Fotografo Ed Mash

—Prima di tutto - chi puoi definire come il miglior fotografo di Exeter, Regno Unito? :)

—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

—Sei fotogenico?

—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 :)

—Come sei entrato nell'industria della fotografia?

—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!

—Secondo te, quali sono le componenti più importanti di una bella foto?

—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.

—Ti piace viaggiare?

—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.

—Che cosa ti piace di più nella tua professione?

—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

—Che cosa ti piace di meno nella tua professione?

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

—Quale sarà il futuro della fotografia?

—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.

—Cosa c'è di speciale nel genere di fotografia in cui sei specializzato?

—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.

—Come gestisci la critica?

—....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.

—Ci sono determinate tendenze nella fotografia?

—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!)

—Quali criteri dovrebbe utilizzare un cliente per scegliere un fotografo?

—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.

—Che cosa non è ammesso durante la ripresa fotografica?

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

—Quali dettagli, che solitamente passano inosservati, riesce a notare un fotografo?

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

—Che cosa influisce sul valore di una foto? Quali sono le sue componenti?

—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.

—Secondo te, chi può essere considerato simbolo del XXI secolo?

—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.

—Che cosa vorresti fotografare?

—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!

—Hai qualche tabù professionale?

—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 chi vorresti fare una sessione di ripresa fotografica?

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

—Che cosa ti fa preoccupare e perché?

—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)

—Qual è stato il momento più impressionante della tua vita?

—The birth of my first son.

—Se tu fossi un personaggio di cartone animato, libro o film, chi saresti e perché?

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

—Chi ti ispira nella vita e perché?

—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.

—Come puoi definire il successo? Come si misura?

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

—Preferiresti essere amato o rispettato?

—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.

—Qual è stato il più grande errore che hai commesso nel lavoro?

—Missing THE shot!

—Preparandoti per partire, che cosa metteresti in valigia e perché?

—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.

—Tra i gadget che possiedi, c'è qualcosa che vorresti non aver comprato? Perché?

—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!

—Che formazione professionale segui per fare fotografie migliori?

—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.

—Il lavoro di chi ha avuto la maggiore influenza su di te come fotografo?

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

—Qual è l'unica cosa che vorresti aver saputo iniziando a scattare foto?

—More computer skills:)

—Che cosa vuoi dire con le tue 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.

—Qual è la tua motivazione per continuare a scattare fotografie?

—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.

—Pensi che i tuoi genitori avrebbero dovuto essere più o meno severi?

—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?

—Se potessi tornare nel passato, che cosa faresti in modo diverso?

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

—Che cosa pensi della vita su altri pianeti?

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

—Chi sono i tuoi eroi?

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

—Per che cosa non hai rispetto?

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

—Che cosa fai nel tuo tempo libero?

—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.

—Quale lato di te non è mai visibile al pubblico?

—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.

—Quando ti senti completamente soddisfatto dal tuo lavoro?

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

—Credi nei ruoli tradizionali di donne e uomini?

—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.

—Fai facilmente amicizia?

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

—Dove ti piacerebbe vivere?

—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.

—Qual è stata la cosa più stupida che hai accettato di fare?

—So many things.

—Esiste la vita dopo il matrimonio?

—Personally speaking I'm divorced so YES :)

—Hai uno scherzo preferito? Raccontacelo.

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

—Ti piacciono i cani o i gatti?

—Dogs

—Chi o che cosa odi?

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

—La cosa migliore nella vita è:

—Sharing

—La cosa più fastidiosa nella vita è:

—Climate change.

—C'è qualcosa intorno a te che vorresti cambiare?

—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.

—Che cosa vorresti cambiare in te stesso?

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

—Che cosa vorresti cambiare nel mondo?

—A greater sense of balance with the environment.

—Puoi dare alcuni consigli ai fotografi alle prime armi?

—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.

—Se gli alieni dovessero arrivare sulla Terra e tu fossi la prima persona ad incontrarli, che cosa diresti?

—Watch out for the others!

—Se dovessi essere invitato a girare un film, di che genere sarebbe?

—Science Fiction

—Domani vado a fare...

—Put the house in order and get organised.