- PLEASE NOTE - I AM BACK FROM EUROPE (Yeah, it was great) AND KEEN TO GET SOME WORK DONE.
Writer, photographer and teacher. I have established a studio space in the hills east of Melbourne to sharpen my studio skills and as premises for my professional writing and commercial photography work. I work as a journalist, advertising copywriter and science writer as well as commercial photographer.
I write and shoot for a major Australian photography magazine (Digital Photography + Design) and shoot for personal pleasure - and the challenge. I enjoy non-commercial styles of portraiture; anything with a little attitude, unless I have a specific assignment. I really enjoy working on personal projects that have a little theatre to them - images that tell a story of some kind so if you have a great idea, talk to me about turning into an image. I like the work of people like Rankin myself (
www.rankin.co.uk) and usually have a couple of art projects in progress - such as setting up John William Waterhouse pre-Raphaelitre style images.
I'm interested in working with people who have a thoroughly professional approach and I'm always happy to do TFP work with suitable models who are looking to expand a portfolio and can help build mine by expanding my repertoire.
Er...by professional I do mean someone who makes a commitment and won't cancel out an hour before when I've set up, cancelled other commitments, organised my day around the shoot. That's happened a few times recently with people who think a shoot is an optional social event rather than a business appointment.
My own preferred style is thoughtful - I'd rather shoot a model who is relaxed and natural than demand rigid poses and a fake grin. I'd probably rather you didn't smile much at all for the camera although it's always best to work with someone who has ideas and a good sense of humour! I've also come to realise over the last twenty years or so that the best and last subject for a photographer is the human face and body. In the end, it all comes down to people; the photographers I truly admire are those who capture something essential about the human spirit and condition.
The full details of the operation and some recent work are on my website for the studio.
http://www.pbase.com/afildes/personal_info
Details of the way I prefer to work with models here -
http://www.pbase.com/afildes/model
