Fotograaf Anna Rowland

—Ten eerste - wie beschouwt u als de beste fotograaf in Exeter, Verenigd Koninkrijk? :)

—I genuinely couldn't tell you for sure.

—Bent u fotogeniek?

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

—Hoe bent u beland in de fotografie-industrie?

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

—Wat zijn volgens u de belangrijkste elementen van een goede foto?

—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.

—Houdt u van reizen?

—Infinitely so.

—Wat vindt u het leukst aan uw beroep?

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

—Wat vindt u het minst leuk aan uw beroep?

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

—Wat ziet u de toekomst van fotografie?

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

—Wat is er bijzonder aan het fotografiegenre waarin u zich specialiseert?

—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.

—Hoe gaat u om met kritiek?

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

—Zijn er bepaalde trends in fotografie?

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

—Welke criteria moet de klant hanteren bij het kiezen van een fotograaf?

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

—Wat is er totaal uit den boze bij het fotograferen?

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

—Welke details die vaak onopgemerkt gaan, kan een fotograaf vastleggen?

—Fleeting expressions

—Wat beïnvloedt de waarde van een foto? Wat zijn de elementen ervan?

—An insight into a character, moment or exchange

—Welke persoon kan volgens u symbool staan voor de 21e eeuw?

—I don't have an opinion on that.

—Wie wil u graag fotograferen?

—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'.

—Heeft u bepaalde taboes op professioneel vlak?

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

—Met wie zou u graag fotograferen?

—No one in particular

—Waar maakt u zich zorgen over en waarom?

—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.

—Wat is het meest indrukwekkende moment van uw leven?

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

—Als u een personage van een cartoon, boek of film was, wie zou u dan zijn?

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

—Wie inspireert u in uw leven en waarom?

—My son, just by being new and cool

—Hoe definieert u succes? Hoe meet u het?

—Being happy

—Bent u liever graag gezien of gerespecteerd?

—Either, both, neither

—Wat is de grootste fout die u ooit begaan heeft op professioneel vlak?

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

—Wat neemt u mee op reis en waarom?

—Everything I think I might need and more

—Is er iets dat u liever niet gekocht had tussen de gadgets die u bezit? Waarom?

—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...

—Hoe leert u bij om betere foto's te maken?

—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...

—Wiens werk heeft u het meest beïnvloed als fotograaf?

—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.

—Wat had u graag geweten toen u begon als fotograaf?

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

—Wat wil u graag zeggen met uw foto's?

—These people are real

—Wat motiveert u om foto's te blijven maken?

—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.

—Hadden uw ouders strenger of minder streng moeten zijn?

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

—Wat zou u anders doen als u in de tijd kon terugkeren?

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

—Wat denkt u over leven op andere planeten?

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

—Wie zijn uw helden?

—I don't have any as such.

—Voor wie kan u geen respect opbrengen?

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

—Wat doet u in uw vrije tijd?

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

—Welke kant van u krijgt het publiek niet te zien?

—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.

—Wanneer bent u helemaal tevreden over uw werk?

—Never. I always want to be better

—Gelooft u in een traditionele rolverdeling voor man en vrouw?

—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.

—Maakt u gemakkelijk vrienden?

—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.

—Waar zou u graag wonen?

—New Zealand

—Wat is het domste waarmee u ooit akkoord bent gegaan?

—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.

—Is er een leven na het huwelijk?

—Of course

—Heeft u een favoriete mop? Vertel ...

—I don't retell jokes well

—Houdt u van honden of van katten?

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

—Wie of wat haat u?

—Cruelty

—Het beste in het leven is:

—Love, then tea.

—Het vervelendste in het leven is:

—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.

—Is er iets rondom u dat u graag zou veranderen?

—Attitudes, and ignorance.

—Wat zou u graag veranderen aan uzelf?

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

—Wat zou u graag veranderen aan de wereld?

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

—Kan u tips geven voor beginnende fotografen?

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

—Als buitenaardse wezens naar de Aarde komen en u bent de eerste persoon die ze ontmoeten, wat zal u hen dan zeggen?

—Be kind

—U wordt gevraagd om een film te maken, welk genre wordt het?

—No doubt some kind of weird indie film

—Morgen zal ik ... doen

—I'm shooting a wedding.