Artist Profile – Jason Smith Photography

I have been wanting to publish today’s post on Jason Smith Photography for months now.

It has literally been MONTHS since I contacted Jason to see if he wanted to be featured on Lilt Blog, and it’s taken me MONTHS to finally write, edit and publish today’s post. Unfortunately 2018 was a bit of a slow year for Lilt Blog. I had such little time to write, and I wanted to make sure I did Jason’s work justice – That is why I have decided to feature Jason as my very first interview for 2019. Woohoo!

I came across Jason Smith’s work, as I often do with many Australian artists, via Instagram, and was captivated by his photography of urban landscapes.

Based in in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Jason has spent a number of years developing skills in visual communication, has a Diploma of Photo Imaging and is currently studying a Bachelor of Creative Arts/Photography at Deakin University.

His long term project ‘Urbanscape‘, investigates the theatrical and aesthetically delightful display of colour, geometry and minimalism in and around the commercial and man made, industrial landscapes of Melbourne.

It is his ability to take everyday buildings, which one may absentmindedly walk past on a daily basis, and turn them into beautiful photographs full of colour, shape and pattern that really grabbed my attention.

In particular it is the composition in his photography that turns everyday facades into works of art, and I now often find myself visiting parts of Melbourne, trying to decipher if any particular building is one I have seen featured in Jason’s work.

Today we share our interview with Jason Smith below, where we discuss the background, inspiration and process that makes up his wonderful work.

---

---

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and what led you into photography?

After years of working in the retail sector, the crossroads of life appeared ahead of me. It was time to take some time out and reassess and re-prioritise what was important and how the rest of my life was going to look. I’d always enjoyed photography but never thought I could make a career out of it. Well now I know that it is possible and love the new direction and challenges that being a photographer presents. Every day is different, especially when mixing commercial work with personal projects such as my ongoing series ‘Urbanscape’.

---

How would you describe your work?

Beauty can be found everywhere, it’s simply a matter of the way we see and understand the world around us. In the most unlikely of locations, a fantastical show is taking place in the cold and grungy industrial surrounds of Melbourne. An eclectic mix of vibrant colour, striking lines and bold geometric shapes dance, compete and are intertwined in a theatrical production.

---

Can you give us some insight into your process?

Hours are spent carefully planning, utilising google maps to locate suitable areas to photograph. I’m looking for commercial and industrial areas around Melbourne, where the smell of fumes, chemicals and occasionally coffee fill the air. There is also a treasure chest of goodies, such as spectacular colour and geometry waiting. It’s important for my work to seek the appropriate weather conditions, blue skies are almost a must as the beautiful deep, rich blues are a constant element on the canvas of my work. Then the images are carefully selected and minimally edited in post-production software ready for Instagram and in some cases print.

---

What inspires your photography?    

An absolute fascination with colours, both complimentary and analogous, lines and geometry. There is so much unseen beauty yet to be discovered that to be able to capture this and to exhibit these snippets for the wider community to enjoy truly inspires my work.

---

What are 3 of your favourite resources, which you look to for inspiration?          

Good old-fashioned photography books from the library, something material that you can hold and touch, plus visiting exhibitions and I also get inspiration from some very talented photographers on Instagram.

---

Tell us about some of the people who inspire you and why?    

Craftsmen and artists, storytellers whose skill, expertise and attention to detail inspire. Way too many to mention them all but a few such as photographers W Eugene Smith, Edward Weston, Mary Ellen Mark, Walker Evans, Cartier-Bresson, Lewis Baltz, Robert Frank and William Eggleston plus other creatives like artist Jeffrey Smart, architect Frank Gehry and literary giant and photographer Lewis Carroll.

---

What are the top 3 cities you would love to visit and shoot?

Florence in Italy, Marrakesh in Morocco and Jerusalem in Israel.

---

What would your dream project be?                  

There are so many amazing cities around the world that would provide wonderful opportunities to capture diverse and unusual images for my ‘Urbanscape’ series. I would then love to hold an exhibition inside a large converted warehouse or industrial factory with 10-metre-high prints hanging from the ceiling on industrial chains. The sheer scale of the images, together with those vibrant colours and geometric forms on display for the ultimate impact.

---

What is favourite place in Melbourne?    

Well apart from watching my beloved Richmond Tigers at the MCG, my favourite place would probably be at one of the many amazing galleries and further afield down on the Mornington Peninsular enjoying the beach and sea breeze.

---