Fotograf Ed Mash

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

—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

—Är du fotogenisk?

—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 :)

—Hur började du inom fotografi?

—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!

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

—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.

—Älskar du att resa?

—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.

—Vad gillar du mest med ditt yrke?

—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

—Vad gillar du minst med ditt yrke?

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

—Hur kommer framtiden för fotografering att se ut?

—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.

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

—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.

—Hur hanterar du kritik?

—....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.

—Finns det några trender inom fotografering?

—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!)

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

—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.

—Vad är absolut inte tillåtet under fotograferingen?

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

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

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

—Vad påverkar fotots värde? Vilka är dess element?

—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.

—Vilken person tycker du symboliserar 2000-talet?

—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.

—Vem vill du fotografera?

—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!

—Har du några professionella tabun?

—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.

—Vem skulle du vilja fotografera med?

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

—Vad oroar du dig över och varför?

—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)

—Vilket är det mest imponerande ögonblicket i ditt liv?

—The birth of my first son.

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

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

—Vem är din inspirationskälla i livet och varför?

—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.

—Hur definierar du framgång? Hur mäter du framgång?

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

—Föredrar du att vara omtyckt eller respekterad?

—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.

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

—Missing THE shot!

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

—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.

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

—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!

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

—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.

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

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

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

—More computer skills:)

—Vad försöker du säga med dina fotografier?

—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.

—Vad motiverar dig att fortsätta att ta bilder?

—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.

—Borde dina föräldrar ha varit mer eller mindre strikta?

—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?

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

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

—Tror du att det finns liv på andra planeter?

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

—Vilka är dina hjältar?

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

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

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

—Vad gör du på fritiden?

—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.

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

—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.

—När är du fullständigt tillfredsställd med ditt arbete?

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

—Tror du på de traditionella mans- och kvinnorollerna?

—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.

—Är det enkelt för dig att skaffa vänner?

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

—Var skulle du vilja bo?

—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.

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

—So many things.

—Finns det ett liv efter äktenskapet?

—Personally speaking I'm divorced so YES :)

—Har du ett favoritskämt? Berätta det för oss.

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

—Gillar du hundar eller katter?

—Dogs

—Vem eller vad hatar du?

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

—Det bästa med livet är:

—Sharing

—Det mest irriterande med livet är:

—Climate change.

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

—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.

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

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

—Vad vill du ändra på i världen?

—A greater sense of balance with the environment.

—Kan du ge några råd till nya fotografer?

—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.

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

—Watch out for the others!

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

—Science Fiction

—Imorgon kommer jag att...

—Put the house in order and get organised.