Artist Spotlight | Professional Photographer | Alex Wise

Name:

Alex Wise

Job Title/Description:

ICT Graduate - First year out of uni after completing a Masters of Information Systems.

Personal website:

Portfolio: http://www.alexwisephotography.net
Blog:  http://www.alexwisephotography.net/blog/

When you are looking for inspiration, where do you go? 

Many different sources that include photography communities, individual photographers and other art forms. Some favourites include:

1X - http://1x.com/

Marc Adamus - http://www.marcadamus.com/

Kah Kit Yoong - http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahkityoong/

Dylan Toh - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmtoh/

Matthew Stewart - http://www.flickr.com/photos/aramisfirefly/

Aaron Reed - http://www.flickr.com/photos/sicalufakiss/

And many more.

Summer or winter? 

Both have their appeal.

I love that sunrise times are much more forgiving in winter starting around 730 as opposed to summer where it's around 530. I find myself shooting a lot more sunrises in winter and more sunsets around summer.

What’s the key to doing what you love AND making a living? 

Not taking it overly serious.

Photography for me is an escape away from my daily 9-5 job. I purposeful avoid marketing my work for sale as it creates an additional level of work and stress which I'd prefer not to deal with.

My dream vacation is…

Taking an extended vacation for the next year around Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, and Antarctica.

Equipment:

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40 L
Canon 24-70 L
Canon 50 1.4
Cokin Z-Pro graduated neutral density filters
B+W 110 neutral density filter
Hoya Circular Polariser
Manfrotto tripod
Shutter release cable

Helpful hint:

Pretend you're shooting film where every capture counts by slowing yourself down and taking things in. Too many people start out in photography taking hundreds of photographs which will likely be average. I find my photography has improved by slowly taking things in and identifying an ideal composition rather than getting trigger happy and inevitably missing key parts of the scene.  There's nothing wrong with taking lots of photographs but sometimes it can be good to slow down and put a little more thought in before you press the trigger.

What was your #1 favorite photography moment from this past year?

Moving to a whole new city and exploring camera in hand.

link: http://www.alexwisephotography.net/blog/2011/07/25/daily-carry-2-49...

Where do you find inspiration to keep your photography creative and unique?

A variety of sources that include photographers that shoot a similar style to me, being inspired by the success of people in other genres of photography and most importantly,  taking chances with compositions and processing without caring what others might think.

Do you have your camera with you wherever you go?

No. I'd love to to purchase a small point and shoot for this purpose as my DSLR is too bulky even with a small lens like the Canon 50 1.4 attached. I find myself using my iPhone and the instagram app more and more now days for this reason. I eagerly await the developments of cameras within mobile phones over the next few years due to their small size factor.

Do you have a favorite quote you can share?
You have to be able to observe life as if you were a camera all the time, constantly looking at light and the way that things are placed and the way people hold themselves. You need the ability to see something in someone or something that no one else really sees and be able to bring that to light. Basically, you have to be an obsessive crazy person.      — Ryan McGinley