Monthly Archives: October 2011
Through Their Eyes: Andrew Richey
Andrew Richey is a high-end commercial photographer based in Melbourne. Known for his slick portraits of Australian celebrities and glossy ad campaigns, his technical skills were honed by his early experiences working in Europe. Based in London for three years, he trained with elite UK photographers Terry O’Neill, Ross Halfin and Brian Aris, assisting on many high profile campaigns including the Queen of England (!).
His high end aesthetic is reflected in this striking series that he recently shot in Hong Kong. Scroll down for the background on the series and find out what camera he used to get this look (hint: it’s one of these curious things)
The fast pace and changing face of Hong Kong intrigues me. I have been there a few times now and on the last occasion travelled there simply to take pictures. I think it is the world’s most vertical city and one of the most densely populated places in the world. I don’t necessarily consider this a beautiful thing but from a viewer’s perspective, it is definitely a fascinating place to watch and experience. On this trip I was attracted to the more traditional parts of Hong Kong and found a graphic and quiet beauty in clusters of buildings and government housing. The concrete often contrasted with the natural lush environment and being such a densely populated place it was nice to present the spaces in quite a vacant way. The diffused light was amazing and the soft colours were definitely a stand out – a sports ground, some palm trees and the pastel colours of the Chi Hung Housing Estate reminded me strangely of a more exotic place like Miami.
What was your last travel destination?
Hawaii. I was there on holiday but found time to ditch the family and shoot some of the colourful young local scene – very rewarding stuff when the time is right. There is a series of this young youth culture on my website.
How do you decide what gear to bring (bodies, lenses, flash, tripod, bags)? Do you try to pack light? What’s your minimum must-have gear?
In the case of Honk Kong I knew I was there to shoot buildings, so I took a technical camera and one lens – Cambo WDS, 24mm and phase one digital back. I also packed a DSLR and a short zoom for other little pick ups but it really was not used that much. The destination will always dictate what I chose to travel with but I am leaning to pack lightly and am enjoying the freedom that its bringing to the images I come home with. I think on my next trip to Japan I will limit myself and see how I go – perhaps one DSLR and a single lens like a 50mm f1.4.
Have you ever planned a series before you left, or do you just wait and see what happens?
I will generally have an idea on the type of images I set out to achieve but most of the fun is in the discovery of places and spontinaity of what may present. I generally shoot people but in the series shown here it was nice to capture a series that was simply architectural.
What do you do with your photos when you get home? Have you ever landed any commercial work because of your travel shots?
In the past I have been guilty of doing very little with my personal pictures and therefore moments seem to get lost or forgotten about. I now get home and put them into my workflow (as I would a job) and might display a personal project on my website or knock out a print. I am now getting a lot more reward out of having those personal moments around me and feel more connected with the places I have traveled to. Hard to say if my personal images have landed me a job but they are definitely forming a bigger part of my portfolio – I think it is very important to display a more personal side to your professional work.
What would be your ultimate travel photography destination?
I’m off to Japan next but a south American road trip would be fun.
Try the ‘Italian’ Pasta
Here’s an absolutely classic Aussie pub menu that I came across during my recent visit to Bruny Island, off the coast of Tasmania. Fine dining it was not, but there was a meat-tray raffle, non-stop Keno (I played one unlucky round) and extremely generous servings of the house white wine, so I can’t complain! At least I’m not vegetarian.
Time Travel: 1950′s Alaska (a soldier’s view)
*Images courtesy the flickr account of vieilles_annonces.
Live the Language
About a year ago, EF (a study abroad program) put out a bunch of really nicely made commercials under the slogan ‘Live the Language’, highlighting cities around the world. They got a lot of attention at the time, so you might have already seen them on various design blogs, but anyway, they’ve just released three more so I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon and share the Vancouver, Sydney and LA ads with you.
I love the typography by Albin Holmqvist – if you look to the right, I actually did something similar (without having seen these videos) on Skip Town’s side buttons!
EF – Live The Language – Vancouver from Gustav Johansson on Vimeo.
EF – Live The Language – Sydney from Gustav Johansson on Vimeo.
EF – Live The Language – LA from Gustav Johansson on Vimeo.
On a related note, Designers Couch have rounded up a whole heap of other language school advertising campaigns here.
