Valokuvaaja Anna Rowland

—Ennen kaikkea - kenet voit nimetä parhaaksi kuvaajaksi kaupungissasi? :)

—I genuinely couldn't tell you for sure.

—Oletko valokuvauksellinen?

—No. I really dislike being on the other side of the camera, which is a shame but maybe in time I will feel differently.

—Miten päädyit valokuvausalalle?

—It's my life's work – initially I think a friend asked me when I was about 18, it kinda went from there.

—Mikä on sinusta tärkeintä hyvässä kuvassa?

—Emotion, composition, heart, light. All equally important and when they come together to create something that speaks to you and makes you take a second look, that's what works for me.

—Tykkäätkö matkustamisesta?

—Infinitely so.

—Mistä pidät eniten ammatissasi?

—Meeting people and visiting places I otherwise wouldn't have, and the freedom of self-employment.

—Mistä pidät vähiten ammatissasi?

—The degree of uncertainty attached to any form of self-employment I guess.

—Mikä on valokuvauksen tulevaisuus?

—Hard to say, the standards are very high now. I'd say exactly what it is right now – real moments.

—Mikä on sille valokuvauslajille erityistä, johon olet erikoistunut?

—Capturing moments that happen fleetingly to remember always. Creating images that will evoke a memory or feeling of a loved person is the aspect most special to me.

—Kuinka suhtaudut kritiikkiin?

—Pretty well. I think it's essential to progress. I might not always agree, but I welcome it.

—Onko valokuvauksessa trendejä?

—Always, I try to stay true to what I personally believe in, so I ignore them.

—Minkä kriteerien perusteella asiakkaan pitäisi valita valokuvaaja?

—Something they can really feel. I truly think it’s a heart-led thing.

—Mikä on ehdottomasti kiellettyä kuvauksessa?

—I can't think of anything specific – always work around any potential issues

—Mitkä yksityiskohdat, jotka yleensä jäävät huomaamatta, valokuvaaja voi tallettaa?

—Fleeting expressions

—Mikä vaikuttaa kuvan arvoon? Mikä kuvissa on tärkeintä?

—An insight into a character, moment or exchange

—Kuka on sinun mielestäsi 2000-vuosisadan symboli?

—I don't have an opinion on that.

—Ketä haluaisit kuvata?

—People with character. There's no single person I can conjure up in my head and think 'i'd like to take photos of that person'.

—Onko sinulla ammatillisia tabuja?

—Umm, wearing fur, I disagree with that so very much.

—Kenen kanssa haluaisit kuvata?

—No one in particular

—Mistä huolehdit ja miksi?

—Professionally I try not to worry and take everything as it comes. Wedding photography always comes with its challenges, the trick is how you deal with them.

—Mikä on ollut elämäsi vaikuttavin hetki?

—Does getting out of bed every morning count? Thought not. Having my son, probably.

—Jos olisit animoitu, kirjallisuus- tai elokuvahahmo, kuka olisit ja miksi?

—Nala from Lion King. No reason, just a cool name and I like lions.

—Kuka sinua on inspiroinut elämässäsi ja miksi?

—My son, just by being new and cool

—Miten ja millä perusteella määrittelisit menestyksen?

—Being happy

—Haluaisitko olla mieluummin tykätty vai kunnioitettu?

—Either, both, neither

—Mikä on suurin virheesi, jonka olet tehnyt työssäsi?

—Not planning a route and getting lost pre-ceremony. It only happened once.

—Kun lähdet matkalle, mitä otat mukaasi ja miksi?

—Everything I think I might need and more

—Oletko koskaan toivonut, ettet olisi ostanut jotain omistamistasi vempaimista? Miksi?

—Probably about 60% of it.
I bought a time-lapse camera for my husband once, it was really expensive and he used it once then it sat and got old and rubbish before he would admit he would never use it again in time for me to sell it. I've always been quite annoyed at him about that. I wonder if he will ever read this...

—Miten opettelet ottamaan parempia kuvia?

—Just by choosing to continue learning, being inspired by work outside of weddings and by being more considered with my frames. I also try not to be too formulaic and complacent. I know my job so well now that I could risk being just that. I think my genuine love for working with people, emotion and light always drives me to create something I'm proud of. I'm not sure i've actually answered that question...

