View Full Version : I don't know why I'm a photographer
Bit of an odd one this. I've got 2 interviews tomorrow about my book and I've already been told that one of the questions is "What inspires me to go out and photograph Liverpool." Last time I did an interview I gave a rubbish answer. "Its the light." Sure we get nice light here and great sunsets but seriously, thats a rubbish answer and I feel its disrespectful to Liverpool. So I've spent a while thinking and I can't answer it. I know what I like to photograph, events, people, gigs, architecture, landscapes and such but I don't know why. In the early days when I was still doing a 9-5 desk job it was easy. It got me out, it was something different and a fun hobby. Its not a hobby anymore. I've come to realise that its what I was meant to do. Its who I am. I remember being a kid and framing things in my head without really knowing why. So why am I a photographer? Because its simply who I am? Because it gets me out? If that was the case then why do I goto Liverpool and not Chester? Chester is easier to get to and closer. Turn left, turn right, turn left and 15 minutes later I'm in Chester. Liverpool is lots of turns and a tunnel. Its about 25-30 mins for Liverpool. So why do I go there? Why did I get up yesterday, grab my cameras and head out into the heavy rain and sleet to photograph the newly opened Pier Head area? Is it simply because it makes a good photo? There must be something driving me to do this but I can't say what. Is it because I know I'll get a good photo? Is it simply that Liverpool is such a fantastic place that I know I'll always get a good photo there? So ultimately I just like taking nice photos...
War photographer James Natchwey, a hero of mine, says this;
"I have been a witness, and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated."
He has a solid reason for what he does. He goes to the worst places in the world and hopes his photography can in some way prevent these things from happening. Maybe because I came into this from a hobby and that hobby was simply the enjoyment of taking photos. Maybe because I've never had a clear direction or aim in my photography I can't say why I do it. I used to say I simply take nice photos. Theres nothing complex about my work, I just want to show off Liverpool.
Maybe I'm over thinking this and the fact is that I just love the city and want to show it off. Maybe thats ok. But in my heart I have no idea why I'm doing this. All I know is that this is who I am and I'm going to keep doing it until I can't. Maybe I'll find out why along the way.
Pete, I cant answer your question, you've got me stumped. I will say this though...
You are a good photographer. A bloody good photographer. I know you must get fed up of hearing that, but its the truth. I dont know if you're thinking of giving up if its not a hobby anymore, but thats what we know and love you for.
I really admire you Pete, and as cheesy as this sounds, I aspire to be like you someday. Its like a young child looking up at a parent, hoping and wishing that someday, they will grow up to be like them. I am just a little seedling at the moment, someday Ill be you. Ill be that big oak tree :D (gagtastic that ;D)
Dont you bloody well stop doing this, you're my inspiration.
Blackstar
29-10-2008, 14:15
You know Pete you answered your own question. But it would seem that you want a big impressive deep answer. Sometimes there isn't one. I don't see anything wrong with wanting to show off somewhere if you think its good, or the light or even that you started to get out of the house as an inspiration.
Dont you bloody well stop doing this, you're my inspiration.
Thank you :) It never gets old and I'm never fed up of hearing people say that. Not being egotistical simply that its just so nice for someone to say it. Especially on days like these when I'm feeling completely lost and so small. But don't worry, I'm not quitting any time soon. I feel like I've only started. I'm still waiting for someone from New York to call and fly me over to photograph something :D
But it would seem that you want a big impressive deep answer.
Yer quite possibly. Something that makes me sound like I know what I'm doing or something. Its easy to put great photographers on pedestals and expect everything they say to be amazing because what they do is amazing. They're amazing people. But then when someone puts you in the spotlight its more like a rabbit in car headlights situation.
I'm still waiting for someone from New York to call and fly me over to photograph something :D
Well dont you bloody well forget your seedling when they do ;)
You could never give this up, never ever :)
"Because I like taking photographs, it's a great place and I just love photographing it." Is pretty much what you've said in the first post.
"What inspires me to go out and photograph Liverpool."
In the early days when I was still doing a 9-5 desk job it was easy. It got me out, it was something different and a fun hobby. Its not a hobby any more. I've come to realise that its what I was meant to do. Its who I am. I remember being a kid and framing things in my head without really knowing why. So why am I a photographer? Because its simply who I am.
Sorted!
But doesn't saying "Its what I was meant to do" sound a little pretentious? I'm no Superman claiming my destiny. I'm just a guy who realised that er... this is what I was meant to do :)
Davey_Pitch
29-10-2008, 16:25
But doesn't saying "Its what I was meant to do" sound a little pretentious? I'm no Superman claiming my destiny. I'm just a guy who realised that er... this is what I was meant to do :)
It's not pretentious at all if it's true, or what you feel. You could simply say "It's what I feel I was meant to do" to perhaps tone it down somewhat. It still means the same thing.
