Questions and Answers: Ben Messina: Art Photographer
How long have you been a photographer?
Since he was 18 years old. He is now 35, so 17 years.
Do you have any qualifications in photography?
He did 1 year at TAFE. His father was a photographer so he was using a darkroom from an early age.
Do you have any other art-related qualifications?
No.
How did you become an art photographer?
His father was a photographer and when he moved away from Cairns, Ben took over his business. Peter Lik (a well known photographer) used to work in Cairns and he lent Ben his Linhoff 6x17 panoramic film camera. It was then that Ben realised how much he loved the camera and the photographs it produced. He then started selling some non-commissioned landscape photographs and so gave up the rest of his commercial photography. Cairns was a good place to begin because it is so naturally beautiful. However, he then moved to Brisbane and then onto Sandhurst when the rent in Brisbane got too high.
Before you specialised in art photography what other photography did you do?
His fathers business was architecture, fashion and aerial photography when Ben took it over and this is what he did prior to specialising in landscapes art photography.
Do you ever return to other photographic genres?
No
What made you concentrate on art photography?
Mainly he hated the other work and felt that it was not creative enough. However, the pay was good. The briefs were too specific, so much so that his input as the photographer was virtually none.
What is your definition of ‘art’ and ‘fine art’ photography? Is there any difference?
Well it is just a matter of what you choose to call yourself. Many ‘average’ photographers call their work fine art which he would question.
How is art/fine art photography different from other genres of photography?
With art photography your time management is self-managed. You need to be self-motivated, especially as you are often out photographing when other people are usually at home or enjoying themselves elsewhere. At least, this is the case with landscape photography because of the good light during ‘the golden hours’. Commissioned work is usually 9-5. With fine art landscape photography you also need to travel a lot to different places, which can be costly.
Do you show your work to critics in the art photography world?
No.
Do you enter photography competitions?
No, he never has.
Do you have gallery exhibitions?
No.
Have you won any awards?
No, he’s not interested in that.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Initially his inspiration came from Peter Lik. Now he watches documentaries in order to decide where he should go to photograph. However, he doesn’t look at any other photographer’s work because he thinks it might damage his own creativity. So once he has a good idea where he wants to go, he will mark it on his GPS and go there and photograph. If the light is no good, then he will return at a different time when the light is better.
What equipment do you use?
He primarily uses a 6x17 Fugi, but he also has a Canon 5D Mark II and a 4x5 film camera. Generally he takes transparencies and then scans and works on them digitally. He uses Fuji Velvia 50 film. He processes his film at ProLab. The only artificial lighting he might occasionally use is a 5 million and 1 million candle torch.
How do you promote and market your work?
He works in a tourist area and so has no problem selling his work. He has done so successfully for 9 years. He prints and frames in his house and recently bought a framing business. His business took a few years to get going and when he goes away his partner runs his shop. When he worked in Brisbane there wasn’t such a good tourist market so he marketed himself a bit more. However, in Sandhurst and Cairns there is no need.
How do you sell your work?
Initially in markets but he has had a gallery for many years now. As mentioned earlier he moved to Sandhurst because the rent for his gallery space in Brisbane was too costly. In Sandhurst he has a gallery which he is expanding to double its size as the business grows. He also sells online.
How do you price your work?
He has a good idea of what other photographers are charging and thus he prices for that particular market.
Do you need to do other work as well as the fine art photography?
No. If he not away photographing, he in his gallery selling his photos.
From his website his prices are as follows:
75cm x 25 cm - $245
120cm x 40cm $360
150 x 50cm $595
The price includes image printed on canvas & it is stretched around a 3cm thick frame & it also includes freight in Australia.
http://www.benmessina.com/
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