—Kuka on vaikuttanut eniten ammattiisi valokuvaajana?

—Its changed vastly over the years. Currently I do my own thing, I couldn't name one person specifically who has influenced me over another.

—Minkä yhden asian olisit toivonut tietäväsi, kun aloitit kuvaamisen?

—I'm happy with how my career has evolved as it is

—Mitä haluat ilmaista valokuvillasi?

—These people are real

—Mikä motivoi sinua jatkamaan kuvausta?

—The feedback. Every time. Also light. When I'm without a camera and I see beautiful light I'd want to create an interesting frame with, a little part of me mourns the possibility of what could have been. I usually try to take it in with my eyes and hope I can store it away in my brain for another day when I might have my camera and similar light to play with.

—Olisiko vanhempiesi pitänyt olla tiukempia tai päinvastoin?

—My upbringing wasn't conventional. I'm pretty happy with how life has shaped me though and parenting is just a part of that.

—Jos voisit palata ajassa taaksepäin, mitä tekisit eri tavalla?

—Nothing. Life has been challenging in parts, but had it not been, I wouldn't be who I am now.

—Uskotko, että muilla planeetoilla on elämää?

—I'd say it would be naive to assume we are the only ones!

—Ketkä ovat sankareitasi?

—I don't have any as such.

—Ketä et kunnioita?

—People who do not operate kindly and with respect to all living things

—Mitä teet vapaa-ajallasi?

—I don't really have much spare time, I like to stay busy and there's always something to do.

—Mitä puolta yleisö ei koskaan näe sinussa?

—My introverted/shy side, which is the real me. This seems a funny question, like I'm famous. Alas I am not. I have no public. I have a few close friends who know the real me, when at work I guess I created a persona I can hide behind to a degree.

—Milloin olet täysin tyytyväinen työhösi?

—Never. I always want to be better

—Uskotko miesten ja naisten perinteisiin rooleihin?

—I believe we should all be whatever we want to be, regardless of gender stereotypes. In my household the 'traditional' roles are reversed in many senses. I've never personally felt I have had to fall within any gender stereotypes. I guess I like my husband to put the bins out, but then I do the car maintenance. I think what I'm trying to say is no.

—Saatko helposti ystäviä?

—With some people its easy, with others I immediately decide it's not and so I don't tend to pursue them. I'm shy so this narrows down the whole 'new friends' possibilities as I don't tend to approach people.

—Missä haluaisit asua?

—New Zealand

—Mikä on typerin asia, johon olet koskaan suostunut?

—I don't think I have really done anything too stupid. I'm cautious, but can be easily led astray to do things that may be unwise, not so much stupid.

—Jatkuuko elämä avioliiton jälkeen?

—Of course

—Onko sinulla suosikkivitsiä? Kerro pois.

—I don't retell jokes well

—Pidätkö koirista vai kissoista?

—Cats, but I have and love both, so both, I should say, but mostly cats

—Ketä tai mitä vihaat?

—Cruelty

—Parasta elämässä on:

—Love, then tea.

—Ärsyttävintä elämässä on:

—Don't start me, there's more than one. If pushed, I'd have to say a half-full bottle of water rolling around in my (car) passenger footwell, that's basically hell. Half-full because it makes more of a sloshy sound to add to the annoyance.

—Haluaisitko muuttaa mitään ympärilläsi?

—Attitudes, and ignorance.

—Mitä haluaisit muuttaa itsessäsi?

—Nothing, and yet everything. That’s not an easily answered question :)

—Mitä haluaisit muuttaa maailmassa?

—Greed, war, politics, animal cruelty. The world needs more changes than I can fit in this box

—Haluaisitko antaa vinkkejä aloitteleville valokuvaajille?

—Watch everything, work hard, slow down, understand people, accept challenges will happen, find your own vision, and love what you do.

—Jos Maahan saapuisi avaruusolioita ja he näkisivät sinut ensimmäisenä, mitä sanoisit heille?

—Be kind

—Jos sinut kutsuttaisiin kuvaamaan elokuvaa, mitä tyylilajia se edustaisi?

—No doubt some kind of weird indie film

—Huomenna aion...

—I'm shooting a wedding.