Interview With Concert And Band Photographer Alexx Peace
January 17, 2010
Q: When did you decide to become a photographer?
A: I’ve always loved taking photographs. I always took a camera with me everywhere, but mostly to the gigs that I went to. At College i study Forensics and i choose the Photography module this just confirmed to me my love of photography.
I took it one step further and studies photography at university where it was made clear to me that I was the odd one out, my passion lays within Music Photography, which was frowned upon by my tutors, this just gave me the drive to push even harder to make my dream even more real.
Q: Do you like to talk about yourself or your pictures? If yes, about what aspects of photography? If no, why?
A: I like to talk about myself and my work. I enjoy talking about the photographers inspire me the most, and the reason behind certain pieces of my work. What you miss with the blink of an eye you can capture with the click of the shutter. =)
Q: How would you describe your attention span?
A: Long i can sit for hours editing and can become bored
Q: What does photography mean to you?
A: Photography is my life, and my life is Music, Passion, Energy and Drive.
Q: Can you recall the first photo you took that made you go WOW!?
A: au well there are so many but I have to say A photograph that was taken at a Gig in 2007 of a band Called Trashlight Vision, this image i didn’t do a single thing to it was taken in black and white original and all i was watermark it to but it online… After this image i have many many photographs that have me go WOW and even made me say to my self it looks like someone else has taken it.. I shock myself with how stunning my photograph come out.
Q: Do you have any formal training regarding photography?
A: BA(hons) Photography
Q: How technical is your photography?
A: I’d Say my photography is about mid in Technicality at present but I am working on progressing this
Q: How do you feel about cropping?
A: I not mind, but i do feel strongly about capturing what you want in the image when you first click the shutter
Q: Where is your favorite place to live and work as a photographer in the World and why?
A: I’d Love to Live in LA with all the band and the music scene that is out there.
Q: Define the word “beauty”!
A: Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder, because something that i say is beautiful could disgusted or upset another person
Q: What is your most favorite and least favorite word in photography or life? How do they make you feel?
A: My least favourite word is Pixelated, this word makes me angry when it is wrongly used, My Favourite word is Front Cover, i am waiting to here this but the thought of it fills me with excitement (front cover meaning of a magazine)
Q: How does your personality change when you look through the camera?
A: It changes a little, but not much. My photography is an extenuation of myself
Q: How do you feel about missed shots which cannot be recreated?
A: I feel a bit down, but there will always be other opportunity to get an even better shot
Q: Ever concerned about failure?
A: No, You can afford to think out failure in such a competitive field as photography.. Think Positive all the way.
Q: Who are your influences?
A: Mick Rock, P.R. Brown, Bob Gruen, Pennie Smith, David LaChappelle, Neil Zlozower
Q: What is your favourite image, either your own or someone else’s or both? Describe its creation or meaning to you?
A: My favourite image(s) of my own would have to be a series of photographs that I did for a Band called Drugdealer Cheerleader these studio images saw a changed in my photography. My photography had evolved in to a much more promising style, it had a feeling that something new was going to happen.
Q: Describe a day in your personal or professional life.
A: From day to day its different, just take it as it thrown at me =)
Q: What are the biggest personal or professional challenges you face on a daily basis?
A: The biggest challenges on a daily basis is where my next piece of work is going to come from.
Q: What has been the single biggest obstacle against growing as a photographer in whole?
A: The Biggest obstacle was educational, trying to get tutor to believe that what i was doing actually meant something as they didn’t believe it did.
Q: What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
A: Musicians, they are so unpredictable, so you know what you are going to end up it at the end of a shoot.
Q: Tell your funniest, scariest, most bizarre, most touching story from a photo shoot!
A: When i was photographing Bloodstock 2008, (the muddiest festival I’ve ever been to loll) was running between the stages backstage and I end up on the floor in a heap covered in mud.. Trying to blend in with the crowd you see.. lol
Q: Have you ever thought about or actually stopped doing photography? What were the circumstances?
A: I’d Never stop doing photography i’m not the type of person to be stuck working in an office for the rest of my life
Q: Do you ever have photographer’s block and if yes how do you deal with it?
A: Yeh, its comes and go’s, normally just looking back at work you have done in the past and looking at the photographers that inspire you. You always come up with something
Q: What types of assignments are you attracted most?
A: I love photographing gigs, you get to photograph the musician going what they love so you get some much energy in your photographs
Q: Describe what black and white photography means to you?
A: Black and White photography to me, gives me a sense of atmosphere and depth to the simplest of objects. Give you the feeling that this particular object has vast meaning
Q: Do you think of yourself as an artist and what do you think of the word artist?
A: I’m a Photographer, i wouldn’t say that i’m and artist, because an artist to me is someone that works with canvas and paints
Q: How do you describe your photographic style?
A: History Making photography, as all the photographs that I take will some day be looked back on like the we do with the early work of Mick Rock, Bob Gruen and Neil Zlozower
Q: What has been the most surprising or most predictable reaction to your photographs?
A: the Most surprising reaction to my work was when I was published in 2 music magazines a National and an International. Was of shock that i’d done it.
Q: Tell a little secret about yourself that no-one knows …
A: ooo.. well no cant tell you that..
Q: Who or what would you love to shoot that you haven’t already?
A: I’d Love to shoot Motley Crue live in America and for the images to go in to Classic Rock Magazine as a double spread.
Q: What would you have done differently during your photography career so far and could this be an advice to others?
A: I wouldn’t have done anything differently because everything that has happened so far has happened for a reason. Opportunity have come up that wouldn’t have come up if it wasn’t for something before it. =)
Q: What are your thoughts on the paparazzi and their effects on photographers and photography?
A: I Don’t like paparazzi i think that give photography and photographers a bad name. Paparazzi don’t need to know how to take good picture because they life is built up of taking bad pictures. When ever a member of the public sees anyone with a profession camera they are automatically labeled as Paparazzi. Ive had people say it to me in the past, it make you feel worthless for pursuing your career.
Q: How do you feel about digital manipulation and to what extent do you utilize it?
A: I think that when digital manipulation is done well its looks stunning, but it when it done badly and can tell that the photograph was good before it was messed with. Personally i don’t do much manipulation to my images because that would take away from the rawness that i’m trying to get across in my work.
Q: What other thoughts would you like to share?
A: The next click could be the one to make you famous so just keep CLICKING. !
Visit Alexx’s MySpace page.
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