Fotograf Anna Rowland

—Först och främst - vem kan du nämna som den bästa fotografen i Exeter, Storbritannien? :)

—I genuinely couldn't tell you for sure.

—Är du fotogenisk?

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

—Hur började du inom fotografi?

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

—Vilka är enligt dig de viktigaste komponenterna för ett bra fotografi?

—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.

—Älskar du att resa?

—Infinitely so.

—Vad gillar du mest med ditt yrke?

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

—Vad gillar du minst med ditt yrke?

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

—Hur kommer framtiden för fotografering att se ut?

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

—Vad är det speciella med den fotografigenre du specialiserar i?

—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.

—Hur hanterar du kritik?

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

—Finns det några trender inom fotografering?

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

—Vad bör kriterierna vara för en kund som ska välja en fotograf?

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

—Vad är absolut inte tillåtet under fotograferingen?

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

—Vilka detaljer kan en fotograf fånga som vanligtvis går obemärkta?

—Fleeting expressions

—Vad påverkar fotots värde? Vilka är dess element?

—An insight into a character, moment or exchange

—Vilken person tycker du symboliserar 2000-talet?

—I don't have an opinion on that.

—Vem vill du fotografera?

—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'.

—Har du några professionella tabun?

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

—Vem skulle du vilja fotografera med?

—No one in particular

—Vad oroar du dig över och varför?

—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.

—Vilket är det mest imponerande ögonblicket i ditt liv?

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

—Om du vore en animerad, litterär eller filmkaraktär, vem skulle du vara och varför?

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

—Vem är din inspirationskälla i livet och varför?

—My son, just by being new and cool

—Hur definierar du framgång? Hur mäter du framgång?

—Being happy

—Föredrar du att vara omtyckt eller respekterad?

—Either, both, neither

—Vilket är det största misstaget som du har gjort på jobbet?

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

—Vad tar du med dig och varför när du är ute och reser?

—Everything I think I might need and more

—Äger du en gadget som du önskar att du inte hade köpt? Varför?

—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...

—Hur utbildar du dig själv för att bli en bättre fotograf?

—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...

—Vems arbete har haft störst inflytande över dig som fotograf?

—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.

—Finns det någonting specifikt som du önskar att du visste när du började fotografera?

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

—Vad försöker du säga med dina fotografier?

—These people are real

—Vad motiverar dig att fortsätta att ta bilder?

—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.

—Borde dina föräldrar ha varit mer eller mindre strikta?

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

—Om du kunde resa tillbaka i tiden, vad skulle du göra annorlunda?

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

—Tror du att det finns liv på andra planeter?

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

—Vilka är dina hjältar?

—I don't have any as such.

—Finns det någon person som du inte har någon respekt för?

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

—Vad gör du på fritiden?

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

—Har du någon sida som du aldrig visar upp offentligt?

—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.

—När är du fullständigt tillfredsställd med ditt arbete?

—Never. I always want to be better

—Tror du på de traditionella mans- och kvinnorollerna?

—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.

—Är det enkelt för dig att skaffa vänner?

—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.

—Var skulle du vilja bo?

—New Zealand

—Vad är det dummaste som du någonsin har tackat ja till?

—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.

—Finns det ett liv efter äktenskapet?

—Of course

—Har du ett favoritskämt? Berätta det för oss.

—I don't retell jokes well

—Gillar du hundar eller katter?

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

—Vem eller vad hatar du?

—Cruelty

—Det bästa med livet är:

—Love, then tea.

—Det mest irriterande med livet är:

—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.

—Finns det någonting runt omkring dig som du skulle vilja ändra på?

—Attitudes, and ignorance.

—Finns det någonting om dig själv som du skulle vilja ändra?

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

—Vad vill du ändra på i världen?

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

—Kan du ge några råd till nya fotografer?

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

—Om utomjordingar skulle komma till jorden, och du är den första personen som de träffar, vad skulle du säga till dem?

—Be kind

—Om du skulle bli tillfrågad att spela in en film, vilken genre skulle det vara?

—No doubt some kind of weird indie film

—Imorgon kommer jag att...

—I'm shooting a wedding.