ANDREW GREEN
Tell us about your photography journey so far and what inspired you to pick up the camera and start shooting?
I received my first camera as a Christmas present from my parents in 1991 accompanied by a book entitled “Eyewitness to the 80’s: A moment in time”. I was eleven years old and I became fascinated with photography and my newly discovered method of capturing people, places and moments in time. As a child, I used the camera as a tool without any thought to composition, principles or any other convention. I understood the basic principles, how the camera functioned and how to load/unload the film correctly. It was always so exciting going to the shop to collect your printed images, wondering how the images had turn out. Flicking through them to find out how many had out of focus fingers in them or were incorrectly exposed. Magical!
As I got older, I realised that a photographic record was a precious way of recording events for posterity. While in lower sixth in 1997, I studied a GCSE in photography. It was during this time as a young adult, I remember experiencing the freedom that came with wondering around alone, with no other thoughts than the camera, the subject and composition. The feeling of processing the film, the time it took to complete and dry, the use of the enlarger to view and expose negatives, the development of images from blank sheets of different photographic paper to printed images. It all took so much time, focus and commitment. I still remember the smell of the Darkroom. Part of the course was to learn about other famous photographers. I remember thinking at the time “why should I bother! I don’t need to know about them, it is all about my images.” I got 128 out of 130 for my photographic project, but only a B grade overall. This highlighted sharply to me the importance of knowing who and what has gone before.
Fast-forward nineteen years to 2016, during which time I had still been taking photographs but only as an enthusiast. I decided to attend the Northern Regional College to help develop my creativity in general. For the first time in my adult life, I started to create pieces of “art” using the medium of photography and I was in my element. It took me back to the feeling of creative freedom which I had long forgotten. When this course finished, I was hooked and immediately enrolled for another this time in photography. The second course allowed me to dream of the possibility of a career change to become a professional photographer. In 2019, during the last year of my course, I started to put strategies in place to launch my business. However, I still lacked the confidence to put myself forward into the public arena.
While surfing the internet, I found a wedding workshop to be run July 2019 in Drenagh Country Estate, Limavady. The course was organised by Mark Hamill. I attended and the workshop was so much fun. I learnt a lot of new information, techniques and concepts to incorporate into my own business ideas. Mark was so easy-going, knowledgeable and professional. I left that day absolutely buzzing with excitement with the images of Jessica Doherty and Aaron Deerzo, our models for the day. They had been amazing and a pleasure to work with.
Spurred on, I attended another workshop organised by Mark. This time a five-week programme allowing me to experience various genres of photography. The workshops helped me to develop my photographic knowledge and skills, but also showed me how to interact and pose models to achieve the desired visual outcome. I learnt so much over these workshops. I also got to network with photographers/models/others and I developed some new friendships. My creative ideas were flowing so fast that I had to start a book just to record them.
The NI Photography Summit 2019 held in the Beech Hill Country House was the most recent event that I attended which Mark had organised. This was a fantastic day which provided me the
opportunity to listen to and talk with five professional photographers as they ran workshops. This day was very useful in terms of access to knowledge, techniques, skills and putting questions to professional photographers and models.
I simply love photography. The old saying goes “if you love the work you do, then it doesn’t seem like work”. This is so true for me. Time flies when I am photographing subjects and even when I am editing. I love seeing people’s faces literally shine and come alive after editing. It makes me feel privileged to have been there at that moment to capture it. Importantly, I have found photography to be very beneficial for my physical and mental well-being too.
How would you describe your style as it evolves?
Over the years, my choice of subjects has changed so much. I have always tried to experiment with my photography, not really knowing which genre I belonged to or indeed the one I wanted to focus on. However, I found joining my local camera club helped to provide focus and challenges to aim for. Personally, I feel my best images would have been landscapes and indeed I captured some beautiful imagery from the North Coast area between early evenings to the last of a glorious dawn golden hour, with some astro-photography in between for good measure. My worst ever photographic project, much to my wife’s dismay, was an attempt I made to make a circuit board look like a cityscape which I entitled “Circuit City.” I can still see the look of disdain on her face! I knew then that things had to change.
In recent years, I have become solely focused on people. My genre interests now are portraiture, documentary and I am hoping to get into wedding photography. I am still driven to create “art” and I have recently started to write poetry to accompany my visual images/stories. My most recent completed project was entitled “Angels amongst Us” and was created in collaboration with Gracie Lambert and Raonaid McCrossan. This was my first ever self-directed project of this style and it was so much fun.
Any inspirational photographers you follow on social or youtube?
I follow Gavin Hoey on his Youtube channel for Adorama. I love the amount of content that he has created and the sheer range of topics. His videos are concise, informative and provoke a sense of experimentation in me.
