Personal one - Levon Baird interview
How are you today? Doing well thanks - How are you?
I’m really good, thanks for asking, and really excited about this interview. Could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your journey as a photographer? Sure thing - I’ve been working professionally as a photographer now for nearly 10 years, having done a few years of assisting prior and having originally studied Directing and Screenwriting in New Zealand, my homeland. My journey through photography has had a lot of ups and downs but overall, entering the 10th year, I find myself in a pretty great place.
How would you describe your style or approach to photography? Painterly and geometric in style, maybe. Slightly surreal at times. I do a lot of planning pre-shoot, and I spend a lot of time on the images themselves post-shoot, but during the shooting itself I like to let go of a lot of that stuff and just flow through what happens on the day.
“ I don’t mind if that reaction is positive or negative, but the worst is when an image is in the greyland of forgettability.
When did you first hear about this exhibition? Two years ago perhaps?
Is this your first time participating, or have you been part of it before? First time.
What does it mean to you personally to be part of this collective exhibition? We’re all part of the landscape of Australian photographers so it’s brilliant to get to show off a fraction of my fraction of that scene.
What do you hope audiences will take away from experiencing your work here? Hopefully they’ll have an opinion - I don’t mind if that reaction is positive or negative, but the worst is when an image is in the grey land of forgettability.
How do you see the photography scene today, especially with younger generations coming through? I’m optimistic - Things are changing in too many ways to fully keep up with and some opportunities that were there when I wasyounger won’t be there anymore, but there'll be new, unique ways to engage with photography as things shift and settle. The younger generation have been raised on a density of images that I and older generations weren’t, so it’ll be interesting to see what they create from that background.
Has the exhibition influenced or inspired your perspective on photography in any way? Not yet- I’ll have to see it first.
What projects have you been working on recently (If you can tell)? I just finished up a small series of images from photographing the island of Waiheke, that I grew up on. Was lovely, getting to spend a few days travelling around shooting places from my childhood.
“ Make a lot of work and fail constantly- It’s the only way you figure things out and get better.
Is there a future project you’re particularly excited about and would like to share? In 2 weeks I’m off to Italy so there'll be some
sort of body of work coming out of that. Travel in general tends to inspire a lot of what I make and it’s always exciting to see what comes from it.
Looking back, is there a past project you consider a milestone or turning point in your career?
There was an editorial for Harpers Bazaar inspired by Jeffrey Smart that felt like the first proper joining of my personal style with more commissioned work. It helped to clarify a lot of small elements that were kicking around in my head.
How has your photography evolved from when you first started until today? Its evolved massively. I find I’m a lot more decisive now about what’s “right” or “wrong” in my images. There was a lot of experimentation and failure in the earlier years, versus now I find significantly more clarity to what I’m trying to say, and how I can go about saying it.
How does
your gear shape your process or the kind of results you aim for?
Not hugely - I almost always have a camera on me, so accessibility allows for making work whenever the opportunity arises, but other than that I mostly see gear like a builder would see a hammer - It’s just a tool used in the creation of the finished piece.
Is there a photographer, work, or experience that has been especially influential in your path? Not exactly a photographer, and I referenced him earlier, but the artist Jeffrey Smart was a bit of a revelation for me. His compositions and use of colour affected me quite a lot.
What advice would you give to amateur photographers visiting the exhibition?
Make a lot of work and fail constantly- It’s the only way you figure things out and get better.
Anything you want to add? Not specifically.
Thanks for your time.
See below Levon's image for the exhibition. Personal ONE was designed to celebrate Australian Photographers and to bring together an industry which often works apart, the exhibition features over 90 artists and sells prints at an affordable price to raise money for the wonderful local Sydney charity OZ Harvest. If you want to purchase this print, click here.Thanks for being part of personal one.
