November's Photographer of the Month- Carl Mason
What can you tell us about your competition entry?
This photograph was taken whilst I was filming a short film called ‘Dear May’ which was about a young soldier who fought in the trenches during the First World War. Funnily enough I was just messing around with my DSLR getting some Behind the Scenes photographs when I began to change the studio lighting leaving just one spot light on which formed this lovely stream of light through the fog. I then asked our actor to stand in the light and to look up and I took the photo.
It was only after I looked back at the photo and saw how well it turned out, that we thought it would be a great shot to end the film, so we filmed it. It became quite an effective ending for the film, as it left it to audience interpretation, whether the soldier was about to go ‘over the top’, or whether he was on his final journey leading to ‘heaven’. So me just messing about pulled off.
How did you get into photography
For me I think my passion for photography branched out from filmmaking, they are extremely similar. I am not completely sure what truly inspired me, however I had always been playing with cameras from a really young age.
I was around 8yrs old when I got my first camcorder where I documented pretty much everything, and since then that passion has stayed with me.
I was 13yrs old when I got my first DSLR, a Canon 550d and through using that I began to properly compose images, and consider the technical aspect of cameras, which has reflected my filmmaking skills. I am now 16yrs old and use a Canon 650d, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and a Sony MC-2000E as my main cameras.
What do you enjoy about photography
I just love composing images in a way to capture and express emotion, documenting events so they are never forgotten. I really enjoy the technical aspect of photography, and considering how I can improve an image, developing and testing my skills.
It is the same with filmmaking, producing films to entertain an audience and to share my work, something of which I feel extremely passionate about.
What are your plans for the future?
I am still young, however I aspire to work in the film industry, whether it is in television broadcast production or film production, I am confident in knowing this is what I want to do, as this is what I am passionate about.
The short film my winning photograph was produced from, ‘Dear May’, has just been shortlisted by the British Film Institute for a festival in November, so I will continue to produce many short films in order to develop my film making and photographic skills so I can gain as much experience in the industry as possible.
I am currently producing a short film called ‘Imagine’ which has been written by a multi-award winning screenwriter, about a young girl who suffers from a terminal illness; so I will be focusing on this project during the coming months.
What do you plan to do with your framing voucher which you received for winning runner up in Augusts competition?
I am carefully considering what frame to purchase using my voucher as I do have some of my photographs I would love framed. However my family are really bad to buy gifts for, so I may consider one of my photos framed as a gift for Christmas. We will have to see!
