www.sksantos.net

Photographer | New York, USA

Hi, Sean. Tell us a little about your background. How did you get into photography? Where did it all start?
New York based Australian I am a self-taught artist who concentrated on learning the techniques that expressed his ideas and a unique vision. All the rest is superfluous.

Never assisted, never went to school to learn the craft, primarily a background from film & a love of it as a medium. Energetic to extreme and relentless in the pursuit of a crafted image – my work focuses on a cinematic approach rather than a conventional one. Ignoring all the rules of picture making I paint my canvas spontaneously with sleek models, cool tones and moody atmospheres of the night.

Passion & energy are the keys to my work & this has garnered me a prestigious client list from the advertising & fashion arena worldwide, which I’m very grateful for in life.

What inspires you?
Life – all of it! and the living of it, on the edge. Being an outdoors man & having a love for opportunity to do more and anything new – visually & emotionally, always stimulates me no end. I love being hungry & earning my keep, as so to speak.
Nothing should be given & everything should be earned in this life.

In your opinion, what makes a good photo?
The birth of a great idea conceived in a heart that has passion.


Do you have your own photo studio or work at home?
Both – a studio in the West Village & a home in Midtown Manhattan where the brainstorming begins daily @ 4 am.

What do you think is essential for photographers?
The ability to see an image in your own eyes long before you start to think about ‘gear’ – imagination is vital and having ideas is the absolute KEY, keep them strong, simple, & well thought out .
The devil is in the details.

Your “Se7en Series” of photographs are absolutely amazing. Can you explain more about this series?
It’s an ongoing cinematic series in progress – there will be 6 more to follow in the next 18 month, all evolving from Seven noire films classics from the 1970′s all with a strong fashionesque twist added to them. I’m incorporating 7 short films along the way as well to accompany them.


Do you prefer to use analog or digital cameras? Why?
Both really, when I’m relaxing & have time to focus on what I want , I use my very 1 st camera – a custom made 6 x12 format Panorama – it’s my baby that has seen most corners of this planet & back and still produces a magical, pure image.
Digital for every day professional assignment use – high end Hasselblad’s & the new Canon Mark 3 1Ds. I never compromise on excellence when using gear.

What would you suggest to young photographers? How they should start?
Take your time, think it through – financially, where do ‘YOU’ fit in – in a world of overcrowded styles & since the Digital revolution – millions of point & snap so called Pro’s. Be precise in your vision & be ABSOLUTELY committed, this is a profession that requires relentless perseverance & courage. Do all of that, arm yourself with a simple camera ( not the latest & greatest toy ) & be honest to your image, let your heart rule the composition & you will have an excellent start . Beyond the Pro side of it , carry some form of a camera with you EVERYWHERE you go.
Images & opportunities present themselves every minute of every hour in life. You want to be the 1 st to see it & say ‘It’s mine’.

Name a few photographers that inspired you and your work and why they inspired you.
I don’t really follow other photographers as such, I just don’t have time in my life to be looking at everyone else, because I’m trying to perfect what I’m doing & make it more ‘INVITING’ & grow as an individual as well. But I always keep my eye’s peeled on young & up & coming new comers these are the new visionaries of where photography is headed & I like to see where their hearts are at, in terms of how they see the world. It’s refreshing, bright & wonderful see such growth. I can’t wait till the ‘OLD GUARD’ steps down & moves aside to let NEW blood into a much needed FRESH ideas industry . I so dislike the ‘Club’ mentality of photography and this industry, that will not allow new blood to flow into it. It’s an ‘individual’ that makes a contribution not a club / commerce of strength by numbers value in society.


How digital technology changed the way we look at photography as art?
It hasn’t really – I think what we are seeing is a shape in direction come full circle. Digital just takes away the ‘Can’t wait to see it – Wow’ factor. It’s a bit of an anticlimax to point, shoot & instantly see images & it can also be dangerous with clients too. Too much & no allure to wait for the unveiling of a concept visually can be deceiving & leave open doors for wide criticism, time is opportunity & if you fuss over a screen capture instead of making time to get the shot, the chance to NAIL the emotion is lost.

What do you think about the combination of photography and photoshop? Editing images in photoshop is something that we can’t live without anymore?
I’ve always maintained this: – like any good tool, as a pen is to the writer, a brush to the painter, a score to the musician, they are ONLY tools to help you, not to REPLACE what you know as the fundamentals in life .
OVERUSE kills it & I feel now more than ever we have to be careful of too much technology, 80 – 90 % of my work is ‘In Camera’ – no fake sky lines, or horizons, no overly retouched skin, no ‘Pigs in space’ as I call it.

By keeping the images in camera at the point of execution you can modify everything there & make it as perfect as it should be . Would Picasso use an airbrush simply because it’s hip to the time or just a brush?, would a PC laptop improve Shakespeare’s written word?
If you have the fundamentals, stick to the basics, you are made in heaven with images that are indeed REAL to the eye. PS (photoshop) are ONLY tools to tweak minor imperfections & make the image sit well. I don’t think they were ever intended to recreate a world so photographers could have it easy & not push themselves further.

List the equipment used by you… what kind of equipment do you prefer as a specific? and which are your favourite lens?
Is that really important?….. I think not . Ideas remain the single biggest tool any artist can have, whether you are using a point & shoot, a pin hole camera or the latest high end Digital set up with all the toys that goes with a major production, It all boils down to ‘The Idea’ as being the most essential tool.
Besides I use different cameras & lens for each assignment, no favourites as such – only quality tools.


How much time a day you spend on your photographs?
24 hours of every day of my life, It’s always there rattling around inside my head then to my heart. Indeed a great place to be most of time.

What are your plans for the future?
I’ll keep you posted, the year has begun at a RACING pace, & there are only 24 hours in the day…. I wish there were 38, but there is SO much new creativity & new work coming out this year that you’ll just have to wait, the best way to unveil it is go to the site say… around August this year to see what’s new. I’m working on a lot of different projects this year & each one excites me no end.

Thanks for your *words*, and keep up the good work.
My pleasure, always happy to help.
Cheers . Sean