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Interview - Dead Pixels Photography

Well Hello everyone.

This week I have had the pleasure of interviewing the very talented Brad Bourne of Dead Pixels Photography. Brad is a horror photographer who specializes in the dark and the macabre. I have had the pleasure of working with him several times, he did the photograph for the cover of my short story collection 'Dark County, and more recently he took some portraits for me.

If you Like what you see and want to check out more of his work, visit his Facebook page HERE------> DEAD PIXELS PHOTOGRAPHY

So without further ado, here is what we talked about.

Kit: Good afternoon, how are you?

Brad:  Im very well thankyou Mr Tinsley

Kit: What is your history in photography? Did you study photography?

Brad: Well as a student I actually studied Film and Television. It was the first year they had done it at Lincoln college of Art. I ended up being one of the only people who knew how to use the edit suite :P. I did dabble in a little Black and White photography. Actually taking the photo through the entire process of taking the picture to negative development and exposing etc. So that was a good background. Before going on to Plymouth College of Art to study Film and Television working alot with 16mm film. Something you learn with working in a medium like that is you "have" to get it right - There is no immediate checking for a reshoot. It focuses you alot more.

K: You seem to have and excellent eye for composition, do you know what is going to make a good photograph before you take it?

B:Short answer...No. I do try and take as much for real in the actual picture as possible. But the age of Digital has certainly made it easier to re-compose an image after the fact. Im a big believer in a run 'n' gun mentality and some of the best ideas are born out of chaos. So whereas there will be the basis of an idea, i'll never have the final picture image in my head. Simply because a better idea may come from just trying something on the fly. And it's fun to experiment rather than go with a specific plan.

 

K:  You're photography is darkly beautiful, what inspires you?

B: Ooooh allsorts. I love creepy imagery. Something that makes you think "What the hell is that"? I suppose one of the biggest influences has to actually be a video game. I remember the first time I played Silent Hill on the playstation one. It was such a dark creepy game. And when the second one came out it was even creepier. Something lurking in the shadows you cant quite see. Old decaying scenery spattered with blood. I also like to incorporate pretty with disgusting - It's a nice contrast. Pretty girl, pig's heart. You know the kind of thing Mr Tinsley :)

K: I Certainly do.  Are there any other horror photographers out here that you admire? If so why?

B: I'd say I admire images and imagery rather than people - I'm a picture person really. If I see something that looks cool and makes me want to keep looking at it then I guess thats a kind of admiration. I do like the work of Danielle Tunstell. She creates some very evocative images. Anathema photography also create alot of thought provoking horror art. Roberto Seagate was one of the first artists I saw doing the kind of thing im doing so he wasa big inspiration. I also like the work of painters like Boris Vellejo. It always amazed me how beautiful his fantasy art was. Even if he does do alot of Mills and Boon covers. Or used to anyway lol. Also classic painters like Francis Bacon and Salvador Dali. I tend to detest modern art - A blue square on a white background just doesn't do it for me. It just insults the viewers intelligence. And that's probably the reason you wont see me in the Tate gallery any time soon lol. But i'm ok with that :P

K: Whatever are some of your favourite horror films, and what do you like about them?

B: I'd have to say I really like alot of the previously banned late 70's early 80's horrors. Stuff by the likes of Lucio Fulci. There's just an extremely creepy quality in the way they were shot. Something that appears to have eluded the film makers of today. "The Beyond" for example is extremely dicomforting. I also remember watching the Texas Chainsaw Massacre as a kid. My mum and dad had borrowed it from my Aunt and Uncle and gone out for the evening. It was too good of an opportunity to miss for a horror obsessed 11 year old. Hardly any gore in the film but I had nightmares for weeks about the sliding metal door. Although I do have to say 2 of my favourite films are Brian De Palma's Carrie (I do love a bit o' Stephen King) and John Carpenter's The Thing - Such a foreboding movie - Perfect!!!

K: What equipment do you use in your photos shoots?

B: A ring light because its so versatile especially if you "don't" want harsh shadows - Various other daylight lights - The camera is a 5D MK III and a 24 - 105 L lens - Sometimes bring out the lovely 50mm prime. I wish I could afford alot more 

K:  As a digital artist what do you think are the advantages of digital photography over traditional photography? Are there any disadvantages?

B: Well there are many advantages of course. The ability to instantly view the picture you have just taken being a big one - The ability to edit them immediately and easily using software - Just the scope of editing capabilities is just so vast and instant these days. You could argue that it makes photographers lazy and I suppose to a degree it does. Coming from a film background I can deffinitely see why. But at the end of the day you still have to take a good (in focus) picture, compose it well and create an image thats pleasing to the eye - However unsettling the subject matter may be. I guess thats where the artistic side comes in.

K: What programmes do you use to edited your photographs? Which programme could you not live without?

B: Photoshop and Filter Forge - Could not live without Photoshop 

K:  What are your ambitions for Dead Pixels Photography?

B: Well in the not too distant future ill be making the images available as prints to buy if people so desire. Thats my main goal at the moment - Hopefully people will like them enough. Im my own biggest critic so id never make anything available I didnt like myself. But im also scared people will hate them lol. I guess thats just me. I'm also hugely grateful to friends who have helped along the way. You guys all know who you are and I do try to help them in return :)

K: Do you have any interesting projects in the pipeline.

B: So many pictures - So little time. Yeah have many lined up so expect a few dark 'n' creepy images over the coming weeks. There may even be an Alice in Wonderland themed one. And there's nothing creepier than a good ole fairytale. So stay tuned :)

 

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