Through Their Eyes: Alexi Hobbs
The photographers featured on Through Their Eyes are (generally) off-duty, with no one to please but themselves, and it’s always interesting to see how this freedom affects their photography style. For example, a while ago we featured a series of decidedly lo-fi shots from Japan by Emily Shur, a photographer better known for her glossy celebrity portraits. On the other hand, today’s photographer, Montreal-based Alexi Hobbs, says that his personal and commercial work tends to intertwine, evidenced here by off-duty shots from a recent work trip to Arizona.
Officially in Phoenix to document the wonderful modernist architecture for enRoute magazine, Alexi continued shooting in and around the city, taking advantage of the beautiful desert light. I’ll stop now and let Alexi describe this beautiful series in his own words. Scroll down for the interview, and then visit the commissioned version at enRoute here.
Last June, I was commissioned by enRoute magazine to shoot a long-travel feature about modernist architecture in the desert city of Phoenix. I was lucky enough to be able to stay on for another week and a half and spent that time traveling and camping with my girlfriend throughout the beautiful and climactically varied state of Arizona, going as far north as Utah and as far east as New Mexico.
What was your last travel destination?
Arizona. Starting from Phoenix I drove north towards Lake Powell, then east toward Monument Valley and down to Chinle and Window Rock. Then back through Coconino National Forest and back to Phoenix via the Tonto Basin and Apache Lake.
Name a place or experience that you really loved.
I spent a year driving around Australia and the last three months were spent on the road, living out of a tent, exploring the west coast and the outback. It was magical, I miss that huge sky and the countless unpopulated beaches and wide open spaces.
How do you decide what gear to bring (bodies, lenses, flash, tripod, bags)? Do you try to pack light? What’s your minimum must-have gear?
I travel pretty light. I have a pelican case that is the exact maximum size for carry-on luggage and this is what determines how much I bring. I usually shoot using natural light so I don’t need big lights. I do bring a strobe around though, as I do use it from time to time. I usually bring a reflector. I always have my Mamiya 7 and an 80mm lens. On top of this, I’ve been building up a Mamiya RZ67 kit and on my last trip I had a 75mm Shift lens and the 110mm lens along for the ride. Finally, of course, a tripod.
Have you ever planned a series before you left, or do you just wait and see what happens?
I don’t plan a series, but I wouldn’t say I just wait and see what happens either. I try to create situations that will allow me to make interesting photos.
What do you do with your photos when you get home? Would you ever use them in your portfolio? Have you ever landed any commercial work because of your travel shots?
I shoot everything with my portfolio in mind, and by portfolio I don’t mean a commercial book, I mean photographs that I consider to be my strongest, for any purpose. So far, I’ve been lucky enough to have photo editors hire me because they liked my personal work and because they wanted photographs with the same atmosphere and substance for their publication. So whether I am on an official professional shoot, or just out there for myself, I tend to shoot in a rather similar fashion. Thus, all the commercial work I’ve had has often been directly inspired by some photos I’ve made whilst traveling.
What would be your ultimate travel photography destination?
I don’t know that there is one ultimate destination. There are amazing photographs to be made everywhere. This being said, have been itching to visit Estonia (and might as well hit up St-Petersburg whilst I’m there…)
Raincoat Round-up
I’ve been on the lookout for a stylish raincoat for what feels like forever. A light, waterproof cover-up is a travel wardrobe essential, so why are they so hard to find? Well, it turns out that truly waterproof coats are pretty darned expensive to produce (they’ve got to have sealed seams and all that) which means that affordable options are often merely “water resistant”. Still, they DO exist! I’ve tracked down a small but cool selection, some more heavy-duty than others, that won’t make you feel like a hiker on the streets of Paris.
1. Petit Bateau – Womens Raincoat (Yellow)
2. American Apparel – Flannel-Lined Rain Parka
4. Petite Bateau – Womens Raincoat (Smoking)
5. Orla Kiely – Birdwatch Raincoat
6. Terra New York – Rain Cape (they seem to be having some website issues, so check back later)
September Review
This month’s adventures were well and truly defined by all things Seoul, as we bought you the highlights of our very own visit to this super-cool metropolis.
But that’s not all the month bought! We also travelled vicariously to New York in the summertime with talented Aussie Elize Strydom, to Andalusia with Italian Maurizio Strippoli and (in real life) to the unblemished farmland of Bruny Island, off the coast of Tasmania. How’s that for variety!