You show people what they don't always see through their own eyes, you consistently surprise people with the beauty you find in seemingly boring and random places. You can take a photograph of a set of bins behind a hotel and make it seem like something special, you make it mean something. To me, that's why you do what you do.
Exactly :) Really is impressive how you can make something fairly regular look so special.
Divine pretty much summarised it perfectly there from your text. I'll have a stab too, though I'll be putting lots of words in your mouth, based on what I've heard you talk about in the past, if you're not so keen on what he came up with.
Why am I a photographer?
I feel driven by it, by a deep passion that's hard to put into words. A passion to break down the walls of the seemingly dull and dreary and reveal the beauty that is hidden in plain sight. A passion to make people stop in their busy lives, rushing from place to place, minds focused on everything but their surroundings and show them what they're missing. A passion to tell a story in a city of millions, without saying a word. A passion to stir memories, to invoke those magic words "Do you remember when ... "
Most of all, to me, it's an expression of love. I love this city, and I love these people, and these photographs are my way of saying "I love you"
Cheesy? Maybe.. :o
I was going to to quote exactly what divine did. If you feel it is what you are meant to do then say so. You hear it from singers, actors, musicians all the time. Why not photographers?
Really shouldn't consider things while heroic Lord of the Rings music plays. "It *is* what I was destined to do." *heroic stance*
It's not pretentious at all if it's true, or what you feel. You could simply say "It's what I feel I was meant to do" to perhaps tone it down somewhat. It still means the same thing.
Yer perhaps. I do feel that I know who I am now. I've always had a creative side. Loved writing stories as a kid and also programming computers. I was as good a designer as developer and loved both. It all sorta came together with photography as you need a good understanding of the technical side and of computers to get the best of it. The photography side appeals to my creative nature. So it does seem like I've found what I was meant to do. I guess if i explain it that way it works rather than simply say it was my destiny :)
I'm sure he won't forget me :p
Pete - from our many conversations about your pictures, I remember you being really pleased when I told you that you remind me why I love Liverpool so much. That when things are rubbish, I can't be too down when I am surrounded with such beauty - and you give me that beauty right to my eye, I don't even have to look for it! You show people what they don't always see through their own eyes, you consistently surprise people with the beauty you find in seemingly boring and random places. You can take a photograph of a set of bins behind a hotel and make it seem like something special, you make it mean something. To me, that's why you do what you do.
As nice as that is for you to say, I'm not sure I can say it without sounding like an arty person. Its so nice when others say that, but I don't feel like its something I can say. I'm just a guy with a camera who takes photos of things that look good. I'll let others say the nice things that they see in my photos. I guess most simply I can say "I just take photos of things that make me go wow in the hope that others look at them and also go wow" Computers give me the ability to create images that look how I saw them more so than how the camera saw them.
Cheesy? Maybe.. :o
Just a little bit too cheesy for me :)
I was going to to quote exactly what divine did. If you feel it is what you are meant to do then say so. You hear it from singers, actors, musicians all the time. Why not photographers?
I dunno. I guess because a lot of photographers work is grounded in reality. Its simply what we see. But artists, singers, etc are all meant to be a bit flamboyant and dramatic to some extent.
I think my answer is that Liverpool is such an amazing place that it continues to inspire me on a daily basis. There isn't a really one single thing that jumps out. Its all about being there and seeing what happens and the city is just so great that there is always something to photograph, every time I go.
Phone interview is at 11am, I should put some pants on.
Davey_Pitch
30-10-2008, 13:18
How'd it go?
They haven't rung yet, which is terribly unprofessional and my sister just invited me out to lunch for 2pm.
Admiral Huddy
30-10-2008, 13:22
Pete,
I'm always showing people your work, including some decent photographers I know. They are always impressed. Doesn't help but just wanted you to know :)
Cheers :) I got my days mixed up. Interview is tomorrow at 11am. Still got Radio Merseyside at 11pm tonight though.
Kell_ee001
30-10-2008, 14:20
Tell them "a picture says a thousand words" and hand them one of your skyline pics :D
lol :D Not sure that'll work on radio ;)
Kell_ee001
30-10-2008, 14:23
Well once you've done that tell them to "say what you see!" :D Let them try and put it into words ;D
I think what you said about the technical/creative side is great. Tell them that essentially, you're a geek. But you're a geek with a creative streak, and photography combines the two!!
