Valokuvaaja Ed Mash

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

—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

—Oletko valokuvauksellinen?

—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 :)

—Miten päädyit valokuvausalalle?

—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!

—Mikä on sinusta tärkeintä hyvässä kuvassa?

—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.

—Tykkäätkö matkustamisesta?

—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.

—Mistä pidät eniten ammatissasi?

—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

—Mistä pidät vähiten ammatissasi?

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

—Mikä on valokuvauksen tulevaisuus?

—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.

—Mikä on sille valokuvauslajille erityistä, johon olet erikoistunut?

—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.

—Kuinka suhtaudut kritiikkiin?

—....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.

—Onko valokuvauksessa trendejä?

—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!)

—Minkä kriteerien perusteella asiakkaan pitäisi valita valokuvaaja?

—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.

—Mikä on ehdottomasti kiellettyä kuvauksessa?

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

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

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

—Mikä vaikuttaa kuvan arvoon? Mikä kuvissa on tärkeintä?

—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.

—Kuka on sinun mielestäsi 2000-vuosisadan symboli?

—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.

—Ketä haluaisit kuvata?

—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!

—Onko sinulla ammatillisia tabuja?

—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.

—Kenen kanssa haluaisit kuvata?

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

—Mistä huolehdit ja miksi?

—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)

—Mikä on ollut elämäsi vaikuttavin hetki?

—The birth of my first son.

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

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

—Kuka sinua on inspiroinut elämässäsi ja miksi?

—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.

—Miten ja millä perusteella määrittelisit menestyksen?

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

—Haluaisitko olla mieluummin tykätty vai kunnioitettu?

—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.

—Mikä on suurin virheesi, jonka olet tehnyt työssäsi?

—Missing THE shot!

—Kun lähdet matkalle, mitä otat mukaasi ja miksi?

—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.

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

—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!

—Miten opettelet ottamaan parempia kuvia?

—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.

—Kuka on vaikuttanut eniten ammattiisi valokuvaajana?

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

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

—More computer skills:)

—Mitä haluat ilmaista valokuvillasi?

—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.

—Mikä motivoi sinua jatkamaan kuvausta?

—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.

—Olisiko vanhempiesi pitänyt olla tiukempia tai päinvastoin?

—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?

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

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

—Uskotko, että muilla planeetoilla on elämää?

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

—Ketkä ovat sankareitasi?

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

—Ketä et kunnioita?

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

—Mitä teet vapaa-ajallasi?

—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.

—Mitä puolta yleisö ei koskaan näe sinussa?

—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.

—Milloin olet täysin tyytyväinen työhösi?

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

—Uskotko miesten ja naisten perinteisiin rooleihin?

—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.

—Saatko helposti ystäviä?

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

—Missä haluaisit asua?

—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.

—Mikä on typerin asia, johon olet koskaan suostunut?

—So many things.

—Jatkuuko elämä avioliiton jälkeen?

—Personally speaking I'm divorced so YES :)

—Onko sinulla suosikkivitsiä? Kerro pois.

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

—Pidätkö koirista vai kissoista?

—Dogs

—Ketä tai mitä vihaat?

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

—Parasta elämässä on:

—Sharing

—Ärsyttävintä elämässä on:

—Climate change.

—Haluaisitko muuttaa mitään ympärilläsi?

—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.

—Mitä haluaisit muuttaa itsessäsi?

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

—Mitä haluaisit muuttaa maailmassa?

—A greater sense of balance with the environment.

—Haluaisitko antaa vinkkejä aloitteleville valokuvaajille?

—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.

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

—Watch out for the others!

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

—Science Fiction

—Huomenna aion...

—Put the house in order and get organised.