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How have you been enjoying English summertime? Hey Marc, no probs. The English Summer? Ah yes, I remember the day the sun shined! It was the day I went down to Portsmouth to work with Felicia A swimwear/Pin-up shoot on the beach. Haven't seen much sunshine since... Take us back to the start. When did PhotosWithAttitude begin? Surprisingly, PWA started just 3 years ago. The name came about as a couple of people who looked at my work said the models expressed so much attitude in their pose and look. I have always owned a camera.. I remember buying my first decent camera with my first pay packet! Until 3 years ago I only photographed old buildings and cars... Talk us through your very first shoots and how have they, and yourself, changed since those early days? My very first "Alt" girl shoot I will never forget! It was with a girl called Roodle - or Ethel Hallow as she is now known. It came about a bit by accident... a shot of mine got onto the cover of Devolution magazine, the editor Nickie loved the shot and asked if I would photograph her friend Roodle! I was shocked and amazed that she liked my work so much and instantly said yes! Roodle turned up and scared the hell out of me! Covered from head to foot in tattoos, dreads in her hair, wearing a medical mask, torn fishnet tights and big boots! What made you decide to specialise in erotic and fetish photography? The more I got interested in alt fashion and alt girls the more I started researching into other styles and other photographers. A girl called Minxie asked me to shoot a suicide girls set for her... I loved the day so much I decided that was the direction I wanted to go in the future. I have since met, spoken to and been influenced by photographers such as Dave Hare, John Tisbury, Jean Paul Four, Martin Raphael Class and Bob Carlos Clarke..... I shoot in a similar style to them but with alternative girls!  You claim not to own a studio so how do you create your images? Improvisation! I was talking to an American photographer who's style I admire- Cosmic Frog Photography - He told me he did all his work in his garage! So I thought ‘what the hell, if he can do it so can I!’ 90% of my shots are done either in my small kitchen or in the models own home. What in your opinion, makes someone stand out in the field of photography? I always say if you can hear music when looking at a picture then you have created art! I like each picture to tell a story -- include nothing in the shot that shouldn't be there!-- IF IT IS THERE IT SHOULD HAVE A REASON OR MEANING As someone that works with a lot of alternative models, do you think the scene is in good health or over cluttered? I struggle to distinguish "Alternative" these days. Models seem to think if they have a tattoo they are alternative! In fact, it is rare these days to find a girl who does not have tattoos or piercings! The scene is in good health - and growing.. but very few models really stand out from the crowd! Tell us about Alternative Wycombe III. Alt Wycombe III as you can guess from the title is the 3rd event I have run in my home town of High Wycombe. It is a day and evening of music, fashion, photographers and models. A chance for like minded people to meet, chat and network in a safe environment. It came about through so many girls asking me how they could get into the scene, which photographers could I recommend etc... This day allows photographers to show off their portfolios and prospective models to meet and chat to them. The live music is always a bonus! - KEEP WATCHING MY WEBSITES FOR UPDATES AND RUNNING ORDER Do you think events like this are an important addition to the 'alternative calendar'? Most definitely! If I didn't have a 9 - 5 ordinary job Monday to Friday I would organize more! What is 'Sex in Suburbia'? SiS is a project I started about 9 months ago. It is about "Ordinary" people exploring their sexuality in their home environment. There is currently a website and will culminate in a book later this year. The shots are far more explicit and erotic than my normal work which Is why I separated it from PWA into a bespoke website of its own. To date I have worked with around 15 models on this particular project. Do you have anymore projects in the pipeline after this one? Phew, well I have been approached by a book publisher on a 3rd book! I am researching into self harm! I’ve worked with, and talked to a few models about this subject and the idea of a photo study/journalism of this project is a possibility. Over 800 people took part in a recent survey I ran. 30% admit to self harm at some time during their life!!! Their stories are amazing, shocking and humbling!! I also have the possibility of a High Street Studio being made available to me later this year What advise would you give to any would be photographers reading this? Don’t give up! Practice, practice, practice... Get to know and love your camera. Learn all the controls and NEVER use auto mode! Set the camera to manual then use and abuse it -- Learn the effects of Aperture, shutter speed, white balance etc. Then do exactly the same thing again with your light set up! Throw away the text books and don’t be scared to experiment! Many shots will fail, but then you just might get that money shot you have been looking for! Many thanks for your time, any final words? Thanks for the interest in my work. I really am just a weekend photo hobbyist. I have no qualifications but am totally self taught. If I can do it, so can you! http://www.photoswithattitude.net http://www.sex-in-suburbia.co.uk http://www.myspace.com/photoswithattitude08 http://www.photoswithattitude.deviantart.com http://twitter.com/pwa2009
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