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Darran Roper

Image of a man sitting in a cafe taken by Darran Roper street photographer
Darran Roper (UK) - Street Photographer - www.darranroper.com

“We can be drawn into a good photograph, but yet if the frame of the photographer’s eye were taken away, the vision would be lost in the noise of the surrounding elements of the scene. That is what fascinates me about photography.” Darran Roper

Darran Roper is a street photographer from the UK currently based in Reading, Berkshire (England). Apart from this artist profile, you find another interview with Darran Roper (“Relaxed And Purposeful”) on this site where he talks in deatil about his approach of street photography.

Interview with Darran Roper

Darran Roper, why did you become a photographer? And why street photography?

Photography forces a response in me. I feel I can be indifferent to a lot of art, because it either holds little relevance to me or has a creative distance from reality. I find it very curious that we can be drawn into a good photograph, but yet if the frame of the photographer’s eye were taken away, the vision would be lost in the noise of the surrounding elements of the scene. That is what fascinates me about photography. That is why I started to photograph. Delving deeper, I learnt about Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Gordon Parks, Helen Levitt and so on. From that point on I wanted to express myself with photography.

What does photography mean to you?

It means that I can interact creatively with my surroundings, with the people and places where I find myself. When you are seeing through your desire to create something; everything holds a little more interest.

I think we lose this ability over-time, photography is a means of reawakening it.

How would you describe your photographic language and creative process? How do you plan and execute a project? Both technically and conceptually?

“My photography is evolving still. I have an idea of what type of work I want to create and believe I am getting closer.”

I am learning the language and refining my approach towards the type of work I want to produce. There are things that I want to say in my photography that I don’t feel I am quite saying at the moment. My photography is evolving still. I have an idea of what type of work I want to create and believe I am getting closer. At the moment I have no projects, but there are many ideas floating around.

Which photographer has inspired you most?

There are so many, I couldn’t say that any one photographer has affected me more than another.

David Allan Harvey would be current favourite nevertheless. I love his use of colour and light, his ability to capture complex photos with a visceral energy. There is something deeper in his work than a moment well framed.

What’s your favorite inspirational quote about photography?

“The matter of art in photography may come down to this: it is the capture and projection of the delights of seeing; it is the defining of observation full and felt.” Walker Evans

What kind of camera and equipment do you use?

A DSLR (APS-C sensor) with a 35mm prime lens or wider 24mm lens. I use an X100 as my day camera.

What do you consider to be the best online photography magazines?

I like “American Suburb X” at the moment, also “Street-Photographers.com”, especially Gustavo Gomes.

What book about photography would you recommend?

“Divided Soul” by David Allan Harvey. Some of my favourite colour work, is in this book. Other colour favourites by Alex Webb & Constantine Manos. And “Photofile” by Josef Koudelka. A small collection of Josef Koudelka images. Small enough to carry it with you, If you manage to get an old beat up one from the library, like me where the binding glue has worn away, and the pages fall free, you can even rearrange it, hours of fun!

Which advice would you give someone who wants to get started with street photography?

Know your camera. Study the genre. Loose your fear. Observe.

More about Darran Roper

Website

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