Q. What do you make of the ‘mirror’ and ‘window’ analogy?
A. I found it interesting to ‘reflect’ on this. When taking a photo, there is a level of control consciously or unconsciously where the photographer is trying to create the best image by choosing the window. Look at my image. See how clever I am. Is that a very specific window or a mirror/spotlight focusing on the brilliance of the photographer?
It’s a version of the air-brushed social media posts which are ‘real’ but controlled to such a degree that they ultimately don’t reflect warts ‘n’ all reality.
Q. As an image maker, do you identify more closely with one or the other?
A. Currently, I think am more mirror than window. I’m sure people get a sense of who I am or at least a reflection of where I feel most comfortable.
Q. What other metaphors do you know of, or can think of, that provide an insight into photography?
A. For me, it’s all about communication – controlling information seen by the audience. If you think of other areas where the narrative is controlled:
- politics, populism, idealism, different versions of truth
- newspapers. Editorial policy, deciding the slant of the story.
- book, autobiography (your voice – mirror) vs novel (many characters, voices. What does the mirror point at in this case?) vs non-fiction.
Q. What is your motivation for photography?
A. I have a need for a creative output and while I have great admiration for artists and people in crafts who have the skills necessary to paint, draw, carve, sculpt, dove-tail … I don’t possess those skills (or the patience and confidence to learn those skills) so photography has always been an avenue for me to attempt to produce something of creative worth. At the same time, I am interested in how best we can communicate the environmental problems we are facing and overcome the cultural inertia which prevents progress being made at anything other than glacial speed.
Q. What do you want to learn about and how can photography help you get a greater understanding of it?
A. Quite simply, I am keen to explore how can we get the most amount of people to do the right thing. Communication – and thus photography and accompanying narrative – is definitely part of that exploration.