MIKE WHELAN

graduated from UEL photo in 2007 - first BA photo to graduate.
background in cartography - thus the connection with the aspect of transfer and the inbetween in his images.

student -> assistant -> photographer
a fairly common path to gradually doing your own work and the way he took.

a very prudent self-advertiser.



takes part in many competitions every year. he compiles a list of all the competitions he would consider entering for the year. researches them and selects the ones he wants to enter.
RESEARCH THE JUDGES. if they shortlist your work or you win / are mentioned, call them up or email thanking them and ask for a possibility to show them your work. all in all, the hard part is over, because they've already seen some of your work and are more likely to give you an audience than someone who wrote in out of the blue.

first successful series - DLR, submitted to BJP, went very well.

he reflected on the series and identified qualities in the images that might be intrinsic to his style and made the images distinct. then capitalised on them to create a visual correlation between his landscapes - creating a recognizable "trademark" style.

he often digitally manipulates his work, although he works on film mostly. has his images retouched and top tip is : have things done properly. skimping, especially in the first stages of trying to be recognized will make you look bad and unprofessional.

JOHN HOOPER


studied in camberwell college.
has worked for sleaze nation, the wire, margaret howell (lookbook on 5x4), channel 4, big smoke..

- if you know exactly, what your going to do, then what's the point in doing that?

does not think of himself as an artist. does not have to look for work, he has solid connections and long collaborations that keep getting him new work. is very adaptable.

john hooper has worked together with michael molony for a long time. his entire career is built on having strong connections and being up for anything. after doing mainly photogography, he has also moved into producing moving image. his top tip was for every photographer to be able to produce a film as well, because a lot of magazines or online publications will want to put out a making of or podcast of their photoshoots or may even want to produce an advertisement on the side of the shoot.