Adam Taylor

Adam Robert Taylor born 20 April, 1970 is a photographer based in Sydney, Australia. He works in Australia and increasingly throughout other parts of the world. Awarded and featured in PX3 Prix De La Photographie (Paris, France), WGPA Circle of Fine Arts (Madrid, Spain), Worldwide Photography Gala Awards, International Lucie Awards, Australian Centre For Photography, Art Gallery of NSW, Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize National Library & National touring exhibition and others. Published in plenty of magazines all over the world.

Adam, how did you get started in photography?

My dad was into it. I remember being 5 or 6 years old and discovering his collection of kodachrome slides from all his travels before he had met my mum, and also some beautiful stuff from when they first met and the beach parties they used to have with all their friends. I was  fascinated with the feel and colour of those images. I remember Dad hosting slide nights with our family and having friends over and the atmosphere within the darkened room with dad being a great storyteller. The slides projected onto the wall and the beautiful images, massive on our lounge-room wall, and everyone looked so young and attractive! I  was in awe.  It was intoxicating!

That was the seed being planted early, blueprinted into my imagination and it grew from there. I setup my own darkroom under our house down in the cellar. Digital hadn’t arrived just yet so I was processing and printing all my own black & white film. Watching the images slowly appear in the developer down in the cellar was like being a part of my own secret society.

I remember having a fascinating art teacher in high school, she was into photography and we had another darkroom at school that we could use during art lessons. All this gave me a wonderful enthusiasm for the medium. I developed a deep obsession with photography as a way of interpreting my world. Also I was incredibly shy as a teenager and it was a great way to be a little isolated and outside of things with the camera and then retreating into the darkroom. I used to tentatively photograph my family, friends and girlfriends. The feeling of being the “director” of a portrait photoshoot felt right.

When I was about 20 I went for a job as a photojournalist and I had no experience at all in journalism but the editor really liked my photos, and gave me the job. I was thrown in the deep end without really having much experience and had to learn very quickly. I had to deal with the capturing of images and juggling an interview at the same time. As a result I quickly became quite social, I came out from my shell, the shy teenager had disappeared.

I did that for a while then decided it wasn’t really my thing and went into a wonderful art school in Sydney. The National Art School for 4 years and majored in photography – this was very liberating and such a discovery. I  felt at home there and comfortable amongst other artists, no matter what their medium. I finished Art school and went over to London and assisted advertising and fashion photographers for a couple of years, I traveled and explored some incredible cultures and peoples with my camera during that time. I returned to Sydney, Australia in 2000. My first jobs as a freelance photographer were doing portraits and fashion stories for surf and music magazines.

How do you go about taking a portrait? Can you tell us about your process?

I do my homework and have a few cards up my sleeve for the day of the portrait. By “homework” I mean having worked out a creative angle for the shoot. Also if the person is well known, I do research on the Internet. This is always helpful. I see how that person has been photographed before, this helps me find my own path for the portrait. I do all the work beforehand in my head. I pre-visualize the image that I am aiming for and I also have backup image(s) that I’m thinking about as well.

My approach is to find the “humanness” to break down the barriers and the power. I go a lot on my intuition and gut feeling with people. Sometimes you have to ease your way into the portrait slowly, other times “snap” you can get the portrait in the first few frames.

I was a boy scout when I was about 11, and the scout’s motto’s was: “be prepared” !

What advice do you have regarding photographing strangers? How do you go about doing this?

Strangers, people in the street, someone you walk up to and say, “excuse me, can I take your photograph”. This is always so challenging and the fear of rejection is ever prevalent. I find that you really have to be totally 100% committed for approaching people like this. People can sense when you are honestly enthusiastic, excited and buzzing about them and will respond to your dedication 95% of the time you will get a co-operative response.

Otherwise it’s a reportage approach and the trick is to capture your subject totally unaware — a moment of grace. This is very difficult with the large bulky 35mm SLRs. I find it works better with the smaller more discrete cameras.

Is there anything you wish you had known before becoming a professional photographer?

A great question, and very difficult to answer – all I can say is what I have learn’t along the way – most importantly that there is no set path to becoming a professional photographer.

What is the most challenging aspect of what you do?

I’m continually challenged – that’s what I love about it.

Are there any specific things you’ve learned along the way that caused big improvements in the quality of your work?

Always try new things and take risks. Show your work to as many people as you can and seek out those people who you trust to give you honest constructive criticism on your work.

Surround yourself with good people, mentors and friends.

Don’t be in it for the money. Do it because you enjoy it. The money will come.

Thank You very much Adam for the interesting interview. Good luck and good light

Photos:

[Slideshow]

Official site: www.adamtaylorphotography.com