February 02, 2010
photographer anson smart
You name it. Editors. Stylists. Art directors. Even other photographers. Everyone I meet nominates Anson Smart as one of the best magazine photographers in Australia. He works regularly for fashion (marie claire), interiors (Belle), travel (Gourmet Traveller) and food magazines (Vogue Entertaining and Travel - vale) as well as publications such as the (sydney) magazine. Not bad for someone who studied aviation science!
And as a side note, I always find it interesting who in-the-know types to get to take their portrait. For Sydney stylist Megan Morton it's often Anson. Yep, he's the one everyone wants.
Which five words best describe you? Energetic, easy going, curious, realist, practical.
How did you get your start in photography and what path have you taken since? After completing a science degree in Australia, I boarded a plane to escape starting a real job. I ended up in San Francisco and ended up falling in love with photography; I enrolled in a fine arts degree in SF. I returned to Australia and knocked on every door until I started getting assisting work and it all fell into place from there.
What advice would you give to aspiring photographers? Assist talented photographers whose work you admire. You get the opportunity to see the work process in practice from start to finish with all the highs and lows. Keep taking pictures, like any craft the more you do the better you become.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Doing what I love for a living and working for myself.
What has been your best decision? To follow a life path that I knew little about but was passionate about, my mom was determined I would have a "proper" career.
Who or what inspires you? Have a mission, plan ahead, question everything, listen, collaborate, assume nothing, study the past, keep it simple, communicate, draw a diagram, never sellout, push harder, say what you mean, be open, roll up your sleeves, dream, welcome change, add value, aim higher, do more with less, laugh, innovate, think sideways, focus, mean what you say, take it to the edge, relax... (Words stuck above my desk)
What are you passionate about? Photography, food, family, surfing and sleep (not in that order).
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Irving Penn.
What dream do you still want to fulfill? More time to relax and surf.
What are you reading? Malcolm Gladwell, What the Dog Saw.
images courtesy of anson smart