How did you get into photography?

I have a confession to make – I have a soft spot for a prog-rock band. Hardly surprising, as I fit all the criteria. Why is this relevant? Because during a live concert recording of one of their songs they had an audience solo (Hoedown).

This is your chance.

So: you have thirty minutes. The clock starts now. Turn over your papers.

How did you get into photography? When did you start? Was there one influence or several?

What sort of pictures did you start with? Has this changed?

What kept you going?

Have you had any periods when you stopped? What brought you back?

What sort of pictures drive you – what makes you tingle?

What sort of pictures bore you then? What do you not shoot?

Do you take a lot of pictures? How many?

Does this mean you own a lot of cameras? Why?

Are you a photographer or do you take photographs?

Have you stuck with one camera system or changed? Why?

Do you use natural light or control it? Flash or continuous? Why?

Colour or black and white? Why?

How often do you print your pictures? What do you do with them?

Who, other than you, gets to see your pictures?

You can save one picture you’ve taken. Which one?

Post the zombie/ plague/ nuke/ alien apocalypse you are left with one camera, one lens. Which one do you save to document the uprising?

Other than your phone, do you normally carry a camera?

When you go out, how many cameras do you take? Why?

When do you take pictures?

Are there things you won’t take pictures of? Why?

What was the last thing you did that was new to you? When was that?

What is the biggest format or pixel count you shoot, and the smallest? What do you shoot most?

What’s your style? How did you develop it?

What has been the biggest influence on you? Why?

How much have you spent on photography?

Do you have a picture you are proud to have taken? Is there one you regret?

How would you like to be remembered?

How many pictures do you have of yourself?

Instagram, Facebook, website, ‘zine?

Have you ever exhibited your pictures?

What is the best camera? Why?

What’s the hardest thing about photography?

If photography stopped, what would you do instead?

Would your partner or friends answer these questions differently if they were asked about you?

Time’s up. Stop writing. Please hand in your papers. Don’t forget to put your name at the top.

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