I’m excited to give you part 2 of my interview with Carla Coulson. If you haven’t already had the chance to read part 1 you can read it here.
Q. Yourself and your photography is an inspiration to many around the world including myself. What inspires you?
A. I find inspiration everywhere! In movies, history, old photography, the weather, fashion, women, interior decors and of course other photographers work. Ideas come at the strangest moments.
Q. What qualities do you believe is needed to be a successful photographer?
A. First I think you need to have a vision of your own and not worry about what everyone is doing around you. I think you also need to know when you start out as photographer that you are getting yourself into a business and that you need a plan. One without the other won’t necessarily make you a successful photographer.
Q. Do you prefer black & white or colour?
A. I love both but I adore portraits in black and white. Unless the colour is incredible there is something about portraits in black and white that seems to focus more on the soul of the person. Maybe the colours distract a little. Likewise when colour is amazing, it’s AMAZING.
Q. Digital or film and why?
A. I started out using film and like lots of film photographers found the move to digital difficult. I love the texture of film and it brings its own magic to the photo. Having said that digital is convenient and the texture of the images have come a long way. But we end up spending way too much time at the computer.
Q. Favourite Photograph?
A. That is such a hard question!! I took a photo years ago that I have always loved that was on the back of Italian Joy. It was of my little niece playing on a set of swings and happiness and joy screamed from that photo. Photos that are full of emotion are my favourites.
Q. Hobbies?
A. Photography! Is that too obsessive! I still love to pick up my camera for me and take the photos I want to take if I am on holidays or feel like messing around. Maybe because I started late in life photography for me is an all consuming passion. The day I have a garden this will be my hobby!
Q. Places you haven’t yet seen but would love to photograph?
A. The list is long. Travel is something that I can’t live without. If I won the lottery tomorrow I would be on the plane travelling to some fabulous destination. I have yet to go to Africa and most of Asia so they would have to be on the list. But each country is fascinating it would be incredible to go to them all. There is still time!
Q. What’s next for Carla Coulson in photography?
A. I have spent the past ten years working for magazines and publishers and slowly I would like to start moving towards working with real people. I would like to try and create magazine style portraits for the woman on the street!
Carla’s books are available at:
Angusrobertson.com.au
Borders.com.au/Books
Fishpond.com.au
Penguin.com.au
Booktopia.com.au
Ebay.com.au
Holisticpage.com.au
Zanui.com.au
And other online book stores.
