for weeks on end. “I don’t need anything else” she said with a big smile. Accompanied by her sisters, an African-American mum took her three-year old daughter to Central Park by bus to celebrate her birthday. There was laughter and excitement as they animatedly discussed the best place to eat. An elderly lady who sat nearby got off at the next station. Before doing so she shoved a 20 dollar bill in the mother’s hand and told her to “treat the little one”. The rest of the journey was spent expressing delight at this kind gesture. The mother exclaimed to her daughter, “You don’t know how lucky you are!”
- Transcontinental SerendipityWith these images, I explore normal, everyday, split-second occurrences in Istanbul. They capture people interacting with their environment, and often unknowingly, becoming a component of a more complex scene. The city's vibrant colours are represented throughout, echoing its spirited people and their joie de vivre.
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Skills
- Art Photography
- Commercial Photography
- Photojournalism
- Documentary
- Editorial
Education
BA(Hons) Photography
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BA(Hons) European Business and Spanish
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Awards
Shortlisted - Taylor Wessing Portrait PrizeNational Portrait Gallery
Shortlisted - Portrait of BritainStudio 1854 – British Journal of Photography
Shortlisted for the Portrait of Britain Award 2018 and included in the first book (published by the Hoxton Mini Press)