Hello, I am Omar Saleem
I was born in Birmingham in October 1986, and I’m still proud to call this city my home today. I’ve been a photographer for nearly 20 years now, but if I’m honest, I don’t feel like I chose photography, photography chose me. I’ve always found it a bit difficult to express myself through words alone; my images became a stage where I could finally share the art and vision I held deep inside. To me, a photograph can carry a message or an emotion that words just can’t reach. It allows us to see beauty in the "little things," and sometimes, that’s what matters most in life
My journey started back in the 1990s, some of the best years to grow up, in my opinion. My dad was a huge inspiration; he would spend his break times at work cutting out photography competitions from the newspapers to bring home and show me because he knew it is what I wanted to do in life. That early encouragement led me to study at Sandwell College, where I earned my HNC, and eventually to becoming a member of the Royal Photographic Society with a Licentiate (LRPS) qualification. Since then, I’ve had the honor of being a runner-up in the ILFORD "Power of Motion" competition and seeing my work exhibited in Sandwell Library as part of the Jubilee Arts Archive.
Regarding the technical side of photography, I enjoy working with both digital and film. I love the precision of my Canon DSLR and shooting with prime lenses to achieve that beautiful, compressed 'bokeh' effect. However, I have a massive soft spot for the feel of film; I still shoot 35mm and medium format, with my Rolleiflex being my absolute favorite camera. While I am proficient in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop for high-end retouching on my Mac, I truly believe the most natural photographs are the best ones. For peace of mind, I always use dual memory cards for redundancy and carry backup bodies. Your memories are too important to leave to chance.
Beyond the lens, I’m a creative writer and a poet who finds inspiration in the quietest moments. I love the simple, tactile things in life: the smell of tea, the sound of rain or just sitting perfectly still and watching the world pass by. I have a deep love for vintage design, think Casio F91 watches, old Nokia phones, and the classic Gameboy. I’m the kind of person who enjoys a long walk alone, stops to watch birds in mid-flight, and finds magic in a Birmingham sunset.
I’m based in the West Midlands but I travel nationally for my work. I can shoot a portrait or a creative project capturing the details that others might miss.