I did lol lots at the LOTR thing ;D
:D Yer seems best. I mean thats who I am. Always flip flopped from one side to the other and photography puts the two together perfectly. Thats just me.
Well once you've done that tell them to "say what you see!" :D Let them try and put it into words ;D
haha :D Interview them on my book :D
Good luck tomorrow :D
My Dad used to adore your photography, was always showing him your site and I know he looked through most of your photos that were on the site last Christmas. Always meant to buy him a print but unfortunately never got the chance. He'd always had a keen interest in photography but money always let him down with being able to afford the camera he wanted. Probably doesn't mean much to you as after all you never knew him, but he really did love your stuff :)
Bit of a ramble really, but hey it did your ego good ;):D
Aw :) Thanks. I'm honestly trying not to be girly emotional at that :)
The big interview is tonight. I'm at Radio Merseyside from 10:45pm and I'm told I'll be done by 11:30pm. Show starts at 11pm. I imagine they'll call me in for 5 minutes and it won't be a 30 minute chat. Thats going to be live unedited Pete on the radio! "Liverpool, well its just a barrel of win innit?"
Do they have a webcast?
As you can imagine, I may have trouble tuning my radio to suitably pick up actual radio from Liverpool.
Admiral Huddy
30-10-2008, 16:20
Good luck mate :)
Do they have a webcast?
As you can imagine, I may have trouble tuning my radio to suitably pick up actual radio from Liverpool.
They do indeed (http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/local_radio/index.shtml).
Good luck tonight.
I'm already planning to drop subtle hints in your creative direction should anyone happen by asking about Christmas presents. Doesn't happen often, but I can at least hope. :)
I will buy a print at some point next year. Even have wall space, hooks, and picture wire ready to hang it when the time comes. :)
Cheers :) If anyone could record it I'd really appreciate it. I'm going to try as I remember an OSX app that can, but I've got to find it and install... *shudder* ... Real Player :/
Good luck Pete :) You'll do great :D
Cheers :) I've got audio hijack setup start recording at 11 and finish at 11:30 so hopefully that'll be ok.
Say flingbang.
'Liverpool is such an inspiration, it's just like... flingbang in my mind'
DO IT.
Hmm. Had a bit of a schedule collision. Two live events on at the same time. Priorities. ;D
I forgot about the US time difference and missed the programme I thought would conflict, so I'm in.
Whether I'll catch a repeat of the programme I missed, doubt it.
They do indeed (http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/local_radio/index.shtml).
This is your two minute warning folks. :)
leowyatt
31-10-2008, 00:43
i'm recording, is it finished yet?? I'm playing Fable 2 :o
Just finished.
Sounded like there wasn't room to swing a cat in that studio with the number of people. Glad you managed to get a word or two in there as well. ;D
PS - don't forget. Welsh mountains. Hope the BBC is paying for the helicopter. ;D
I set my Mac to record from 11 - 11:30. Didn't think I'd be there till later. Really bizarre evening, but fun. I thought it was just a 1-1 chat not a group chat. Never expected Herbet to be there and I signed a copy for him too. Totally surreal evening. I think it'll be on listen again, maybe.
Fingers crossed it is. I didn't record it unfortunately as I don't have a reliable way of recording from RealPlayer.
If anyone could put a copy of it someplace accessible I'd like to grab a listen :)
leowyatt
31-10-2008, 07:22
Mac FTW :D I'll stick up the file later today but I warn you I recorded from 11 till just after he finished so you might have to fast forward it a bit.
Awesome thanks :) I went in at 11 and had to sit there live on the radio not making a sound. Little odd :)
I must admit I was a little concerned when they mentioned Heroin, but it soon became apparent they meant Heroine. :)
PS - fast forwarding about 23 minutes will set you up about right.
haha yeah I thought that too.
I'm not sure if the other interview was this week or last week, but in either event, how'd it go? :)
leowyatt
07-11-2008, 08:35
Sorry Pete I'll get that interview up this weekend.
Thanks :) The phone interview was fine. Lasted all of 15 minutes and I don't think I said anything wrong. Should be online at some point.
Interview is up (http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Two-Liverpool-photographers-show-why-their-city-is-the-Capital-of-Culture). Only bad thing I think I said was that I did the book to establish myself as a photographer. Didn't quite mean it that way. That was just for me so that I could feel like I was a "real" photographer. All the great photographers have books and I wanted to aspire to be like them, so I needed a book to feel like I was getting somewhere on that road.
Davey_Pitch
18-11-2008, 11:07
Nice interview Pete, very nice indeed :)
Oooh missed this first time round, nice one Pete :)
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