Fotograf Ed Mash

—Za prvé a především – koho můžete jmenovat jako nejlepšího fotografa ve vašem městě? :)

—That's such a personal choice for clients. Here in Exeter there are different styles to choose, and different personalities. Clients should pick someone they're comfortable with on the BIG day

—Jste fotogeničtí?

—Photographers don't appear in many pictures do they....i find it hard to judge an image of myself! I keep getting invited back to parties so I cant be that bad :)

—Jak jste se dostali do fotografického průmyslu?

—Initially I only photographed weddings of close friends, and people I knew, but by personal recommendation the demand has grown....so I made the leap!

—Jaké jsou podle vás nedůležitější součásti dobré fotografie?

—I think a great photograph has resonance, and shares something with the viewer. Personally if it makes me say 'WOW' or smile, or conveys an idea then it's attractive.

—Cestujete rádi?

—YES. I've travelled a great deal.....every continent except Antarctica....and I still have a thirst for those unusual out of the way places.

—Co máte nejredši na vaší profesi?

—I love seeing the world through a lens, it brings me close to people, and the important events in their lives. It's a real privilege

—Co se vám líbí nejméně na vaší profesi?

—Missing a special moment.....you can see the image in your mind, and you know you haven't got it...its very disappointing.

—Jaká je budoucnost focení?

—Technology is changing cameras, in the future the processing power of the computer will be more integrated into the camera body, with better colour processing, and skin tone rendition.

—Co je výjimečného na žánru fotografií, na který se specializujete?

—I love wedding photography, everyone is dressed up, smiling, and determined to have a great time. The atmosphere is exciting and clients are always happy to engage with the camera.

—Jak zvládáte kritiku?

—....I haven't received any so far from clients, but I did have a co worker who was brutally critical of everything I did. Its important to listen, be objective, and use it as a learning process.

—Jsou nějaké trendy v oblasti focení?

—I think there is a tendency to use deep apertures, and sharpness as its an inherent part of the digital world. However I always appreciate a photographer who can skilfully handle a shallow aperture to tell the viewer exactly where to look (Sorry that was a technical answer!)

—Jaké by měl mít zákazník kritérium při výběru fotografa?

—Choose a style of photography that speaks to you personally and best encapsulates your values. Also go for the best budget you can afford...a good photographer will make memories you'll look back on for the rest of your life.

—Co není dovoleno při focení?

—Never force a situation...never make people feel uncomfortable, dress for the wedding and blend into the guests to capture those discreet moments.

—Jakých detailů, které obvykle projdou bez povšimnutí, si může fotograf všimnout?

—I think unnoticed details is a fault in a wedding photographer, great photographers are masters of seeing, rather than just looking.

—Co ovlivňuje hodnotu fotografie? Jaké jsou její prvky?

—A valuable photo is very much of its time. It's not a wedding photo but Frank Cappas photo "falling Soldier" taken during the Spanish civil war stopped me in my tracks. It's a painful subject but it has always fascinated and haunted me at the same time, you think of the victim, the photographer standing in a war with a camera, and the soldier who fired the bullet.

—Kdo může být podle vás symbolem 21. století?

—There are so many.....Ghandi probably made the most significant difference to the largest amount of people, so numerically he's top of the list.

—Co chcete fotit?

—No one springs to mind, but I'm confident I could draw out the best in anyone......so long as they wanted to work with me!

—Máte nějaké profesní tabu?

—I don't believe you should step to far from reality in post production. IMHO over processed photo's don't stand the test of time.

—S kým byste chtěli fotit?

—Working in a team, or with a partner can be immensely rewarding, I'm always happy working with talented people with ideas and enthusiasm.

—Čeho se bojíte a proč?

—Its a worry trying to cover the increasing cost of, cameras, lenses, hard disk storage, and computers. Most clients are unaware of this. For instance at the last wedding I photographed my equipment totalled 25K (that said Ive got the best kit in the world, and that's to be expected on the big day)

—Jaký byl nejpůsobivější okamžik ve vašem životě?

—The birth of my first son.

—Pokud byste byli animovaná, literární nebo filmová postava, kdo byste byli a proč?

—Great question! Put me down as Harry Potter, I like the glasses, and the wand would be very useful on shoots.

—Kdo vás inspiruje ve vašem životě a proč?

—I don't think there's one person, but I'm also a painter, and so art, paintings, and ideas, have always been a constant source of inspiration.

—Jak byste definovali úspěch? Jak ho měříte?

—It's hard to quantify success but I have all the important things I need in my life already.

—Byli byste raději oblíbení nebo respektovaní?

