Interview #5

A few months ago, I searching on outback photos using a Holga. After looking at shots from all over Australia, I hit upon this shot of the Olgas on Holga. I loved the look and feel of the film, so asked the photographer, one Andrew Günsberg, what sort of film it was. A brief exchange and I thought nothing of it. Andrew then made a comment on one of my photos. I was still none the wiser as to who I was dealing with, until I had a near hysterical Flickrmail from a young lady who thinks Andrew is quite a good sort. It went something like” OMG, Andrew G commented on your photo!!!111″. Fair enough I thought. I sent back a message saying pretty much that, and then got a reply with a link to the Australia Idol web site. Ahhh, right. Andrew G. Not being a huge Idol fan, I pretty much knew Andrew as the guy on tele that needed a hair cut. Turns out, he had had one. So now I knew who I was dealing with. Nice to have a celebrity say something positive about one of your photos. That was about 2 months back.

In that time, the blog interviews have gotten quite a bit of positive feedback, and some one suggested I interview someone well known. Ha! How many famous people do I know? Well, as it turns out, I have had a comment on a Flickr photo, that’s good enough for me!

Actually approaching someone who is a celebrity isn’t the easiest thing in the world. How does a nuff nuff from the South Coast contact a high profile person on TV. Should I approach his management? The TV station he works on? Bugger it, I will send him a Flickr mail. Before I knew it, I had an email back saying it would be a pleasure. What a top bloke. So, now that we are great mates, here is his interview!

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Thanks Andrew for your time. Firstly, for those of us that have been living under a rock, can you tell us a bit about yourself. Things like age, job, where you live etc.

I’m Andrew Günsberg, I’m 35 and I work in TV and Radio. I DJ every now and then and I’m also a photographer. I spend my time between Bondi Beach, Sydney and Hollywood, California.

How did you become interested in photography and how much of your time you you spend taking photos?

I bought a few 110 cameras as a kid.I liked the idea of freezing time. I progressed to shooting video in my twenties, and from there learned about cameras, editing and talking to the lens.

I was soon documenting most of my journeys around the place with Channel [v] on video, but it was when I met Yumi Stynes at work that I was inspired once again to shoot stills. I was constantly finding myself in unique and wonderful situations around the country and around the world, and the idea of being able to tell a tale with one frame instead of twenty-four was way more appealing.

What sort of camera gear do you use most often?

I think like many photographers, I go through phases. At the moment I’ve just got my hands on a Canon 5D, so I’m right into that, but I think my Hasselblad X-Pan is probably my favourite camera. I love it so much. I love the wide-screen aspect of the negatives, and I love how much story you can tell with just one frame.

Diving at the Icebergs, originally uploaded by Andrew Günsberg.

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

What is easy for me is picking the moment. What I’m trying to do more of is get out of my dependence on available light and wide apertures, and still be able to make the picture pop.

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

Photos of dewy flowers with a huge aperture. Boring as batshit.

You list Glenn E. Friedman ( for those who don’t know http://www.burningflags.com/bio/ ) as one of your idols. Is it his links to music and photography that you enjoy, or is there more to it than that?

Glenn is the reason photography is so powerful. He was there to document a scene that otherwise would have vanished into thin air and because of one man’s photos of small groups of people, he changed popular culture forever. Had it not been for his groundbreaking photography about the skaters in LA in the late 70’s and early 80’s, modern skating would be nothing like it is today. Also his brilliant and immediate work in the punk scene was what in many ways made those bands popular. There were only ever really a few hundred people at those gigs – they were by no means stadium shows – but his documenting of the scene is what made it important. Document everything.

Having seen your Twitter page, ( http://twitter.com/_andrew_g ) you use your camera phone quite a lot to keep people up to date on your where abouts. Have there been times you wished you have had more than a camera phone with you?

Oh yes, though I have ‘too much gear syndrome’ already. I know I’m supposed to work with what’s in my bag but I always end up stuffing one more lens or body into the case before I leave the house. When I’m not working, I almost always slip at least a cheapo plastic-lensed monster I found on ebay into the pocket, just in case.

What do you love about using film? And can I borrow the Canon 7? 🙂

Ah my Canon 7 (see above). Bloody tricky to use! Just because you can shoot at f/0.95 you start taking it into darker and darker environments, but then you can hardly focus the razor-thin DOF in no light anyway! I love it.
As far as film is concerned, we perceive light in waves, with gradual transitions from light to dark, and that is what film gives you. Unlike my hearing which is so shot I can no longer discern an LP from a CD from an MP3, I can just see the warmth and latitude in film so much more than digital. It is an expensive habit though, and I have my lab-tech on speed dial.

Film will always, always look better. Alas, digital is cheaper and simpler. There’s nothing I like better than pushing and processing a film within an inch of its life to get that fabulous tonal depth and grain. Digital never looks the same to me no matter how much Photoshop you throw at it, but it’s instant feedback and has been a great tool for me to get my chops up.

I had a personal rebellion against digital for a while there and only shot film for about a year. I got my hands on a Canon AE-1 and shot manual for a few months too, to force
myself into getting my eye for light and focus in. Now my digi shots somehow are better, as I’ve re-thought how I shoot.

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

The moment my (as yet not conceived) first child opens their eyes for the first time.

The tenth anniversary of peace between Israel and Palestine.

The celebration of Australia switching off its last coal-fired power plant, completing the transition to a clean, hydrogen-based power supply.

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

Adelaide
Strange town on the edge of a desert. I lost and found myself there.

iPod
I’m on about number 8. Always full.

Scrabble
Better than monopoly because it promotes intelligence winning over capitalism.

Leica
Doesn’t matter if you’ve got one and you can’t pick the moment.

Flickr
An ego-stroke for snappers like me all over the world.

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So there you have it. Andrew Günsberg, the photographer. I hope you enjoyed the interview. I know it was a bit of a thrill for me. Now, who is next? 😉