Instagram Q&A 02.08.2022
Q 1
Whereabouts are you originally from?
I grew up in a small rural village in Gloucestershire, South West England.
Growing up in the countryside with a bunch of kids my age was really memorable. There always seemed to be lots to do, community-wise: an arts centre, pub, BBQs, fun runs, bonfire nights - that sort of thing.
I feel grateful to still have the same family home to go back to & I appreciate it the more I visit, especially during the summer.
Q 2
Where are you now based?
Currently Brighton, South Coast UK
The beach is practically at the end of my street, so daily early morning swims during this year's heatwave has been a bonus.
Q 3
Do you remember the first time you became interested in photography?
It wasn’t until I started a darkroom course
at the local arts centre when I was about 10 or 11, I became interested in photography and its process ever since.
It’s something that I dipped in and out of but started taking it a little more seriously over the last 5 years.
In a way, I've always been into some form of image-making for as long as I can remember.
Q 4
Did you study photography at college?
Photography | Brighton University
Motion Picture Production | Brighton Film School
I remember very well when guest lecturer and filmmaker Nick Broomfield came for a Q&A after the class watched his ‘Biggie & Tupac’ (2002) documentary.
It was around that time I felt drawn to documentaries & it’s something I’ve ended up doing through photography.
I also received camera training from the man, Cinematographer Brian Tufano.
Q 5
What’s your background in?
My background is in photography & film production.
I moved to Islington, London, straight after graduating from Film School & became a freelance filmmaker outside of working at the Prince Charles Cinema.
I loved working there. They show a mix of recent Hollywood releases, alongside cult, arthouse & classic films. I’ve sort of come full circle in that now photography has become my main focus.
I still have an interest in film production & cinema, but for personal work, photography gives me much more freedom.
Q 6
Are you freelance,
or do you have a 9 to 5?
I worked in film production until 2020 hit.
Now I’m fortunate enough to be working at a film lab.
Being surrounded by film photography most days alongside other people who all share the same interest has been a perfect fit.
Outside of my day to day job, I put in as much time as I can to my photography.
Q 7
How would you describe your work?
I’d describe my work as documentary & observational.
I’m drawn to soft colours, hard architecture, form and composition.
Shooting predominantly on 35mm film, my work mainly consists of finding the beauty in the mundane from the places around me, mindfully taking images of the ordinary, keeping me present and in the moment.
Living on the south coast, the sea features quite often in my work. With the right interplay of colour, there’s always something to discover and try to capture.
What binds the majority of my work together, other than colour and shape, is about both documenting and maximising a place I visit,
to figure out if there’s a story there, and what the story is.
Q 8
How did you find the States?
LA has easily been one of my favourite trips away so far.
The idea was to go out there as a photo trip and network. We sort of played it by ear & everything just fell into place.
Being in such a well-recognised city with so many cultural references from movies, tv shows and music was surreal.
Thanks to @theo_rhys & @jossholdenrea for encouraging me to take Mr Jack Betts (AKA Hunt Powers),
who was in the next booth over from us, screenwriting his next movie at Fred 62 in Los Feliz.
Q 9
Did you hit the LA Coast?
We went to Malibu & drank at The Dukes (best Piña colada I’ve ever had).
Driving back along the Pacific Coast Highway listening to Bob Dylan & Pulp Fiction soundtrack was a highlight (who said you couldn’t fit 5 people in a mini cooper).
Then I stayed on a couple of nights in Santa Monica with my camera & spent each day biking around between places I’d researched leading up to the trip or just followed my nose. I met so many friendly & interesting people.
Kudos to all those local to LA showing me all the great spots.
Q 10
Where do you find inspiration?
Photo Books
My peers
Visiting new places
Music
Movies
Q 11
Photo book you wish you owned?
RFK Funeral Train
Image © Paul Fusco
Q 12
Favourite photographers?
Richard Rothman
Helen Levitt
Roger Minick
Saul Leiter
Ernst Haas
Luigi Ghirri
Larry Sultan
Guido Guidi
Vivian Maier
Alec Soth
& of course:
Joel Meyerowitz
Harry Gruyaert
Fred Herzog
Eggleston
Stephen Shore
Wim Wenders
Image © Vivian Maier | Chicago, 1975
Q 13
B&W photographers, whose work do you love?
Robert Adams
John Myers
Matt Black
Rosalind Fox Solomon
Henry Wessel
Gary Winogrand
Bevan Davies
Image © Robert Adams | Colorado Springs, 1974
Q 14
Can I buy a print?
Print Store
georgiegibbs.com
Contact info@georgiegibbs.com for alternative prints & custom sizes
Q 15
What camera & film do you shoot with?
Film Stock
I’ve shot on all sorts of film stocks but at the moment I’m trying to keep what film I shoot consistent:
Kodak Portra 400
Ilford Delta 400
Print pictured by Ella Potter from her trip to The States.
Cameras
Minolta XG-M (50mm f/3.5 & 28mm f/2.8)
my workhorse, handed down to me from my father
Minolta X-700
Olympus XA
Pentax Espio 80V
Q 16
Favourite movies & soundtracks?
Senna
Casino
Nebraska
City of God
Pulp Fiction
Jackie Brown
Boogie Nights
The Assassination of Jesse James
Image © No Country For Old Men
Q 17
What scanner do you use
& is there one you can recommend?
Pacific Image XA 35mm scanner packs a punch.
I picked mine up on eBay about 5 years ago.
Q 18
Music you’ve been listening to recently?
Martinho Da Vila
Discovered from Ladidadi Records
The coolest little bar/record shop in Alfama, Lisbon from a recent trip
Q 19
Favourite Podcast?
I must have listened to every episode by now & some multiple times.
Image © Roger Deakins | Byways
Q 20
Loving your collection of found 35mm Kodachrome slides
Since discovering my grandfather’s collection of Kodak Kodachrome 35mm slides dating back from the 1960s, I’ve been collecting others from various places to preserve and share the images taken from the once renowned, now-discontinued film stock.
Here’s one of my favourites, USA Florida 1975.
Q 21
Your new website is looking great.
Did you design it yourself?
Thank you!
I used Squarespace.
It’s taken many hours to get the site to how I want it to look but I enjoyed starting from scratch,
selecting the images & playing around with its layout & format.
I think it’s finally there.
Q 22
Have you ever done a print swap?
I’ve done a couple of print swaps.
It’s a great way to own each other’s artwork & have it physically hanging up on your wall instead of only viewing it online.
Here’s one I did with @bobprice
Image © Bob Price
Q 23
Have you ever considered publishing
a book or zine?
Absolutely. I’ve been working on expanding & finalising my portfolio.
Still a little way off from a completed body of work as part of a collection & it’s something I don’t want to rush.
Any recommendations for publishers/designers/ bookbinder/portfolio box makers, send them my way.
Q 24
What’s next for you?
Exciting news is coming but you’ll have to wait & see.
I enjoy photography & find so many aspects of it fulfilling.
I think as photographers, over time your eye is constantly evolving, ever so subtly.
It’s a constant learning curve & there’s always going to be something new to try out to improve on.