DAVID ISRAEL
- Master Photographer -
G'day folks,
You all know I'm a photographer, right? Well, today I am interviewing a really serious one ... a master photographer from Melbourne, Australia - DAVID ISRAEL.
Welcome, David ...
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT
YOURSELF AND YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY.
My father died of a
heart attack when he was 49 and I was only 14. My two older brothers had to go
to work but they wanted me to go onto uni. However, I felt wrong about that so
at 17 I started to look at working opportunities, after some wasted time with
career counsellors one of my scout leaders who knew me well suggested that I
try photography.
WERE YOU INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY
AS A KID?
I didn’t have a clue
about photography or even that there many different fields. To cut a long story
short, I put on a suit and knocked on doors of every photographer in the city
for weeks. Everyone asked about my experience and when I told the truth the standard
reply was, get a job, learn about photography and come back to see me in a
couple of years!
Eventually, the very
last photographer in Melbourne asked the same question. I didn’t bother to
answer but stood up to leave. He told me to sit down and he actually liked the
fact that I didn’t know anything – he said that juniors always knew better than
him and that he was sick of the arguments. I started the next day.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAMERA?
We used Rollei’s at
work my first personal camera was a Nikkormat, (Nikon)
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU PREFER
TO USE NOW?
Now of course
everything is digital and I use Canon cameras and Elinchrom lights.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST
ABOUT YOUR JOB?
I love working with
people, especially newborns, babies and children then seeing the pride on the
parent’s faces when they see their photos.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING
ABOUT BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER?
Listening to people
talk about how brilliant they are at taking photos with their smart phones and
then they say that can get the same results as me.
DO YOU WORK FOR YOURSELF,
OTHERS OR BOTH?
My
wife and I have our own studio 5 minutes from Chadstone Shopping Centre,
Melbourne.
WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST
LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME INVOLVED IN PHOTOGRAPHY?
A
teenager in school.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST
ACHIEVEMENT?
My next photo shoot.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT
THE MOMENT?
Continually striving to be original.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU? THINGS?
PEOPLE?
A really great
question. I love to observe people and I’m most excited by what young children
say and do before they learn adult ways.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR EMERGING
PHOTOGRAPHERS?
Try photographing
everything and then your passion and personal style will follow all in good
time. Everyone is different so feel free in what you do and how you work. Study
the work of other photographers and try to see how they took your favourite
shots. Then put your own twist on those shots.
WHAT IS THE MOST EXOTIC
DESTINATION IN WHICH YOU HAVE WORKED?
The
Sahara.
DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED
SCHEDULE?
I’m
flexible and try and fit in with my clients.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE
PLACE OR TIME TO PHOTOGRAPH?
Nowadays
I prefer the controlled environment of the studio.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY
IN YOUR WORK?
Trying a concept with a client and having
them appreciate the result.
HAVE YOU DONE COMMERCIALS?
No
WHAT’S THE GREATEST
COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Recently at the end
of a photo shoot a nine year boy said, “When I grow up, I want to be like you.”
DESCRIBE THE FUNNIEST
MOMENT YOU EXPERIENCED IN YOUR WORK?
One time I was
employed to photograph 200 delegates from Taiwan in a city hotel. Because there
were also many Melbourne dignitaries and it was quite a special occasion, there
were lots and lots of amateurs taking photos of the group as well.
So much so that their
flashes kept setting off my lights. Then suddenly one of my lights blew up and
flames poured from it. I asked someone to unplug that particular light, told
everyone that this was a special fireworks display to welcome them to
Melbourne!
WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT YOU
EVER RECEIVED?
They have all come
from other photographers, because they didn’t like what I was saying or was
standing up for.
WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES
INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU AS A PHOTOGRAPHER?
The love that I have
shared with my family helps me to see that in other people’s relationships and
family dynamics.
HAVE YOU WON ANY PRIZES OR
AWARDS?
Some
but they’re not as important as what my clients have to say.
WHAT DID THEY MEAN TO YOU?
At
the time very rewarding but that’s all faded away.
OTHER THAN PHOTOGRAPHY,
WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
Spending time with my
family and friends. Walking, sailing and the experiences gained by giving back
to the community.
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.
A
busy day in the studio with a variety of clients and then going out for dinner
with my family.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE
FUTURE?
To
continue as I am now for as long as I can hold a camera and engage with people.
IF YOU PUT TOGETHER A
COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
Showing them the results of their ridiculous
decisions.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST
DREAM?
To see my grandchildren become responsible
citizens and help others to do the same.
DO YOU PREFER COLOUR, BLACK
AND WHITE OR SEPIA?
Colour
HOW MANY COUNTRIES HAVE YOU
VISITED TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS?
Many
DO YOU PAY PEOPLE FOR
PHOTOGRAPHS?
Yes
if they are to have a commercial use.
DO YOU FEEL GUILTY TAKING
PHOTOGRAPHS OF POVERTY-STRICKEN PEOPLE?
Not if it is for an altruistic reason.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST
DIFFICULT PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSIGNMENT?
Photographing 9 young wild, screaming, fighting, crying
cousins in the studio as a surprise for their grandmother.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
Stay tuned – you’ll know when I do.
Website: http://davidisrael.com.au/
Google+ : http://goo.gl/3hkUZs
More of David's fine work:
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Clancy's comment: Mm ... what can I say? Excellent stuff, eh? Make sure you check out the Youtube video above. It's very cute.
Thanks, David. Love ya work!
I'm ...
Think about this!
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