DRP: Did i go to any formal photography school?
OAT: Simply answer is No, (well, a bit in high school), bits and pieces that I have picked up, studied along the way in University.
DRP: How long have you been shooting for and how did you start out?
OAT: Ummm...about 3 years with about 1 year professionally. Photography had been a part of my life since I was young. But it is not seriously until the final two year of high school. I did it for my major art work in traditional b/w film and came out with best senior artwork for the HSC.
Because I have always had interests in Art, design, form & structure and think of myself as a creative person. I have decided to do architecture at UTS. And after being subjected to years and years of training on how to read lights, knowing the sun, composition, angle, struture, form, colour, design, leading lines, spaces, etc. I dont think there is a better course out there that tells you how to "make" the shot, rather "taking" the shot.
There were a few bits and pieces in my USYD years on design and multimedia that make me aware of the potential in post production and other media.
DRP: What about your technical understanding how did that come about?
OAT: Technical stuff I just learnd from reading and experimenting. Ask your self this, why does the pro takes better shot now and in the old days?
A: Cuz they have the money to buy lots of film to shoot back then, nowaday, digital help bridge that gap a little, but you still have to do a lot of experiment to refine your skill. I used to organise at least 1 (or even 3) shoots a week, and shoot a lot of frames
Not until 2000 that I got my first Digital Camera, little Canon IXUS 100, then a few years later with DSLR at the end of 2006 until now.
DRP: So your style is fairly unique, how did you progress your photography towards this or is it more something you just fell into and fine tuned
OAT: As I said, it was landscape, I want my image to stand out, I want people to glance and recognise that it is a "hangingpixels or Oat"'s image. I try to capture it as dramatic as possible. It is still in a sense a portrey of reality but as a photographer, I allow for my own creativities to come to play and to create something unique. I am not trying to capture the scene "as is" but i want to show the viewer "what" can be done with the scene. I like playing with light and mood, hence the dark tone to the image. Also it seem that the trend in advertisement photography favour darker, moodier, and more dramatic images. I did the basic by looking at other people work, ask them what they did, then also apply my final touches to them. It was trial and error at the start, hours upon hours of playing with photoshop combine with what i had learnt from working in 3D studio and architecture. It isn't know how to do it, it is know what can be done with it. (photoshop wise)
DRP: Alot of people try your style of photography and post processing, its rather amazing how much of an impact you have had on peoples style, whats your thoughts on this?
OAT: Like who? name them please. I am glad that i can influence others to be a better photographer. I mean if people want to "copy", I don't really care BUT I want to see what they can do and as long as they credit me...I'm cool with it.
DRP: Whats next for Oat from Hanging Pixels? Hardware upgrades, style changes, new direction?
OAT: It's Hangingpixels - one word! (You'd be surprise how many people get this wrong) hahhahha. Try to get more work. Braching out and try to be sign up with agency is what I want to be doing? I am the kind of person that what you might called "lazy" (not in a sense of too "lazy" to get the work done - if there is work to be done, i will finish it and finish it well). I am "lazy" to find myself job, i know i can do the work but i need someone to find it for me, hence agencies.
Hardware, ummmm....got pretty much all the lens i want, i'll work with what i have (which is a lot of gear) Maybe alienbees? oh yeah collapsible octabox, softbox which will make setting up a breeze.
Pelican case to fit everything in....hopefully for x'mas...hehehe.
Blackrapid R-Strap!, what else....a 2nd body like a 7D...hahhahha
Style: it is changing, less photoshop (unless it was intended to be), more beauty work, faster workflow to work with big files.
Direction: Get represented...hehehe. more workshops.
DRP: Any tips for up and comers in the world of photography?
OAT: 1. Read the manual page by page. it's not knowing "how" it's knowing "if" what you have can do it.
2. Don't let your gear (weight, power, technology, etc) limits your creativities. The more you carry to more you are limiting yourself. Use minimal gears.
3. Shoot a lot, the more you shoot, the more you are going to make mistake, the quicker you will learn. I average about 1000 shots a week. How do you think the pro in film day are better, because they have money (sponsor) to give them films. Now with digital you can too, but I still know people that took 3000 shots in a year! - But when u get home, look at your shots, settings, that's when u learn.
4. Enjoy it. Simplify your life, less is more.
DRP: Where can we next expect to see your work published?
OAT: Most of the new "high end" Thai restaurants photography are done by me...it's out every 2-3months with brochures and menu. There had been lots of paving work in magazines and might still be...i just dont know. But in term of magazine for fashion, not sure yet. I am thinking of submitting my profile to a few photography mag tho.
(sorry ed) we quickly progressed down the glamour road with Ed really shining.
