July 06, 2011
photographer todd sutherland
Todd Sutherland creates slick, graphic images with his photography so it was an interesting experience to meet him before a recent shoot. He was warm, calm and easy going. He was also effusive about living in the Southern Highlands. I knew he was based south of Sydney as I'd seen his work in SoHi, the gorgeous magazine Rebecca Wolkenstein has created. It's quite a commute that Todd makes most days, but shows his commitment to both his life in the country, and his passion for photography.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? When I was studying photography I had a weekend job in a department store in the city. I was pinning up the inside leg of a customer's new trousers for alteration and started chatting. He happened to be a well know photographer. I called him for several weeks until I went out on a shoot. That was quite some time ago now and since then I’ve found that shooting beautifully crafted objects, in all shapes and sizes, from a variety of luxury good to liquids to homewares and interiors makes for a nice day out... or a nice day in, depending on how you look at it.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? The key is persistence and the answer is hard work. There are no short cuts to creating something worthwhile.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Get back to me in 20 years. The ‘greatest hits’ album is still a long way off.
What’s been your best decision? To shoot products as opposed to people. I’m really fascinated by design and function. When you have something exquisite in your hands, something that you know you’ll never be able to afford for yourself, you have a chance to peep through to another world. I love that.
Who inspires you? Anyone who has taken a massive risk to follow a dream. The kind of risk that either makes you or breaks you.
What are you passionate about? Quality and detail.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Willie Harcourt-Cooze. A true specialist with an eye for quality and detail.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? To live overseas with my family for an extended period of time. Life flies by, best to do as much as is possible.
What are you reading? Knuffle Bunny to my three-year-old before bed. A great read; I give it five stars. If time permits, I’ll be skimming through classic car mags.
images courtesy of todd sutherland