My Artistic Statement?  That’s becoming more and more of a tricky thing, I am almost coming to the idea that it’s impossible to have but crucial to success in this industry. I can try and explain, having an artist statement per shoot, per project or per year is fine. The idea of an artistic statement is that it helps shape and create whatever project you are putting together, it helps other people understand what it is you are doing and how to interpret your work. The problem that I have with creative people writing artist statements is that most of them are written in the most dramatic style and way to over complicated.  Some are like Hollywood tag lines for films and full of such rubbish.  If your Artist statement has more than one full stop, you’re just being over dramatic in my eyes.

The way I approach the idea is like naming a film or book.  If your body of work was made in to a film, what would be the title?  That is far better question if you are describing a body of work in literate way. I have used “ Do you want the truth, or something beautiful? “ and (currently in progress) “Measured in Moments”.  Both are subtle enough to allow thought and freedom while still communicating a coherent message with the photographic content they represent. The overall message of my work is the “The Concept of the Truth”.

I find it interesting that in the days before home editing really took off, the idea that the camera never lied was very widely used phrase, today, people expect that the camera lies all the time, when the truth is, it has never told the truth, in yesteryear or today. The truth is that the only person who knows what the camera is saying, is the person holding it, the story ends there. The photos created are just the photographer’s manipulation of what is before him or her. If you really want to know the truth about something, go and see it for your self. My work is an open view that looks at concept of using the camera to show my view and my thoughts about something.

This concept of playing with the truth allows me to be innovative with my style of photography. I go from using a lot of post production to very simple basic work. I like the idea people don’t ever really know what they are looking at, or overlook the amount of digital work that has gone into a photo. I like the idea well edited photograph should look like its not edited at all, once again the idea of playing with the honesty of photography.

I love Photo shop, I could edit photos all day, I am a bit of a creative geek when it comes to technology, I use all the latest equipment and toys, my editing suite does look like the Starship Enterprise with huge screens, lots of computers and hard-drives buzzing away. My camera bags are light and mobile, spending a lot of time on the road teaching and coaching is fun, but means I have to pack sensible when it comes to camera equipment. I only carry what I need and leave the rest at home.

I have built up a little bit of a reputation of using a single speed-light with the Orbis adapter, Carbon Fibre tripods and my 50mm lens. I love to shoot linked up to my laptop too.  Elemental have some great portable lighting solutions, I have been hitting the road powered by the GODOX PB820 Battery packs in the recent weeks, and very impressed. When you have to carry and roll your camera gear around cities, mountains and airports, every kilogram of weight counts. The Carbon Fibre Tripods I use are from 3 Legged Thing, pure eye-candy, do check them out.  When I shoot, I tend to chase an idea rather than just let things be organic, I do like to control my shoots to a degree, travelling and shooting does lend to a style as you have to choose the equipment you have with you.  When you are in another country, it’s hard to nip back home for the beauty dish so you have to think a way round problems when they come up. I tend to shoot low into the f2.2 range and just use speed-lights for creative effect, as a rule I carry 3 flash units, a soft-box and the Orbis. Using Nikon is great for speed-lights, The D700 is the camera of choice, due to its size and weight, while being full frame still.

See more of Dave Kai-Piper @- http://www.davepiper.org.uk/