Interview #4

Quite a while back, I mentioned Alex Wise on this blog as a person to keep an eye on. He is a young photographer from Tasmania who takes stunning landscape shots. Well he has been good enough to give me some of his time and answer some questions about photography. I really cant put into words the quality of some of his work.

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Thanks Alex for taking time out of your busy uni schedule. Firstly, can you tell us a bit about yourself. Things like age, job, where you live etc.

No worries Todd. My name is Alex Wise and I’m a 22 year old male from Hobart, Tasmania. At the moment I’m studying social studies at the University of Tasmania, this is great as it offers me a fair bit of spare time to take photographs when I’m not in the books.

What started you out in photography and how long have you been into photography seriously?

I took a photography course in school as an alternative to doing a maths course which dealt with black and white developing, looking at famous photographers and techniques. I cruised through the subject with minimal interest in photography. It wasn’t until the next year when I picked up a digital camera that I became hooked on the instant gratification. From there I began buying lots of photography books and became almost obsessed with the concept of long exposure photography through photographers such as Peter Dombrovskis in his amazing water photographs. I’ve always been around the sea which is reflected in my photographs which a majority are from different beaches of Tasmania.

What do you find challenging in photography? And what comes easily?

Tough question to answer
I guess what comes most easy is understanding the conditions of the sea to know what swell patterns work at different locations and what don’t but also slowly accumulating an idea of what makes a good sunset and what doesn’t.
The most challenging thing for me photography wise at the moment is travelling long distances. I love taking photographs on my own as I usually spend 2~ hours at a location which is quite boring for a non photographer so I much prefer to travel alone. But I just don’t have the courage to travel on my own for hours, shoot a sunset then camp on my own so at the moment limit myself to nearby locations which is frustrating.

Is there a style of photography you don’t enjoy?

Portrait and wedding photography, the thought of it scares me. I’ve been asked numerous times if I’d like to photograph weddings but I don’t think people understand that landscape and portrait photography are the complete opposite. I love with landscape you can take your time to compose a shot and don’t have to act too quickly but wedding photography seems full on. I’ve got huge respect for established wedding photographers as it must be so stressful at times.

Apart from photography, Victorias Secrets catalogues, yo-yos and playing stick cricket on the net, what do you enjoy doing?

Haha pfft.
I like to keep quite fit and run around 25km a week which important as I do quite a bit of walking when taking photographs to get to a location so it’s important to maintain some level of fitness. I love nice coffee and own a Rancilio Silvia & Rocky machine and grinder. As you mentioned which might come as a surprise for most, I like messing around with a yoyo which has come a long way since the days of rocking the cradle and walking the dog (not me but see vimeo.com/4162373). You will probably see me with a yoyo during a 5 minute exposure to kill the boredom. Other than that just the normal things like good times with good friends, music and watching the Formula 1 when it’s not on too ridiculously late.

You have 3 shots left to take. You can go anywhere and meet any one. What do you photograph?

I love the work by Marc Adamus (http://www.marcadamus.com/) so would probably like to meet him out of anyone (of course after I met you norbs..). Location wise, I’d love to photograph Cradle Mountain, Freycinet National Park and parts of Canada in perfect conditions such as decent cloud coverage, big swells and light coming through those clouds.

What Flickr people have influenced your photography? And in what way?

Marc Adamus and Kah Kit Yoong are two that come to mind instantly. I follow around 100 flickr rss feeds which seem to be constantly growing. I spend more time looking and being inspired by others work then actually taking photographs. This is a big part of photography to me, I can’t get my head around people who say they aren’t inspired by anyone as my photography is only what it is today because of the people who have inspired me.

When you grow up, what do you want to be? Or who would you like to be?

Not a photographer! It seems so hard to be successful and earning a good flow of income especially when you’re a landscape photographer which is why I went to University to broaden my horizons. At the moment I’m rather keen to do something business information system orientated or law enforcement at a more national level, who knows what the future holds.

The 5D mark 2. has it changed the way you take photographs?

No. It’s just a nice luxury gadget which I didn’t necessarily need however could afford it so jumped. So far I love the bigger view finder and larger resolution, cropping things while still retaining a decent resolution is nice. But at the end of the day it doesn’t take photographs any better than my old Canon 350D.

And lastly, a quick fire 5 questions. Just tell us what
springs into your head when you hear these words.

Sunrise.
Best in winter when wake up times are a little more civil.

Bokeh.
Miranda Kerr

Long exposure.
Is what I find so fascinating about photography. It always makes me laugh when people say I photoshop my work because they don’t understand long exposures create traffic streaks of colour or blur in the water.

Photoshop.
Use it or be left behind.

Tasmania.
A playground for photographers with beautiful and diverse landscapes.

Thanks for the interview norbs, I really appreciate your interest and continual support in my photography.

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So there you go, a terrific photographer and top bloke. I reckon I will be able to say I knew him before he was famous.

Another interview coming soon.