Fotógrafo Ed Mash

—En primer lugar, ¿quién puede llamar el mejor fotógrafo en Exeter, Reino Unido? :)

—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

—¿Es usted fotogénico(a)?

—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 :)

—¿Cómo empezó a trabajar en la industria de fotografía?

—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!

—¿En su opinión, cuáles son los elementos más importantes de una buena fotografía?

—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.

—¿Le gusta viajar?

—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.

—¿Qué le gusta más de su profesión?

—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

—¿Qué le gusta menos de su profesión?

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

—¿Cuál será el futuro de la fotografía?

—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.

—¿Qué tiene de especial el género fotográfico en que trabaja?

—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.

—¿Cómo gestiona las críticas?

—....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.

—¿Existe alguna tendencia en la fotografía?

—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!)

—¿Qué criterios debería tener en cuenta una persona a la hora de elegir a un fotógrafo?

—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.

—¿Qué no está permitido de ningún modo cuando realiza una fotografía?

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

—¿Qué detalles que normalmente no tenemos en cuenta puede un fotógrafo captar?

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

—¿Qué influye en el valor de una fotografía? ¿Cuáles son sus elementos?

—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.

—En su opinión, ¿qué persona podría ser un símbolo del siglo XXI?

—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.

—¿A quién le gustaría fotografiar?

—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!

—¿Tiene tabúes profesionales?

—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.

—¿Con quién le gustaría fotografiarse?

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

—¿Qué le preocupa y por qué?

—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)

—¿Cuál ha sido el momento más impactante de su vida?

—The birth of my first son.

—Si fuera un personaje de animación, literario o cinematográfico, ¿quién le gustaría ser y por qué?

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

—¿Quién le inspira en su vida y por qué?

—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.

—¿Cómo definiría el éxito? ¿Cómo lo mide?

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

—¿Qué prefiere, gustar o sentirse respetado?

—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.

—¿Cuál es el mayor error que ha cometido en su trabajo?

—Missing THE shot!

—Cuando va de viaje, ¿qué lleva consigo y por qué?

—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.

—¿Se arrepiente de alguno de los gadgets que ha comprado? ¿Por qué?

—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!

—¿Cómo se forma para tomar las mejores imágenes?

—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.

—¿A quién pertenece el trabajo que le ha influenciado más como fotógrafo?

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

—¿Cuál es la única cosa que desearía haber sabido cuando comenzó a tomar fotografías?

—More computer skills:)

—¿Qué desea decir con sus fotografías?

—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.

—¿Qué le motiva a continuar tomando imágenes?

—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.

—¿Cree que sus padres deberían haber sido más o menos estrictos?

—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?

—¿Si pudiera volver atrás en el tiempo, qué haría de forma diferente?

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

—¿Qué piensa de la vida en otros planetas?

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

—¿Quiénes son sus héroes?

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

—¿Por quién no siente respeto?

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

—¿Qué hace en su tiempo libre?

—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.

—¿Cuál es su lado desconocido que la gente nunca quiere ver?

—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.

—¿Está complemente satisfecho de su trabajo?

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

—¿Cree en los roles tradicionales de hombres y mujeres?

—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.

—¿Hace amigos con facilidad?

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

—¿Dónde le gustaría vivir?

—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.

—¿Cuál es la cosa más estúpida que ha aceptado hacer?

—So many things.

—¿Hay vida después del matrimonio?

—Personally speaking I'm divorced so YES :)

—¿Tiene un chiste favorito? Cuéntenoslo.

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

—¿Le gustan los perros o los gatos?

—Dogs

—¿A quién o qué odia?

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

—Lo mejor de su vida es:

—Sharing

—Lo más molesto de su vida es:

—Climate change.

—¿Hay algo a su alrededor que le gustaría cambiar?

—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.

—¿Qué le gustaría cambiar de usted mismo?

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

—¿Qué le gustaría cambiar del mundo?

—A greater sense of balance with the environment.

—¿Podría ofrecer algunos consejos a los fotógrafos que empiezan?

—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.

—Si los extraterrestres llegaran a la Tierra y fuera la primera persona que encontraran, ¿qué les diría?

—Watch out for the others!

—Si le llamaran como fotógrafo de una película, ¿a qué género pertenecería?

—Science Fiction

—Mañana voy a hacer...

—Put the house in order and get organised.