God I love lines

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in photography. What inspired you to start taking photos?
I’m 34 and live in Sydney, Australia. I spent a lot of time traveling back and forth between the mountains of Colorado, USA and the beaches of Sydney in my childhood. I find this has given me a close association with both the mountains and the coastline and some of my earliest rolls of film are photos of both those things. I didn’t find my real passion through until High School when I was lucky enough to receive a Kodak Easyshare compact digital camera for Christmas in the early 2000’s, I took it everywhere I went and the next year I enrolled into our schools Photography class where I cut my teeth in the darkroom and realised I loved film way more than digital. I also found I loved to shoot people just as much as odd scenarios and nature. As the years went on I shot everything I could from friends parties to mountain biking and before I knew it I was shooting local punk and hardcore bands for my high schools major graduate work. Fast forward several more years and a few random careers later I picked up my camera again in 2016 and started shoot music again. One thing lead to another and by chance I took a few images for my sisters fashion label which lead to where I am today (after a lot blood sweat and tears) living my passion as my career.

Everyone has a unique style. Can you describe how you would define your style and what visual or conceptual elements characterize it?
I find my work to be quite traditional in a presentation sense as I can often get caught in the technical details while shooting. However if I think about it I’d say my style focuses on bold colours, contrast of scenes/subject, line (god I love lines) and the beauty in mundane. Conceptually I often try to convey a sense of nostalgia towards nature and the beauty in the simple moments, a kind of mindfulness conveyed through an image. It harks to my longing to always have five more minutes in the mountains or at the beach, the pull of excitement you have as a child remembering your most fun days spent in nature.

Photography has the power to tell stories and convey emotions. Can you share an experience in which one of your photos had a significant impact on people or on yourself?
I think easily biggest impact emotionally that some of my photos have had was two years ago when my last grandparent passed away unexpectedly. I had been lucky enough to do a portrait session with her six months prior and those images really touched me more than I expected. The happiness and sadness that a simple image could convey upon myself all at once I found to be pretty wild.

What has been your most challenging photographic project to date and why?
I’d say shooting weddings, I shoot a handful on the side each year as I’m sappy and love love. I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to getting my shots spot on and I find the added pressure of making it “perfect” for myself and the couple to be both a blessing and a curse to my mental health on the day.

Technology and photo editing tools are constantly evolving. Can you tell us about the techniques and equipment that you consider essential for your work?
I have a what I find anyway a fairly standard approach to my practice. But I find my essentials are high res scans from my local lab, Capture One for all my colour correcting and creative tweaks and of course Photoshop for anything else.

There are many genres in photography, from portraits to nature photography. Do you have a favorite genre in which you feel most comfortable or enjoy shooting the most? Why?
I defs love to shoot people and always find myself comfortable doing so, however I find it the most exciting to shoot live music. The energy is really something else.

Can you share an interesting or unusual anecdote you’ve experienced while taking photos?
Nothing to wild comes to mind, however once while traveling through Western Sumatra, Indonesia I had a cow casually walk up and into the scene I was shooting. It propped it’s head up on a branch in the centre of my frame and struck a few considered poses for me, it was simply beautiful.

Many photographers find inspiration in other visual artists or everyday life. What are some of your sources of inspiration?
I often find myself inspired by mundane things, the sun hitting a wall in particular way or the way a tree curves into the perfect shape around a building. The simple beauties of the everyday often are enough to get me excited and inspired. That and people, I find them fascinating. But if I ever find myself lacking, I take a swim in the ocean or have a long shower, something about the water just makes the ideas flow to me.

Photography is a visual medium, but it often has a conceptual background. Have you worked on photographic projects that address specific themes or concepts? Can you share information about one of those projects?
Most of my conceptual works as passion projects, for example my local area has been gentrifying very quickly over the last few years and losing a lot of it’s original “Australiana” coastal feel. I have slowly been cataloguing my favourite of these old homes and presenting the images in a rather “70’s family holiday” style way, incorporating light leaks and bright poppy colours to convey a nostalgic feel of an era once gone by. It’s a long standing WIP so watch this space.

What inspires you when creating new images? Do you have a ritual or creative process you follow to find inspiration?
I tend to be pretty inspired by travel. It sounds pretty cliche but once I get to switch off from “work” and I know I am headed somewhere I always get new ideas floating into my head. My only other ritual is to be out in nature, feel and see what is around me and take time to pay attention. By doing this I always start to see and imagine new images.

For aspiring photographers who may be reading this interview, what is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve received in your career, or what advice would you like to share with them?
My best piece of advice is to stick with it, keep shooting, life’s too short to not take photos of it.

Recommend us the Instagram account of an artist that you like their work.
@neamoscou