ANIKO FORGO
Special to The Morning Star
Ed note: Kalamalka Secondary School graduate Aniko Forgo returns with her Q&As with local artists/musicians.
This week The Morning Star presents her interview with Lee Watkins, a Vernon-based photographer/videographer, who has worked with well-known musicians from the area and beyond.
Q: How did you become interested in photography and videography?
A: “I have been into the arts since a very young age whether I was drawing and painting, playing a musical instrument, or acting in drama class. I had never tried my hand at photography but one summer a friend of mine had a brand new digital SLR camera and after just one weekend of playing around with it, I was hooked. The following week I went out and bought my first camera and my passion grew from there.
As for the video side of things, it’s been a natural progression from the photography since most cameras these days capture high quality video as well. I’ve only been doing video work for the last couple years and I continue to learn new things every day. Creating a still photo is one thing but being able to let my imagination run wild through the lens with video is something I feel I was meant to do.”
Q: What is the hardest part of the job?
A: “I would say the hardest part of the job is thinking outside of the box, trying to stay one step ahead and to do something different, something you haven’t seen before. It’s important in this industry, and to me, to be remembered for doing something unique and staying away from the generic photos and videos we see every day.”
Q: Who are some artists that you’ve worked with?
A: “I have worked with quite a few different artists and musicians throughout the Okanagan as well as from all over Canada. Some homegrown Vernon artists include SonReal, Andrew Allen, Windmills, Paperboy, and Stage.”
Q: Do you find photography/videography a hard business to break into?
A: “I’m still working on that myself. It is definitely tough. There is a lot of competition out there but if you can continue to push yourself and your craft and stand out among the rest, you’ll find your spot.”
Q: Do you remember doing your first shoot? What was it like the first time?
A: “I don’t remember my first shoot with a particular person or client but for about two years I carried my camera everywhere with me and most of my close friends became subjects for thousands of photos, whether they wanted to be or not.”
Q: Did you take any courses or go to school for photography?
A: “I graduated from the digital photography program at the Centre for Arts and Technology in Kelowna in 2011. It was an amazing program and their focus on the business side of photography was incredibly beneficial.
Q: What has been the most fun music video you’ve shot?
A: “I would say my favourite project to date would be a music video I did for local hip-hop artist Stage for his song Zone of the Enders. We had a group of 11 girls paint skulls over their faces and had them go nuts for a party scene throughout the video. The video has a darker feel but was a lot of fun to film with this group of people.”
Q: If you could work alongside one other photographer/videographer, who would it be?
A: “Toronto-based photographer Matt Barnes. The guy is a genius when it comes to his craft. I’ve been following him since I started and I am continually inspired by his work with commercial and promotional photography.
Q: “What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer/videographer?
A: “Work as hard as you possibly can and push yourself every day. If you’re passionate and love what you do you’ll find a way to make it into a successful career. Never settle, always continue to learn new things and perfect your craft. You’re only as good as your last project, so make sure that everything you create is the best it possibly can be. Also, continually try to think outside the box, do something different and stand out among the crowd so that you won’t be forgotten.”
Q: Do you offer photography and videography services to the public? Where can people inquire about a service?
A: “Yes, whether it is photo or video related work, I’ll take on just about any job or project that comes my way. Anyone can contact me through my website at www.LMWphotos.com.
