This week’s 10 Questions got me LOLing preparing this feature post. Andy Wardle, Manchester, a destination wedding photographer, shoots with an eye (right?) for design. He’s got a knack for capturing extreme moments; a skill that is pretty rare these days. A street photographer at heart, his work carries his trademark vivid colour and spontaneous energy that steals your heart (at least mine was). If we are lucky he might show us his hairdryer photographs.
1. What is life to you? What it should be?
To enjoy each day, family and friends, appreciate the simple things, to have passion for my work and have fun along the way!
2. There are a lot of professions out there - why be a photographer?
As a kid I had a love for both photography and design and studied both. For 10 years I worked as a product designer designing anything from hi-fi's, watches, cutlery and drum kits through to interiors. Photography was a part of my life every day whilst working in design and even though not working professionally I was still a very active photographer. Some 7 years ago I switched back to photography shooting fashion, music and portraiture and my love of photographing people evolved into shooting weddings. Design, film and music are the biggest influences for my work and I probably still photograph the world with a designers eye!
3. How much is your family an influence on the way you view life, see things?
Family and friends are a big influence on me and the way I shoot. I love to document the small day to day stuff which translates into my professional work also.
4. What is your favourite non-photography pass time?
Music and messing about with bicycles and old custom motorbikes are my non-photography addictions!
5. What movie did you love recently?
'No country for old men' comes to mind as I loved the cinematography and mood. '2001: A Space Odyssey' I could watch on repeat every day.
6. Is/Are there any project(s) you wish you could do - or might do?
Most other projects are musician portraiture which is something I do outside of my wedding work. There are many ideas and people I would like to photograph floating around in my brain!
7. Is there a big difference between your personal work and commissioned work?
I treat both my personal and commissioned work the same way and just try to be myself whatever I photograph. I guess I'm a street photographer at heart as I love to catch extreme moments and interesting compositions but at the same time I'm heavily influenced by film and fashion and like to have a cinematic feel to my work. People often comment that my work shows my sense of humour which I don't notice but it makes me smile :O)
8. Do you shoot with your left or right eye?
I shoot with my right eye.
9. Are there any unseen experimental images in your attic you’d like to show us now?
I have tons of unseen work as I'm the worlds worst blogger and often feel overwhelmed at what to post! I'm trying to kick this bad habit so here's one from the vaults! - Hairdryer Pic from 'Parisian Hotel sessions'.
10. If you were to start all over again, is there anything you would do differently? Why?
No. Its been a long journey to this point and have learnt a lot along the way. Today I'm happy enough with my work which is good, but I'll always want to keep pushing to get better ;O)
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