Introducing the Photographer: Geraint Lewis
Geraint Lewis is one of our most prolific contributing photographers and his work is requested internationally. Known for his arts and theatre coverage what started as a small collection of images has grown into a huge catalogue and he is now one of our largest selling photographers. We caught up with Geraint to ask him about his approach.
Question:
What attracted you to specialising in the arts in the first place?
Answer:
I have always had a passion for cinema which attracted me to Theatre which I still photograph today. It also gives me the chance to meet and photograph a lot of interesting people which is all I ever wanted to do.
Question:
In this age of increasing general competition do you think it important to specialise?
Answer:
I never really wanted to pigeon hole myself. I like fresh challenges but yes, it is important for clients looking for something to know where to come. I do specialise to a degree with my portraits and theatre photographs but I also do a lot of corporate photography .
Question:
What keeps you coming back to the Edinburgh International Book Festival?
Answer:
Meeting old friends and its fun and as Edinburgh is the biggest arts festival on the planet why not ? I suppose it’s in my blood.
Question:
How do you keep your pictures fresh faced with that same green/blue background?
Answer:
You have to remember photography at The Edinburgh Book Festival has evolved over the years. We started doing what we could amongst a load of tents then moved on to gaffer taping black or red velvet onto anything . Eventually the book festival kindly erected ‘The Carpet’ to shoot on . The lighting developed from daylight, on camera flash to off camera flash to the now highly sophisticated portable studio lighting I use. Trying to keep the pictures fresh is a challenge, so its all about how I work and I apply this to all my work. I try and get the author to give something of them selves, without this you are sunk, by communicating and talking to them ,trying to build up something whatever that is . Also by varying the lighting with modifiers , lighting or not lighting the carpet , standing, sitting etc.
Question:
Why do you use boutique agencies over larger more general ones?
Answer:
Boutique agencies will get larger fees for quality work. So if the rewards are there it makes the whole effort worthwhile.