Sunday, November 8, 2009

Interview with Graham Morrison:


MGM Photography

CP: Talk about you stream.

GM: Well I definitely love portraits. Fashion portraits, and more classical portraits of people. I always try to make sure I bring something new to the table, because it becomes very boring seeing the same photographs over and over again. However, it's important to have a style and be able to stick with it. It shows consistency, and makes it look a whole lot less like you just got lucky with taking the picture.

I would say that 85% of my stream is nothing but portraits. That's the way I like it. Photographs are the best way to show a person, and for me, it's a good way to show OTHERS the way I feel like that person SHOULD be shown.

CP:What inspired you to start photography and what age?


GM:
I got my first camera when I was in elementary school. It was a green Polaroid camera, a gift from my mom. I remember crying when she gave it to me because I was so happy. I would line up LEGOs and other toys and take pictures of them sitting there next to each other on our back porch.

It wasn't until my senior year in High school when I purchased a Nikon D40 that I decided that I really had a passion for photography. I would take pictures of EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. My highlight from that year was taking pictures of my friends for out Spirit Week, right before homecoming. I was the "unofficial" school photographer, and it made me feel so good to see my pictures printed off and posted up around school.

CP:Have you ever been inspired by any one, like family, or friends?

GM:Well, I recall seeing some photos that these kids who went to my high school had taken. They were sophomores when I was a senior, and I remember thinking, "These pictures are amazing. And they're being taken by kids younger than me. I could definitely do something like this if I worked hard enough."

Other than that, I'm constantly inspired by the work of well known professional photographers such as Annie Leibovits, Jill Greenberg, and David LaChapelle. They are all true visionaries who I aspire to be like one day.

CP:What do you look for when you're taking a photo such as lighting or certain details?

GM:I always make sure that I have even lighting (as much as possible) Also, I try to put my subjects in a location that I feel like is fun/interesting to look at. I'm a big fan of placing models in dramatic locations, because I feel like it tells more of a story that way. (I would really like to get into using more dramatic locations in the near future)

CP:What are your goals in your near or distant future in photography?

GM:I really want to start distinguishing myself with my own style. I want to start working with more models as well as more regular ordinary everyday people. I like the idea of people coming to me because they like my style, not just because I'm a cheaply priced photographer.

CP:What kind of gear to you use?

GM:I usually try to travel fairly light. My usual gear consists of my camera, my tripod, my 50mm portrait lens, and occasionally my SB600 flash. I try to travel light when I'm taking portraits, because I don't want to be constricted with loads and loads of gear.

I would love to invest in some studio lighting at some point, but natural light will always be my favorite to use.

CP:To all the blossoming photographers out there, what advise would you give them?

GM:Try to avoid cliches. And always be sure that the work you are posting online is that which you are proud of. I use to post work on my flickr that I wasn't one hundred percent proud of and I feel like it's better to upload less as long as it's quality work.

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These are a few of Graham's other pieces. you can find him on http://www.flickr.com/photos/grahammorrison/





~Until next time Inside The Open Mind~

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