articles/Profiles/shoot-yourself-page5
Published 01/12/2015
Richard P Walton: You know the place we went together, I've shot there loads; every time I go I see something different and get new results. That place is my current studio (a lot cheaper than my official one too); I recently shot a fashion collection there for clothing company, Santa Cruz. That all came off the back of other shots I'd done there which they saw on my website.
Do you think pushing your own limits and boundaries by visiting these derelict locations helps improve your photography and overall image?
Alistair: I always used to worry a bit, am I going to get good images? I don't do that anymore. Shooting in places you don't know has just become the norm to me now. I don't know if it improves my photography, but the images are far more individual for it. The pub I mentioned previously has now gone, and I'm the only person who has photos from there, it's quite a nice feeling. What's great about these places is they can be used and interpreted in so many ways. Although we have similarities in style we both shot in the same location for two days and the images produced are very different, in fact you wouldn't even be able to distinguish that it is the same building.
Richard P Walton: What advice would you give to people wanting to shootpersonal projects but lack models and locations?
Alistair: For me when I was first starting out it was tricky to find models who were up for working in my style; modelling is hard, and I have a lot of respect for anyone who puts themselves in front of the camera. You put yourself out there with a lot of trust towards the photographer and when you first start out you don't have an awful lot of examples to show people who are willing to help you. For my first shoot I was able to find an actress who needed some headshots doing, so in turn I asked if she would model for me. I was very lucky that, with example images to show, I somehow managed to get a couple of beautiful bespoke pieces from a local dressmaker and had previously scouted out a small scrap yard along a canal where I lived at the time. From that very first shoot I had enough then to drive on and progress my work to where I am today. Locations are always tricky; I think you have to have an eye for them, and not naïvely pass-by on something which could be great, somewhere you may even walk past every day without knowing about it. Learn how to see past the alleyway where your local baker keeps his wheelie bins, and see it as your space, your 'studio' for half an hour. The world really is a glorious place to explore, and I only wish I had taken up photography sooner.
Richard P Walton: That's great, thanks for your time Alistair. I used to struggle for locations and models, now I realise how easy it is to find both; thanks to the internet it's amazing what can be found.
To wrap it up, I'd just like to say that photography is infinite; there are no boundaries, no rules, only the ones we give ourselves. Go out and shoot for yourself, embrace the artist within and show the world what you're capable of. Thanks for reading.
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