PAUL PICKARD
A professional photographer, based in
Staffordshire with twenty years experience in the field.
When did you first become interested in this
field of study?
When I had my first job, I worked in a planning
department aged 19 and I bought a Russian film camera and started photography
as a hobby, later converting a cupboard into a darkroom at my parents home
Where did you study photography?
I taught myself photography but later studied law for
a short while in Sheffield – useful for a photojournalist
How would you describe/define yourself as a
photographer?
I used to be a photojournalist - I now shoot a large
range of types of photography so I guess a professional photographer is easiest
label – do you have a better suggestion?
Which other photographers inspire you or do you
admire?
Denis Thorpe was my first point of inspiration – He
was a brilliant photographer on The Guardian newspaper in Manchester, now
retired. I actually take more of interest in paintings than photographs for
inspiration but one photographer who stands out for me is Albert Watson.
How important is the quality of your equipment
to your work?
It has become more and more important to have good
quality equipment for a number of reasons, one being the advance in technology
in ‘amateur’ level cameras and mobile phone cameras. I have shifted from using
a selection of zoom lenses to using top range prime lenses in order to stand
out from the crowd
Out of the many areas you have worked within-
photojournalism, design/ad agencies, fashion houses, portraiture- which do you
find most stimulating?
I find photographing things ‘as they happen’ the most
stimulating as this plays to my strengths of observing and capturing the
moment. I like to use available light and where possible make my photographs
amusing as well as fulfilling the brief of the client
Is there a particular memorable shoot or key
experience within your career?
I have had petrol bombs thrown at me in riots,
that was quite memorable, I have witnessed the biggest mass murder in
modern history when I photographed the dead bodies in Lockerbie after a plane
was blown from the sky. I found dead bodies whilst covering a shooting in
Hungerford, the gunman was still on the loose nearby. Just last week I have
been working with film director Shane Meadows on The Stone Roses film. I once
took Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, on work experience. I have also been
fortunate enough to work with many well-known names in film, music and fashion
– so being trusted by brilliant people is certainly a key experience I am proud
of.
