10 minutes with Martin Usborne

3 Aug

When did you first know that you wanted to be a photographer?

When I was about 28 and saw an exhibition comparing Ansel Adams and WIlliam Eggleston in London (Hayward Gallery I think) and I was blown away by Eggleston and totally disappointed by Adams. I realised photography could make you look at the world in a new way. Boring things could be beautiful (and in the case of Adams vice versa)

Martin Usborne

Martin Usborne

Martin Usborne

Martin Usborne

 

Your project, MUTE: The Silence of Dogs in Cars, is amazing. The expressions on these dogs are heart-wrenching, and the way you photographed them is just beautiful. What led you to start this project, how long did you work on it and we’re all of the shots set-up?


All the shots were set up and took about 4 months to complete (whilst doing other work). I did the project for two reasons: because I remember once being left in a car and feeling no-one could hear me and because around about the same time I discovered I had this incredible affinity with animals. I hated to see them suffer and felt they too were mute in some way. Those feelings have never really left me and the image of a dog in car always seemed to capture them perfectly – I had to take the pictures!

 

Martin Usborne

Martin Usborne

Martin Usborne

Martin Usborne

 

If you could go back 10 years and give yourself advice, what would it be?


Be yourself. Go for it! Don’t worry so much what other’s will think.

 

Martin Usborne

Martin Usborne

Martin Usborne

Martin Usborne

Do you have any words of wisdom for the up-and-comers?

Only get into photography if you are passionate – it can be a hard way to make a living. But if you do go for it then take creative risks, you only live once. Use your photography to show who you are.


(Martin is based in London. See more of his work, here.)

5 Responses to “10 minutes with Martin Usborne”

  1. Bill Charles August 4, 2011 at 12:00 pm #

    Very well said Martin.

    Reply
  2. Marcie August 4, 2011 at 12:30 pm #

    Such inspiring work. Especially love the evocative ‘Dogs in Cars’ series..and the accompanying backstory.

    And – such wonderful words of sage advice!!!

    Reply
  3. Jim Michael August 4, 2011 at 1:45 pm #

    Pretty is not always the objective. Listen to critique, but only when it has thought behind it.

    Reply

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