James de Ara is probably the best photographer I know. More than that, he's also probably one of the nicest guys I know too. Over the last year my relationship with James has developed from a working relationship into a solid friendship and for those of you who don't know him, I would like to introduce you...
"My name is James de Ara, 23years old, I live in Kings Lynn in west Norfolk and I’ve been taking photographs since I was about 15. I started out taking photographs at school to go with my art projects and then pursued to a 2-year college course in photography. Since then it has become a huge part of my life and I currently work full time in a photographic lab alongside my photographic projects. I have also spent a lot of time in the past year or so working closely alongside Josh for projects on his label, Little Power Records."
1. Can you describe your style to the uninitiated?Traditional, Honest, natural, documentary, emotive, these are the things im aiming for. I want to take photographs with feeling, which also says something about our little world
2. What themes interest you and inspire your work?I’m very much interested in people, places, culture and the way that we live. At the moment locally and ‘small town life’ is something that im generally documenting for better or worse. Im inspired by the world around me, things that stand out to be unusual, pretty or ugly, moods and feelings. I don’t really care too much for high profile fashion or celebrity images. Photography to me shouldn’t always be flattering but express an account on life. Im interested in society and the differences between social classes. I want to continue to explore this and travel further a field to dig out the little blatant things that people seem so unaware of.
3. What photographers inspire you?Nan Goldin, Dianne Arbus, William Eggleston, Martin Parr, Richard Billingham. These people have all created very powerful and personal work without following the conventional route.
4. What gear are you currently using?I recently bought a ‘Nikon D300’ with 18-70mm zoom, which was a huge upgrade from my last digital camera. I still shoot a lot of film though and picked up a really nice ‘F100’ last year really cheap. My Grandad gave me my first camera almost 8 years ago which Im forever grateful for. It’s an old manual ‘Nikon FE’, which is my most precious camera and I love to bits. I have 2 manual ‘ais’ lenses for the camera: a 50mm 1.8 and a 24mm 2.8. I also have a spare AF 50mm lens. I have a ‘Nikon sb600’ flashgun, although quite often im using natural light. I have a ‘bronica etrs’ 6x4.5 medium format camera with a 75mm and 105mm lens. A lovely little pocket ‘fuji f31d’ digital compact, a ‘yaschica’ t5 compact film camera, which has a surprisingly sharp Carl zeiss lens, and a ‘Polaroid 600’ instant camera. I also have a ‘13” MacBook’ for editing digital images on using a combination of ‘adobe lightroom’ and ‘adobe Photoshop’. I’m currently saving up for some more decent prime lenses and a MacBook pro, but its never ending!
5. What sort of projects have you been working on lately?Lately ive had a few big changes in my life and im currently in limbo sorting things out, but ive spent a lot of time continuing my on going documentation of Hunstanton. I’m quite fascinated by the strange nature of this place which seems to be set back in time. People flock to the seaside in the summer for a relaxing day out. I aim to capture a little beauty along side the bleak, kitch and bizarre nature of this town.
6. What is the best photograph/series of photograph's you've taken?Im quite pleased with a photograph I took for a college project a few years back that was meant to depict under aged drinking in an uncomfortable way:
Recently I did a serious of photographs on the seaside town of Happisburgh, I took a series of portraits of the local people along with some dark and gloomy landscape shots. This work was exhibited at the ‘eastern open 09’:
7. If you could take a photograph of anything/place/person in the world, what would you photograph?This is the hardest question I’ve had to answer because im not that methodical in my photography. Often I think of a general idea and go out and look for it. If I had no boundaries I’d like to go some obscure places all over the world. I would like to be able to photograph the prime minister in his own home with family and do a series on the lives of politicians, but it would be a tough one!
8. Do any other factors play a part in your work (such as music for example)?I would say that it can or it has done to some extent. I used to be massively into punk music at a young age, being that politically aware and critical definitely had an effect on the type of photographs I was taking and what I wanted to say, it had probably played a part in who I am today. Nowadays the music I listen to is much more abstract and sometimes helps inspire new ideas or even the way I edit colors in a photograph. Working on projects for little power records has been a lot of fun and valuable experience. Ive helped create album artwork for some of the artists and built a bond with them. I have been very close the artist ‘Neon Mussolini’ who is an amazing musician, we went to Berlin together late last year he has generally helped open my mind. I’m also very close with the band ‘Frisco Farr’. We all seemed to gel pretty well and ended up with a set of images we were all really happy with:
9. Have you any tips for budding photographers?I think I should be the one receiving tips! But if I could offer advice it would be to always remind yourself why you started photography and keep hold of that buzz. Don’t compare yourself to bigheads around you because a lot of people have been doing it for years, found a niche, or are actually stuck in a rut with a lack of new ideas, even if they seem successful. I would advise not to become complacent, confidence is very handy but don’t get too comfortable as there are so many people doing photography right now. Most importantly set your own targets and progress doing what you love don’t let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t be doing because your passion and happiness is the most important thing. In terms of actually taking photographs Ive achieved the best results by persisting with a subject, and if you don’t have the opportunity to re-visit something then take as many photographs as possible (with time and care of course). Also one last thing, being polite and friendly to people goes a very long way. Build a relationship with your subject. (If I did these things more id be a much better photographer!)
10. What is your favorite photograph?‘Nan and Brian in Bed, 1983’ by Nan Goldin.
It is hard to choose a favorite image but this one has everything I love about photography. Aesthetic warm light, composition, a story, captured emotion. The theme of this photograph is quite an uncomfortable one as this is a self-portrait of the photographer (woman on the right) after having sex in an abusive relationship. This is by no means a nice subject but there is something beautiful captured here. The moment caught is completely real; there is no stage, lights, or pose for the camera. Here the camera is a voyeur for a real life situation but close enough to feel part of the story and emotion. Whether you like it or not, this to me is real photography.
www.jamesdeara.carbonmade.comwww.flickr.com/photos/jamesdeara
