HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS ?
Just about from childhood but full time professionally
since 1982.
WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY ?
I got my 1st camera on my 7th birthday after pestering
my parents. That weekend I took some family
photos at Endcliffe park in Sheffield, which I still have & treasure.
Since that day I have always had a camera and have many shots from my childhood.
WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO DO PHOTOGRAPHY FOR A LIVING
?
After leaving school apart from wanting to be Sheffield
United's goalie, I didn't know what work I wanted, most of my school friends
went into the Sheffield
steelworks or down the pit which, was the era I was brought up in, I didn't
want that & had a string of jobs including a few years as a trainee chef.
I still
wasn't happy and I knew I wanted to work for myself, I met a girl whose father
was a pro photographer, he influenced me , I ended up working part time with
him and he taught me the true art of photography out in the working environment.
I did my first paid photography job alone for the then 'elite' Sheffield Spectator
magazine in 1978,
I realised then, without doubt this is what I wanted to do.
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST WEDDING ?
Yes, remember it well, it was at Sheffield Registry
office in 1979 for a couple called Michelle & Paul.
WHAT OTHER TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY HAVE YOU DONE ?
Aerial, architectural, fashion, product, industrial,
food, in fact just about anything & everything from passports to international
advertising shoots,
for private individuals, national & international companies, governments,
the list is endless.
HAVE YOU PHOTOGRAPHED ANYONE FAMOUS ?
Yes, quite a few ranging from Royalty to TV celebrities,
sports people to MP's. I got a very interesting shot of Maggie Thatcher
when she was PM &
could have made a small fortune from it, but my nature will not allow me to
profit on other people's dilemmas.
ARE THERE ANY JOBS YOU HAVE DONE THAT YOU ARE PROUD
OF ?
Although I have been involved in some major projects
over the years, and have travelled nationwide and abroad on shoots. as
a born and bred Sheffielder with thousands of archived
Sheffield images, I was proud to be officially commissioned to shoot the Tinsley
Towers finale. The towers must have been one of the most
photographed structures in Sheffield, but the commission allowed me access
an area where no one else could go hence getting a great set of shots,
my brief apart from before and after shots, was to shoot in sequence and to
provide a visual record in case they fell on the Tinsley viaduct.
fortunately they didn't. Some of the shots can be seen on my commercial website here.
ARE THERE ANY TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY THAT YOU ENJOY MOST
?
All of it, commercial for the experiences and demands
that are trusted to you, weddings for the occasion where everyone
is in high spirits and
portraits where people can show their true character.
IS THERE ANY ONE JOB THAT STICKS IN YOUR MIND ?
There are so many, but probably one which was also
the most scary was for a holiday company in Scotland.
One of the jobs was being
sat in a 2 man rubber dingy with an assistant out in the sea at Mull in
Scotland,
It was a very cold Autumn, the brief was to shoot a sailing boat steaming towards
us spraying out its wake. Half way through the shoot, the sailing boat
left us for a final circuit which took half an hour. It was then we suddenly
realised with horror our dingy had developed a puncture and was going down,
having
no mobile phone, & not able to signal the now distant sailing boat, it
looked as if we were going to be left to the mercy of the freezing water, frantically
we managed to locate the hole in our dingy and put a cold numb hand over it,
which slowed down the deflation, after an age the sailing boat returned
veering towards us not realising we were seconds from capsizing, it was strange
but although we were half submerged in freezing water, shivering and about
to
freeze to death or drown, I actually did my job and started photographing the
oncoming boat as we were entering the water. When the boat crew saw
us both in the drink and me with my right hand in the air clutching £4000's
worth of equipment, we were rescued in a mad panic,
I have never been so cold and really thought my days were up. The final photos
I took turned out to be a great success, and my assistant ended up being
my best man who told this story in his speech
on my wedding day.
The job the next day was doing aerial photography for the same company,
from a microlite with a pilot who had no legs, but that's another story
!
CAN YOU RECALL THE FUNNIEST MOMENT IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
WORK ?
Again the list is endless, but there is one that still
makes me laugh today. After a long period of rain & bad weather I did
a wedding
on a bright day. After setting up a group shot I walked backwards, lost
my footing & slid down a steep banking into a muddy
bog. I emerged from the bog covered from head to toe in mud, but had the presence
of mind to protect & keep my camera safe.
I saw the funny side & so did the wedding party who showed concern but
were giggling. As a true professional, I cleaned my eyes and hands
with a tissue and although covered in mud completed the job in style.
The funniest bit was when I arrived at the reception it must have been strange
sight, the mud had dried and I was introduced to the wedding
co-ordinater and caterers who were absolutely speechless and confused by the
sight of me, then after a brief period of silence they and the wedding
party were rolling around in hysterics, needless to say I got some great shots.
WITH ALL THE MODERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IS IT IMPORTANT
TO USE A PROFESSIONAL ?
Every so often, I get a call from a dismayed bride
who employed someone who decided they were a professional after purchasing
an all singing and
dancing digital camera, only to end up with a set of shots that didn't capture
the day. Yes I agree its a lot easier to get some good results, but that's
only
a small part of the whole picture. An experienced professional not only handles
a camera as second nature, but will have
a good understanding of lighting, how to put people at ease, how to get the
results he / she wants without creating a fuss and how
to remain professional and work effectively under extreme pressure, unfortunately
you cannot purchase that from a
camera shop.
HAVE YOU KEPT UP WITH TECHNOLOGY OR REMAINED TRADITIONAL
?
As with any business it is important to keep ahead
of the field, I have always made it a priority to research and keep up
with latest
developments and in most cases, have been well in front. Apart from the business
angle, I also have a keen interest in developments.
DO YOU THINK FILM IS BETTER THAN DIGITAL ?
Originally it was, and it seems an age away that you
put a new film in the camera every 12 shots and then couldn't view the
results until they
returned from the lab. That's how you truly learned your trade. However, now
with developments I think unquestionably digital is better,
and not forgetting, you also have to be good on a computer. Fortunately I am
well versed in that department.
DO YOU TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS FOR PLEASURE ?
I get pleasure from my photography work and seeing
the fruits from my hard labour. I tend to switch off a little in my leisure
time and just do the normal
family snapshots. Having said that, I find that you always have an eye for
a good shot and have often returned to a location
to take a photo that I have seen in passing.
DO YOU EVER PLAN TO RETIRE ?
Not in the foreseeable future, my photography work
has allowed me to do a great deal in life, I've been places seen and done
things
that normally people wouldn't experience. I feel as if I have still got a lot
to achieve and offer and intend to keep going for many years yet.
I'm a great believer in sport which helps motivate body and mind. I have always
kept myself fit. Previously, I have done a couple of Sheffield
half marathons, played football, and for many years, have practiced and still
do practice and teach Karate, being a 3rd dan black belt
which is an excellent way to keep you fit and active throughout your life.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE A
PHOTOGRAPHER ?
Firstly, I would say that it helps if you are a certain
type of person, perhaps a bit of an adventurer who would
take a risk and also someone who is confident but can understand and respect
people from all walks, as having a photo taken is personal to everyone.
Technically learn, understand and experiment with lighting as it can make or
break an image. Also learn photography and how a camera works,
get used to using the camera on manual, rather than automatic so you, and not
the camera, are fully in charge of your photography, so many
creative shots can be lost by using your equipment on the fully auto setting.
Always listen carefully to your customers requirements rather than totally
do your own thing, you can add your creativity as an extra. And continually,
always be critical of your own work, have full dedication to each
job no matter how small, and never give in.