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Ward Roberts is a young australian photography graduate who currently resides in melbourne. currently a student of communication at RMIT university, Ward is an award winning photographer who’s held exhibitions in places such as sydney, hong kong, new york, and london. mainly inspired by the stillness and (in)perfection of architecture, Ward’s photographs are an exercise in repetition and emptiness, a combination that struck our senses immediately after seeing his work. read our interview with Ward and check out his shots below…
WARD ROBERTS (photographer, Melbourne/Hong Kong)
* how did you get into photography? was there a specific event in your life that led you to it? or did you simply pick it up out of curiosity?
I shot my first roll of B&W film at a challenging time in my life. I must have spent every bit of spare time shooting, even time I was supposed to be working in the darkroom. I had previously found it difficult to express myself with words, photography seemed to be the bridge allowing me to express such feelings.
* how would describe your approach to photography? do you think compositions thru before shooting them, or do they come to life afterwards in the studio?
Depending on what feel/emotion I might be trying to achieve, I normally find myself drawn towards repetition in colour, shape, space and form. When it comes to shooting I am always trying to find the cleanest composition. It’s got to the point where I find myself somewhat obsessed with trying to get all the angles, colours and shapes to compliment each other. I can spend up to a few hours trying the get the most structured shot I can see. Other times, for different reason, I may only have a few minutes to shoot which can become quite stressful.
* what took you to hong kong initially? how much of an influence has it had on your work? the recurring theme on your shots seems to be emptiness & solitude, can you tell us where that comes from?
I have family living in Hong Kong, which is the main reason. I’m very inspired by the repetitive architecture in Hong Kong. I especially enjoy shooting in winter which is when the smog is most noticeable. My fondness for emptiness reflects an ambition to capture architectural perfection (if there is such a thing). I have found that having people in the image doesn’t work into this pursuit to capture architectural perfection, as their behavior is unpredictable. I find myself being most at peace in an empty space as there are no distractions.
* if you could soundtrack your work, what would you choose?
Patrick Watson – Mr.Tom
Antony & The Johnsons – Another World
Arvo Pärt – Spiegel Im Spiegel
Atlas Sound – Washington School
Bon Iver – Blood Bank
Foals – Spanish Sahara
Mew – Comforting Sounds
The Middle East – Lonely
Noah and the Whale – The First Days of Spring
Owen Pallett – Tryst With Mephistopheles
Rachel’s – Water From The Same Source
Sean Lennon – Parachute
* what is your favorite thing about melbourne/hong kong?
Melbourne: There is always something new to discover, Melbourne always seems to reveal new things. The hidden cafes in various lane ways also ad to its charm.
Hong Kong: I love the repetition in the buildings and architecture. I really enjoy the little local restaurants where you can have a tasty meal for under $6.
* tell us about your future plans, what kind of projects are you working on? is there anything in specific you would like to shoot?
