INTERVIEW
September 22, 2020
BEACH LIFE
Photography by Stephen Allsopp
Interview by Melanie Meggs
Fascinated by abstract minimalism and a strong eye for aesthetics, Stephen Allsopp has developed a unique perspective on photography that draws the viewer in and captivates their senses. Hailing from Central England, Stephen's inspiring journey has taken him around the globe, from Wellington, New Zealand to his current home of Noosa in sunny Queensland, Australia.
Once relocated to Australia, Stephen was drawn to pinhole photography and has been exploring ways to combine elements of long exposure landscapes and seascapes into this technique. Taking full advantage of the local beaches in and around Noosa, Stephen has been capturing stunning images that captivate the eye and leave viewers in awe of the beautiful scenes he is able to create.
For Stephen, photography is more than just taking a picture. It is a form of creative expression that allows him to explore and push the boundaries of what can be captured on camera. Stephen captures the raw beauty of his surroundings and breathes life into his work with his passion for abstraction and minimalism. Get ready to be enchanted by the art of Stephen Allsopp!
“I’ve always had a camera, from being intrigued with a box brownie found in my grandparents garage as a child to carrying a simple point and shoot as a teenager and buying my first SLR as an adult on a trip to Australia in the 1990's. Like many people seem to do I started capturing what I thought were magnificent landscape images, (because it's that easy right!?!), but were in fact, rather sadly, nothing of the sort. Regardless, the experience of creating an image was addictive, and I’ve never really had a camera far away from me since. Photography is a catharsis in a way, my day job as a mental health clinician for the past 30 years, is often emotionally exhausting, perhaps that reflects in my images sometimes, but I find the peace of creating images very soothing.”
IN CONVERSATION WITH STEPHEN ALLSOPP
THE PICTORIAL LIST: Stephen, what compels you to make the images you create?
STEPHEN ALLSOPP: It’s just a constant journey of discovery isn’t it, what can I do next? Will it work? And so on. To create something is a challenge and a great buzz. I want to try and create images that take me and hopefully the people that see my images away from reality.
TPL: Where do you find your inspiration to photograph?
SA: Given that I live only a few minutes walk from the beach that is the place I go. There is always enough going on to interest me, and the National Park nearby is also quite spectacular and its where I go to shoot long exposures.
TPL: How does the equipment you use help you in achieving your vision in your photography? Talk to us about your use of your pinhole camera.
SA: I’ve never cared very much for equipment per se, making the most of what you have is a good starting point I think. The pinhole experiments are just part of my evolution. I’m trying to challenge myself to capture Noosa differently, away from the typical blue-sky golden sands stuff, which is a little bland and uninspiring for my tastes. So I'm very much enjoying immersing myself in more experimental styles, playing with blur and hand held slow shutter speeds and seeing where it takes me.
TPL: Has your style of photographing changed since you first started?
SA: Everything has changed, literally nothing is the same.
TPL: You live in beautiful Noosa, do you have another favourite place to photograph?
SA: Noosa is pretty much the only place I’ve photographed over the past couple of years, and is likely to be for a while yet, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, plus Australia is so damn big it takes forever to get anywhere anyway.
TPL: Do you have any favourite artists or photographers you would like to share with us, and the reason for their significance?
SA: I love the work of Susan Burnstine, Markus Anderson, Bill Schwab, and the pinhole work of Stefan Killen. A number of years ago I had the good fortune to become acquainted with a photographer in Vienna called Oliver Tudoras, he was the inspiration for me to get hooked into Lensbabies.
TPL: Do you prefer to photograph alone or with company?
SA: I always photograph alone, always have done. I like being alone with my thoughts and just being in the moment with my camera. It is like meditation for me.
TPL: What are some of your goals as an artist? Where do you see yourself or hope to see yourself in five years?
SA: I am enjoying the results with my Pinhole camera, the next thing for me to do, logically is to go back to film, and eventually learn to develop and print. I think that would be extremely rewarding.
TPL: Are there any special projects you are currently working on?
SA: Not particularly, but I’ve always held aspirations to exhibit somewhere and to maybe work on a book but I think those things are a little way off yet.
TPL: "When I am not out photographing, I (like to)...
SA: There’s music, I like to read when I have the time, just chilling, enjoying a red with friends, the usual."
It's no question that Stephen Allsopp is a true visionary when it comes to photography. Using his unique perspective and eye for detail, Stephen has been able to capture the raw beauty of his surroundings, creating stunning works of art that draw the viewer in and captivate their senses. If you want to explore Stephen's amazing photography and follow his journey, then connect with him through his website and Instagram.
