I was born in 1968, in the London Borough of Merton, Wimbledon.
I now live and work in Shoreditch, London. I have been a photographer off and on, mainly off, for some twenty years now.
My first camera was an old second-hand Nikon EM.
I’m mainly a documentary type of photographer, and this is what interests me most.
Just recently I have taken my camera down onto the streets of London, in order to document and highlight the plight of the homeless. The Project is called ‘End Homelessness Now! and has been running since Apr 3rd ’09 and will continue through to 2012.
It is the first time I have ever used my camera on the street in this way.
paulyrichard's Photographic Tendencies 
I’ve seen and read your work through this website. It’s just a very amazing deed you’re doing. Your portrait photos of the homeless is just great~! You’re a great inspiration to society…
Thanks behyc, appreciate your comments.
Hi Pauly, Great work you are doing mate, your images of the homeless show the real story of how these people are living and it was interesting to read that some do not want change. Great to see you are still kicking.
Cheers,
Shayne (Australia)
Hi Paul,
Nice blog!! great photos, you have a lot of talent. We met last weekend opposite Whitechapel tube with the couple sleeping rough on the mattress. Still trying to help them along. Could you send me one of the pics you took of them together.
cheers
Rory
Thanks very much, Rory. I have jus’ uploaded an image of Hazel and Toni.
Regards.
Ello,
I am at the end of a long day doing research for my first Uni project, which I am basing on homelessness. This is something close to my heart having experienced it, all be it brief.
Your images show the life and spirit-the good and bad, and I am hoping you will give me your permission to use some of these images in my assignment.
Cheers Hel
Hello Paul! Your work is so inspiring! So much so, I’m doing my A2 Photography case study on you! I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions for your bio.
Hey Alexandra, how you doing?
You can ask me anything you want. I’m happy your inspired by my photos.
Hello, Pauly…
I hate to write this on your photography blog as this does not seem especially relevant, but I was not able to find an email address for you.
You and I used to discuss painting historical miniatures. We both evidently drifted away from online forums about the same time and lost touch. I was looking for you recently and ran across your blog here. Ironically, I am also a photographer (did not know this about you).
Hoping you might still be painting? Always thought you had an amazing talent for painting, so I hope so. Drop me a note if you are so inclined.
Rob
Hey Rob, I am desperately searching my memory and trying to remember you. I think your going to have to jog my memory a little. 🙂
It’s been such a long time since I have posted up anything on any figure painting forum, and your right I have drifted away from these forums, and painting too. I haven’t painted anything for years now…
As for photography, that has always been my first love and still is. I’d be interested to see if you have anything to show of your photography, do you have a website at all?
Where are you located? I’m currently living with my fiance just outside of Huddersfield in W. Yorkshire now. I do miss London though and travel down once a month.
Anyway, thanks for your message and I look forward to your reply.
Paul
Hi, Paul…
It’s great to hear back from you. I did not expect you to write back. You are a wonderfully talented photographer too and I have enjoyed browsing through some of your work.
I am not quite sure how to jog your memory. I was always an admirer of your style of painting and we used to discuss the realist/purist miniaturists versus someone like yourself who chose to induce more artistry and creativity. I thought your style bold and I always envied your results.
I eventually tired of rounds and moved to flats. I stopped altogether when I returned to finish my bachelors degree and eventually my masters. I then moved and started a career and, like you, now live with my fiancee. Our wedding is planned for 12/13 of this year.
I got curious about an article in Archaeology magazine and was doing some research on the Iberians. Oneo f the first image results was of your example on planetFigure. While unfinished, it had your unmistakable style and I recognized it immediately. I then poked around a bit and saw you had not posted since 2008, so I started using Google and found your photography site. I looked around and while doing so, worked up the courage to contact you (hoping you wouldn’t think I was a loon).
I do not have a photography site, but Kristi (fiancee) and I are talking about setting one up. I work for Reuters but do not find the work especially satisfying. I have done numerous weddings and things of that nature, but like you, my leanings are towards scenes, interesting people, and macrophotography. Kristi and I run and bike a lot, so I am always doing raceway photography for some of the larger events in my area (I always volunteer… it’s fun). You can see some of these efforts on my Facebook page, if you are a member and want to connect there. My Facebook ID is: rvmerz. You won’t find any of my black and white or art photography on there (my favorite).
My direct email is: robertvmerz@gmail.com if you would prefer to write there.
Hey Robert, sorry for my late reply.
Your very kind in regarding my photography and I like that. I studied art in school and in college but never really followed it up by way of a career in the subject at all. I have always considered myself wasted really. I could draw anyone and anything and reproduce it in an exact and proportionate way…just like a photocopier. 🙂 I haven’t drawn at all for the past 25 years so I would think i’m a little rusty. I like to think that you can never lose the ability…
Anyway, for many a year now I have pursued photography and kind of fulfilled myself in that area. I always need to be creating something, I feel.
I taught myself through looking at past masters photographs like Lee Friedlander, William Eggleston, Joel Meyerowitz and Garry Winogrand etc.and the subjects, framing, elements and styles they offered up. I can never stress enough to people that that is the best way to learn and to be able to ‘see’ for yourself. This will literally stay in your subconscious and you will come to know of the range of what works and more importantly what doesn’t…
It’s interesting to hear about your plans, Robert. You must let me know if you get a website up and running I would be interested in seeing all what you care to photograph. Your volunteering is what counts a lot too, it keeps your ‘eye’ in eh…:) I will check out your page on FB. I am on there too and I post my pictures up over there for my family, and anyone else to see, also.
As for your work are you an Reuter’s news photographer? Whether you are or not, I would love to work for a news agency like that and be sent on assignment with my camera, although I don’t think it works like that anymore, no?
As for your wedding plans, I wish you all the best and must congratulate you. I hope you have the best day of your life in the sealing the knot, Robert.
In regard to figure painting and our discussions about it, I do seem to remember those, now that you mention them. When I was painting figures it was all consuming, I used to put my heart and soul into those small pieces of metal. 🙂 I can understand your interest in painting ‘flats’ I always thought of doing one of those, they looked to be a little less stressful. I say ‘stressful’ because that was how figure painting was getting for me, I think I am too much of a perfectionist really.
It’s interesting to hear how my Iberian Warrior figure showed up. That did get finished but was never based up. I still have all what i’ve done. I did start an 80mm figure of the faun out of ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’, again the figure got finished but was left un-based.
Anyway, here is my email: paulyrichard@yahoo.co.uk
Where can I see the “End Homelessness Now !” project, Paul ?
Antonio, click on ‘About’ and use the search box by typing in ‘Homelessness’, that should take you to all my homeless images. They might only show themselves as a title at first but just click one image, then click on the ‘Homeless’ category displayed at the bottom of the image then you should see them better displayed.
This photo blog is a little half-assed if you ask me. 🙂