Interview: Photographer Charlie Carter (Spain)

Tell us something about yourself.

I’m an interior designer by trade, that’s how I earn a living. I’ve always been interested in anything creative. My passion is filmmaking and that is what I am pursuing now.

How and when did you get into photography?

I got in to photography only a few years back, around 2015. I came in to it from filmmaking. I started off just shooting street photography when I was living in London. It was when I moved to Spain the following year that I first started photographing models.

What does photography mean to you?

Well, I like anything creative and photography is a very creative thing. What interests me most is evoking an emotion through images.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

My styles leans toward gritty, urban and dark. Thats my natural style although I can do glamour, magazine type photography. I enjoy colour grading so that goes well with a grittier style. I am not a fan of really clean, digital images

Where do you get inspiration from?

Being more of a film fan, my inspiration comes from film directors and cinematographers. Its cliché but David Lynch was a massive inspiration to me. I also like the look of Tony Scott movies like Man on Fire, very grainy, saturated, almost smeared colours.

Think you in advance what you want in the picture?

I always have an idea of what I want before I leave the house yes.

Studio, on location or both?

I prefer location, its free and the possibilites are endless

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

For photography I am definitely a hobbyist. I am focusing on producing professional modelling videos. There are hundreds of photographers where I live, I want to do something different. The combination of modelling, with movement and sound is much more interesting to me than a still photograph.

What has been your most memorable session and why?

Probably my first because it was not that long ago. I had just bought an off camera flash and didnt know what the hell I was doing. The session was with Enkar who is just great and the photos turned out very well, the close up of Enkar with smoke coming out her mouth was from that very session!

What has been the biggest source of inspiration in your work?

I dont follow other photographers, I usually get my inspiration from a song I like or a movie where the cinematography was interesting.

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?

I use a Panasonic GH5. Favourite lens is my Zeiss Planar 50mm f1.7

What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?

Learn by trial and error, dont spend too much time following advice off Youtube, find your own style, it will happen naturaly.

What do you think of our new magazine?

I wasn’t familiar with it until recently; I think it’s a great way for perhaps unknown photographers to get their work seen by a wider audience.

www.charlie-carter.com

www.facebook.com/charliecartercreative

www.instagram.com/charlie_carter_images