Richard Avedon is my main inspiration in my portraiture. I have read several books on him, his work and the time period in which he created his imagery. Other photographic influences include Annie Leibovitz, Alfred Stieglitz and Peter Hurley.
It would be remiss of me not to mention Mark as an influential factor in my most recent work. The knowledge, techniques and friendship I have developed with him over the last year have had a tangible impact on my photographic work.
On reflection and with the wisdom that comes with age, I now know why I was asked to write about other photographers during my GCSE work in 1997. There is so much to learn.
What do you find your main challenges to learn, lighting, OCF or posing to mention a few?
Before attending any of Mark’s workshops, I had spent a “little” bit of money on new studio equipment. However, I soon discovered that I did not really know how to use it properly. I knew the theory, but I had very little practice or experience using the lighting equipment in a studio setting. I found it extremely difficult to obtain an image that I was pleased with and this became very
frustrating. I committed myself to practicing with the equipment regularly, applying the theory that I had and seeking out more. Therefore, when I saw Mark’s workshop advertised in July 2019, I was so excited to attend. As stated, this workshop was great and packed full of information. But it highlighted another challenge for me. Relating to models and directing them to pose was very new to me. I had never had to do this before, and I struggled. However, with Mark’s guidance and the opportunity to direct a model’s pose during the workshops, this soon became easier. In my true style, I went away and tried to read everything I could around the subject and then I started to apply it to my own photography.
Have you found Lightroom and Photoshop difficult and any tips on how you teach yourself or youtubers you follow?
I have used a computer of some form longer than I have used a camera. When photography moved from film to digital, I took it in my stride. I have used several different software packages over the years for my image management and editing requirements. However, I really enjoy using both Lightroom and Photoshop. I use Lightroom for image storage management and large volume image processing and editing. Then when I want to really polish up my image, I transfer it to Photoshop. I would say I have a working knowledge of these programs. But, there is always something new to discover and the programs are evolving as digital photography does too. My advice – Back up your images and then just play with the files. Change something and see what it does. Ask yourself do you like it? Would others like it? If not, just undo it. In my experience, I always must try and reign in my adjustments as I like the image dark, bold and moody. However, this may not be the general consensus and sometimes you have to find compromise, especially if someone is paying for it!
We know workshops are an important tool to learn and grow from, what has been your favourite shoot so far within a workshop?
My favourite shoot within all the workshops that I have attended is week 5 of the 5-week programme. During this shoot, we used smoke bombs in a subway tunnel to create very colourful, dramatic portraiture with Jessica Doherty as the model. Jessica was amazing during this and the imagery I obtained was some of the best I have achieved to date.
Do you have an advice on your experience in working with models around Ireland?
I have worked with models during Mark’s workshops and they have all been wonderful, professional and very easy to work with. However, in a workshop situation the hard work is done for a photographer. My advice – after practicing in workshops, get out there with your own project ideas and direct your own shoot. It will not be easy at first but working with professional models helps to get your vision across easily. When you look at the final images and think to yourself of what you have achieved as a team, that is a great feeling.
If you have to choose one favourite lens what would it be and why?
My favourite lens is my Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens. Sharp as a tack, after firmware updates of course. I love this focal length, especially when I am aiming to incorporate as much of the surroundings in my environmental portraiture. I love the bokeh when the lens is wide open and how the 9 blades in the aperture create silky smooth transitions.
Do you plan to move system and has the wave of Sony shooters tempted you?
My first film SLR camera was a Nikon and my first DSLR was a Nikon. I love Nikon and I think that I always will. Though, I would admit that if my first had been a Sony, then I would probably be a Sony man. Alas, this was not meant to be. The camera is just a tool for me to create the imagery that I see in my head. The competition created between the Big Brands can only be a good thing for us as photographers, as it will lead to the development of new technologies. But, even the most advanced camera is simply a box with a hole in it and a method of recording the light that flows in. A very expensive box, yes!
Quickfire round:
Tea/Coffee? Coffee up until 3pm, tea from 3pm onwards.
35mm - 85mm? Oh, definitely 35mm for environmental. Though, I do like my Sigma 85mm Art lens for portraits details.
Natural light - studio lighting? I am leaning closer to the OCF and studio lighting crowd.
Candid – posed – Posed, probably because it is new to me and fresh. Wide open - f5.6? Wide open, I love using focus as a method of directing viewer attention.
Lightroom - Photoshop? Lightroom for file management and general editing. Photoshop for pixel level editing. Nikon - Sony - Canon? Has to be, Nikon! The first love and all.
Prime - Zoom Lens? Prime, your feet are for zooming.