Interview with John Gladdy

I first discovered John’s work at Burn.  His work caused quite a visceral reaction with me and I’ve been staring at his photos ever since.  With much appreciation here is my interview with John Gladdy.

Where you are from, background, etc… ?

I’m from London.  Grew up in Southall.

How did photography begin for you?  How long have you been shooting?

I was working with video, doing a bit of freelance and a bit of teaching.  I started working with a photographer [Brett Walker] and his style of working really blew me away.  So I picked up one of his cameras and started to shoot.  This was about seven or eight years ago I guess.

What has inspired or influenced you the most?

Strong portraiture mainly, in any medium.  I like a picture that gets right to it. Im not really a fan of a lot of so called contemporary photography, and can be quite vociferous about it as I’m sure many people could testify to.

Are the artists you reference in your link section of your site part of that influence or just artists you want to help others become aware of?

A couple are Samantha West, Rupert Bathurst and Brett Walker.  But mainly they are a cynical ploy to get get people to view my site.  They are all people I have worked or collaborated with though.

In your series “Meat” your subjects are a large part of the photo yet it doesn’t feel like it’s necessarily about them.  What’s the story behind this series?

There is not a story as such.  They are self portraits but using other people, if that makes sense.

How much of a connection do you have with those in your photographs?

From quite a lot to none.  Most people/things I shoot are just things.  They are part of the objects in front of me that I wish to shape into an image. Of course  this is only while I am photographing.

Do you plan ahead for your shoots?

Rarely, although I do have twisted little ideas every now and then that I save up for the right moment.

Can you tell me a little about some of the tools you use and how you choose what you work with?

I am fortunate in that between myself and Brett we have just about every camera worth having. 5×4 all the way down to Pen F half frames and a whole bunch of high end digital slr’s as well.  I tend to work mainly on film, but I have no real preference, preferring to make up my mind when the job is at hand.  Same goes with digital really.  One thing I am fussy about though is getting as much done ‘in camera’ as I can.  Not that I am against post work, far from it, just that I want the negs/raws to be as close to the initial vision as possible.

What causes you to choose between black and white vs. color?

No Idea, maybe what side of bed I get out of. seems almost completely random to me. I just choose one and go with it.

What frames the thinking that drives the consistent aesthetic in your photographs?  Although they may be different in purpose (Meat vs…..) there is something that gives your work consistency.

I have no idea, I just try to make good pictures that don’t need a six page artists statement, they really piss me off.

Is there a photograph of yours that you feel best frames your work?

Not sure although there are certainly a few albatrosses.

What word of advice might you give others looking to improve their photography?

Study the work of photographers whose work resonates with YOU.  Try to figure out why, and how they seem to be able to do it.  And then find the best photographer you can, who you trust, and let them rip the shit out of your work.  Painful but incredibly helpful if you can take it.  Then just keep moving towards the sort of work you want to make FOR YOU. be as good as you can technically, but don’t let technique over-rule creativity.

Please see more of John Gladdy’s work at his site

http://www.john-gladdy.com/

and over at Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/john_adam-aka47/