Elise Todd Photography: INTERVIEW.. with Meg Hope

Firstly, I would love to know a bit about you and how you came about photography and studying it at school.

Meg: There has always been a camera in the house for as long as I can remember, and when the opportunity of studying it came about I leapt at the idea. My studies started at GCSE for a two year course followed but another two years with an A level.

Although I was doing a college course I started an evening photography course outside of college. I started this as I felt the art based course offered to me as an A level students wasn't challenging my knowledge of how to work cameras and use Photoshop to produce good quality imaging. Within my GCSE and A level courses I felt the key elements we were made to focus upon was researching artists/photographers, gathering ideas to reproduce similar images to them and lots of evaluation work. I felt lost when picking up a camera to reconstruct these types of images, not really understanding how to manipulate both the camera and Photoshop to obtain these images - this wasn't what I wanted to get out of photography at all! Joining the evening course was one of the best things I have done to help me in my photography career. At the course I feel I have learnt more in a year than I have within my four year GCSE/A Level courses.

1. How did you become interested in photography (family influences, media)?

Meg: Like I have already said there has always been a camera in the house for as long as I can remember so i strongly believe my family was my influence in my route of photography. My mum, an amateur photographer, liked to just do snap shots on family holidays and around our farm. At home we always had a photography magazine lying around which I would pick up and look at the featured photos and be inspired.

2. Do you have any influences for your photography work (certain photographers, your style)?

Meg: My influences come from a group of photographer who have set up 'Rock City Art Gallery' in Bedfordshire, particularly Andy Willsher and Andy Cotterill. The group of 12 leading music photographers focus upon live music and music based portraits of bands and artist. Many of the photographers work for top music magazines such as Q and NME. http://www.rockcityart.com/photographers/

Another huge influence on my favoured type of photography is Dutch photography Anton Corbijn whose black and white images are becoming iconic in this genre. http://www.corbijn.co.uk/

Andy Cotterill:

Andy Wilsher:

Anton Corbijn:

3. How did you begin photographing bands?

Meg: As a self confessed live music fan, I used to try and smuggle in a bridge camera to all the gigs I attended whether in a local pub or to see stadium fillers and sometimes used to find myself watching the photographers who were in the 'pit' for the first few songs. I soon realised this subject was something I would like to focus upon. I started applying for press passes to gigs up and down the country to gain experience. These press passes were hugely helpfully at understanding low lighting conditions, it also made me realise that this was the area of photography I really wanted to pursue.

4. What made you want to photograph this specific genre?

Meg: As I say, I love live music and trying to capture the excitement of a live gig is something I've always tried to do and will keep trying to. Photographing this genre merges these two loves together.

5. What is the industry like?

Meg: The industry is becoming more and more competitive, There are many young people wanting to enter this type of photography and photo passes become harder and harder to get. The digital age has made this type photography more accessible to people and publications have realised this and very often expect to be able to get images for little or no payment. Bands now often employ their own photographer who they allow to shoot at gigs so that they can keep a close eye on what is published e.g. Tory Munblowsky - The Killers and Tom Kirk - Muse.

6. Do you photograph other areas such as landscapes or portraits etc?

Meg: Portrait photography works well alongside live music photography as many bands want studio type publicity shots. I've recently done a few such photo shoots for a couple of local bands and this is certainly something that I would like to build on. Many music live music photographers undertake both live and studio shots and this does help build up a rapport between photographer and band.
I also enjoy taking landscapes, as well as capturing images of things that capture my interest. My photography course has helped to fuel these other interests, especially when trying to manipulate how the final image turns out by altering camera and Photoshop settings.

7. Do you think the price of your camera matters in ways that it affects the quality of the picture? Or do you believe it relies on skills and knowledge?

Meg: Not really no, although a decent SLR body is important, as well as decent lenses, knowledge of how the camera works and the way lighting effects the final image is far more important. Only recently I had several lovely comments on a image I took of Paris on my mobile!

8. Do you prefer to shoot using film or digital?

Meg: To be honest, I mainly work digitally, mainly due to the cost involved in film photography. However, I do enjoy using film photography and the uncertainty of how the image will turn out.

9. What are your ambitions for the future regarding photography?

Meg: My ultimate ambition would be to became a photographer for a band, recording their journey with life shots, studio shots as well as candid recording shots. This really is a dream though, but to continue photographing live music and making a living out of this would be wonderful.

10. Finally, do you have any advice that you have learnt on your journey?

Meg: This isn't an area of photography that you're going to make a huge amount of money out of, unless you're very lucky. Shoot as many bands as you are able and if you do have a favourite local band, whose music you enjoy, then keep shooting them - you'll get to know their characters and times during their sets when something special happens.

Meg Hope's website: http://www.meghopephotography.webeden.co.uk/#

And also here are some of Meg Hope's images!: