Personal one - Sean Izzard interview
Could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your journey as a photographer? My journey began 40 years ago as a cadet photographer with The Federal Publishing Company where I learned darkroom skills and 1st honed my abilities to tell stories with pictures for the local newspapers and array of magazines that the company created. Soon after I left to embark on a freelance life shooting commercially, mostly in the ad world which has continued to this day.
“ The concern is always that the world has become so flooded with imagery that nothing seems original or stands out
How would you describe your style or approach to photography? Based on my formative years as an editorial photographer my style is rooted in reality. Despite the pull of stylised advertising briefs, and trends that have come and gone, I aim to bring each image back to a simple one that conveys a message or tells a story.
When did you first hear about this exhibition? I have been involved in this exhibition from its beginnings at Sun Studios.If you’ve attended in past years, what’s your strongest memory of the exhibition? It’s always a great opportunity to get together with photographer friends and industry folk.How did it feel to see all the works displayed together on the wall in past editions? It’s always inspiring to see the work that photographers love to shoot for themselves. What does it mean to you personally to be part of this collective exhibition? For me it’s an acknowledgment of my standing in the industry and something to be proud of. What do you hope audiences will take away from experiencing your work here? As I am inspired by the work of others I would hope that my work can achieve the same.
“ I’ve more recently started shooting even more simply, so in a way I’ve come full circle
How do you see the photography scene today, especially with younger
generations coming through?
The concern is always that the world has become so flooded with imagery that nothing seems original or stands out. Fortunately, through the Pool Grant that we at The Pool Collective have been contributing to up and comers for the past 15 years, I have seen many super talented image makers with something to say.
What projects have you been working on recently (If you can tell)?
I’ve shot a campaign for My Car, several projects for Red Cross Lifeblood and this week something for an investing app called Stake. Is there a future project you’re particularly excited about and would like to share?
Not really
Looking back, is there a past project you consider a milestone or turning point in your career? A turning point for me was shooting a campaign for Dunlop. I was known for my black and white portraiture when the infamous creative force Jay Furby asked me to take on his idea - studio set builds of aged (naff) museum pieces depicting stuffed humans in ‘Retro’ Dunlop clothing. It went on the scoop the pool in award shows all over and established me as a mainstream ad photographer.
How has your photography evolved from when you first started until today?
I’ve gone from shooting to what was in front of me to becoming more conceptual - learning how to create an image that tells a story whilst maintaining the look of reality. I’ve more recently started shooting even more simply, so in a way I’ve come full circle.
What inspires you right now—whether in photography or beyond? I’ve just moved to a property and am loving the experience of being on the land. It’s something way different to anything I’ve done before.
What equipment are you currently using, and why? I’m not that much of a tech head. I like to keep things simple. Cameras of choice from the beginning have been Canon - currently the 1DX MkIII which has been a workhorse for years, and the R5 for bigger ad jobs.
How does your gear shape your process or the kind of results you aim for? I think it’s shapes it a lot. As I said I like to keep things simple which to me more represents reality.
Is there a photographer, work, or experience that has been especially
influential in your path? My beginnings had me really appreciate the work of the masters - Avedon, Ritts, Leibowitz, Cartier-Bresson, Penn, Adams, Newton, Mann et al. I’ve also been fortunate to have had some great photographers in my life. Early on at Federal I had the likes of Greg McBean and Helmut Mueller who were extremely passionate about their work and really took me under their wings. Brett Cochrane was an inspiration for really going for it, and Simon Harsent who I started out with - sharing ideas, studios and equipment - was and still is an extremely talented photographer with great business nous.
What advice would you give to amateur photographers visiting the exhibition? Be inspired to do your own work.
Anything you want to add?Thanks for the opportunity. It’s really great that you are giving back to the industry. Personal work is where the juice is and it’s what inspires the most.
That’s all from now. Thank you for your time, next stop Personal One on
November 20th.
Have a look here to see more of Sean's work.
