Hansa Studios.

Last week my daughter Evie and I were lucky enough to visit the legendary Hansa recording studios in Berlin. Within minutes of being inside, I found myself quite overwhelmed by the building. It’s interesting to hear how the physical space affected the artists who recorded here and became part of the music for the likes of David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Depeche Mode, Nick Cave and U2.

I was intrigued by the idea that the rooms, the acoustics, the atmosphere and the presence of the Berlin Wall outside all had a part to play in their creative process back then.

The imposing main staircase. Setting for many iconic photo shoots.

It got me thinking about how much effort creatives put into their working environments and how this affects their process. Sally Coulthard's book Studio: Creative Spaces For Creative People is a great excuse for nosing around other people's creative spaces.

As a location photographer, I started thinking how much the built environment contributes to my portrait work. How I can be drawn to certain quieter areas of a building or street simply because of the feel of the place.

Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ lyrics in a corridor, along with beautiful prints of some of the legends that worked here.

Rather than starting with a blank canvas and constructing a scene, I prefer to work in an existing environment and react to it.

Whether it’s the gift of a very cool location or a bland beige office, finding the right light, texture and mood, in a world somebody else created, is what makes me tick.

It’s as much a collaboration with the environment as it is with the person whose portrait I’m making.

Often it becomes a huge challenge but it tends to work out eventually. I suppose it’s another parameter to work with.

But I find I’m more creative with parameters.