—I always strive for high end results so for me its more important to be liked for the person I am, and the body of my work. If people don't respect me there's not much I can do about it.

—Jaká je největší chyba, kterou jste kdy v práci udělali?

—Missing THE shot!

—Když cestujete, co si berete s sebou a proč?

—When I was 23 a good friend gave me a copy of "Four Quartets" by T.S Eliot. Its slim and fits in every rucsac or camera bag. I only carry it when I'm travelling but its quixotic view of infinity constantly surprises me with its relevance in new locations.

—Existuje něco, co byste si byli raději nekoupili z vašich pomůcek, které vlastníte? A proč?

—I don't like phone calls when I'm working so I have to say the mobile phone....I know that's heretical these days!

—Jak se vzděláváte, abyste pořidili lepší fotografie?

—Research is a big part of expanding your skill set. I'm constantly looking to develop and expand through experimentation with the camera or computer, or both.

—Čí práce vás ovlivnila nejvíce jako fotografa?

—I think I'm influenced by many images rather than one photographer in person.

—Jedna věc, kterou byste si přáli vědět, když jste začínali s focením?

—More computer skills:)

—Co byste rádi řekli skrze vaše fotografie?

—Intimacy and resonance are very important, but also a sense of place....images are like time capsules I want people to look back and feel connected with the images, again and again.

—Co vás motivuje v dalším focení?

—There's always a sense of the perfect shot being around the next corner, something more special, more romantic, more FUN.....so I keep searching.

—Měli vaši rodiče být méně nebo více přísní?

—My parents were very relaxed and open minded in their guidance....so I guess a tiny bit more strictness might have been a good thing?

—Pokud byste se mohli vrátit v čase, co byste udělali jinak?

—I'm a very positive person and I think reflection on the past can be self absorbing so I prefer to embrace the future.

—Co o životě na ostatních planetách?

—Definitely...sadly due to deep time its going to be very hard to find.

—Kdo jsou vaši hrdinové?

—I've mentioned Ghandi but I'd happily add Leonardo Da Vinci, Einstein, Marie Curie, Dickens, Tesla, Jane Austen.

—Pro koho nemáte žádný respekt?

—The tiny minded despots who've sacrificed millions of lives in vain.

—Co děláte ve svém volném čase?

—Well the camera's always with me out walking, or at art galleries, meeting up with friends, and of course with my family. At home I love to cook, and my garden is a small oasis.

—Jakou vaši tvář nikdy neuvidí veřejnost?

—Its always good to keep your professional side towards the public, but if I'm honest I'm a bit shy so I keep that well hidden.

—Kdy jste zcela spokojeni s vaší prací?

—Tough question......i need to learn to stop tweaking.

—Věříte v tradiční role mužů a žen?

—I'm not really a traditional person, and having had a very liberal background I trust other people to make the choices that are best suited to them and their perception of gender.

—Získáváte snadno nové přátele?

—Yes I make friends easily and I'm very lucky in the friends I have, I still have all my school friends:)

—Kde byste rádi žili?

—I live in Devon so I'm spoilt by beautiful coastline in every direction, and two very different national parks. This is a great base for getting the work life balance just right. I'm happy right here.

—Co je ta nejhloupější věc, na kterou jste kdy přistoupili?

—So many things.

—Existuje život po svatbě?

—Personally speaking I'm divorced so YES :)

—Máte oblíbený vtip? Povězte nám ho.

—" I've gone on the Whisky Diet-I've lost four days already" Tommy Cooper

—Máte rádi psy a kočky?

—Dogs

—Koho nebo co nenávidíte?

—The art of forgiveness means you don't have to hate anyone, it so unhealthy to carry that emotion around inside you.

—Nejlepší věc v životě je:

—Sharing

—Nejotravnější věc v životě je:

—Climate change.

—Existuje něco, co byste chtěli změnit?

—Personally not much, but politics, world affairs, and the environment are concerns for me.... greater awareness and action by the majority would be a step in the right direction.

—Co byste chtěli změnit na sobě?

—I feel its better to work with what you've got.

—Co byste chtěli změnit ve světě?

—A greater sense of balance with the environment.

—Máte nějaké tipy pro začínající fotografy?

—If you know where to point a camera, then its easy to learn the technical aspects as you progress. Until then trust your instincts, appreciate your own talent, and go and grab as much experience as you possibly can.

—Kdyby přišli na naši planetu mimozemšťané a vy byste byli první osobou, se kterou se potkají, co byste jim řekli?

—Watch out for the others!

—Pokud byste měli natočit film, jakého žánru by byl?

—Science Fiction

—Zítra půjdu a udělám...

—Put the house in order and get organised.