TOP OF THE CLASS
student under the spotlight
In each issue of lightbook we visit an LB: Let’s talk lighting There’s a lot of kit out there in the
up-and-coming photography student MW: It’s absolutely vital. Excellent marketplace today but I always go back
to talk to them about their communication between photographer to Bowens. In the studio or on location, it
experiences, hopes and aspirations. and sitter is also very important, but for me
just does the job at the right price for me.
This issue, Mark Witard (22). the lighting just has to be spot on. You can
have the most expensive camera in the LB: OK you’ve got unlimited budget. What’s
Litebook: So why photography?
world but if the lighting doesn’t shape up your ultimate shoot?
MW: At school I read a lot about famous
you’re lost. MW: Fly me round the world with a brief to
photographers and their specialist
I’m a student so price is a real issue….and capture city culture; street life, architecture
techniques. I was mesmerised by their
when it comes to cost efficiency and value and landscapes.
work and that experience really helped to
for money, Bowens are simply the best.
steer me towards this profession.
I started off with about £1,000 worth of LB: So far on your journey what’s the most
Bowens kit and I just add to it as I go
important thing you have learnt about
LB: Which photo disciplines really appeal?
along.
photography?
MW: I guess I’m a ‘GP’ photographer right
I grab my Gemini Heads and TravelPaks
MW: Patience. I know now that to capture
now. I’m too young to commit completely
plus a few attachments and I’m ready for
the moment, the atmosphere and the
to any one discipline. I love working as
action. With this versatile and highly
mood you have to learn to relax and take
part of a team with models, art directors
portable gear I can create stunning
your time.
and stylists and I get a big adrenaline rush
pictures in a field in the middle of nowhere
Top landscape shooters like Charlie Waite
when I’m working on deadlines or on
– and with a great choice of diffusers,
are quite happy to sit in a French field for
location, where you have to be right on top
reflectors and snoots, the possibilities are
a week just waiting for the right light.
of the action every second of the shoot.
endless. Bowens
functionality is so
LB: Have you sold any work yet. Or had
LB: Tell us about your favourite shoots to date
simple too. It’s
anything published?
MW: I am a year into a part-time
really ‘on and
MW: Yes. I have worked on a variety of
photography HNC course at Barking
off’ ‘up and
private commissions for clients and a
College but I’ve been involved in
down’.
number of my photographs have already
brochure creation for a leading been published.
sports manufacturer and some I was recently asked to photograph the
housing development Chef’s Kitchen Theatre at the Ideal Home
organisations. The satisfaction in Exhibition and those images are being
seeing the project to completion used commercially. There’s nothing quite
is its own reward. like the feeling of creating images that
I have little interest in shoots somebody wants to buy.
that don’t require serious
mental exertion. LB: And the future?
MW: I’ve still got so much to learn.
LB: Name a favourite photographer? So much knowledge to soak up – but one
MW: I recently discovered a day I’d like to be running my own
photographer called Brian Griffin. He was business, hopefully producing
d commissioned to shoot the channel tunnel images that others might get
i
t
a
r
extension and the refurbishment of some pleasure viewing.
r
k

W
London’s St. Pancras station. The cutting
edge portraits he produced, alongside his
t
o

b
y

M
a
highly individualistic style has been an
inspiration to me in my own portrait work.
©

2
0
0
8

P
h
o
16
Visit the website..
www.bowens.co.uk
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20