Hey Sarah, when did you first fall in love with photography? I believe we are all born with a love for photography, the idea of capturing a moment forever is intriguing and anyone with the slightest sentimental heart would enjoy reminiscing about memories through visual aid. For me, it was Annie Leibovitz. Her work with Rolling Stone and musicians such as John Lennon inspired something deep within my soul at a young age. I wasn’t born musically gifted but have a huge connection with music and I feel the only way I can express this is through my photographs.
Talk us through the most magical photo you’ve ever taken. Ah! Tough! I chose this one based on the memory. This was taken at Splendour in the Grass 2012. It was the last day of festivities; we were all in an enchanted state of mind, intoxicated on love, laughter and other things… everything felt like a dream really. The sun was slowly diminishing; the ambiance was hazy but energetic, the punters’ voices fading in and out when suddenly I saw this bronze man on stilts waving a flag… I felt at that moment my life hit a moment of absolute perfection…I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Take me back. It was so magical.
Why do you shoot? I shoot because every musical event I photograph takes me on an adventure I never expected to have. Aside from building my connection with music, when I return home at the end of the day, even if I don’t always leave my city I feel like I have travelled to a new place, met new people, photographed a new dimension, and experienced another culture. No two events are the same, even if it’s the same one a year later…
What equipment are you using? I am currently using a Canon 5D Mark iii, 600EX Speedlite, 24-70 f2.8 and a whole bunch of other gear. I’m rocking it because for several years of my photographic career I was shooting with an outdated Nikon body that had an under developed cropped sensor which made it difficult to capture moments in low lighting conditions, as the noise was overpowering. So I upgraded to what I believe would be the most beneficial camera body, based on budget of course.
Describe the last photo you took. Well, that would be a photo of the Vegetarian Risotto De Verduras filled with mushroom, asparagus and sun dried tomatoes I had last night at an Italian restaurant, which I had taken on my iPhone…but to keep this interesting, here is the last photo I took on the weekend. I had followed the Rubens around for their WA tour for 3 nights in a row. This was the very last photo I had on my camera from their show in Fremantle. This is Elliott, he is a heart breaker.
What’s the most useful photography advice someone has ever given you? A dear friend simply told me to take my camera wherever I go.
What is your visual definition of summer? Sun kissed skin, tanned bum cheeks and denim ripped shorts, sparkling bursting out of the bottle facing the sunlight, long beach hair in a comfortable mess, sun freckles, toes dipping in white soft sand, laughter and wildness.
The 2012 Photo of the Year and respective category winners will be announced in December. The Lipton Ice Tea Virgin Cocktails Summer Exhibition Tour will kick off soon after in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. With only a week and a half to go, you better get submitting!
Images supplied.
