Steve Hazael has lived in Murrumbateman for the last two years. Having moved from Sydney he finds the area presents wonderful opportunities and accessibility for landscape photography. A fascination with time, space and man’s “point of view” or reference, dictate that his art and photography centre on a theme of movement and abstraction. The observer can return to the photograph many times and still find fine detail that seems contradictory to the overall motion of the shot.
Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
I am a photographic artist and painter who above all likes to experiment.
My view is the camera in itself provides the highest level of distortion and is simply a brush or implement for expressing my view, thoughts or abstraction on the subject.
The result breaks the traditional rules of photography. There is nearly always movement, often a certain lack of focus and a different point of reference in my photographs.
My painting leans in the same direction.
Who (or what) inspires you to do what you love in your own creative business?
I simply love movement or the ‘journey”, the act or sensation of moving in time & space. The motion of an object leaves a ‘trace’ or imaginary line in its wake that is always a curve, simple or complex.
Where do you get your inspiration from when you design/paint?
Watching everyday events, seeing a line or series of lines in a surface interplay and then applying that motion in another context.
What are the five words that people who know you would use to describe you?
Sensitive, kind, funny, thoughtful, shy.
Tell us about your very first job and what path have you taken since then?
I started working life as a cadet draughtsman, was quickly bored so went into audio repairs. I have been a fire alarm technician, I was self employed striping cars (which was once very popular and can be creatively rewarding). I’ve window tinted cars and buildings and worked for the computer industry in mainframes and service delivery.
Canopy Triptych
Describe a typical day in your studio space?
Wait for the weather and the right light. (photography). Same applies for painting i.e. I paint outside because the studio is still on paper.
Drive into the mountains, or walk city streets. For painting I tend to do one work in no more than 2 days, although I’ll sometimes have 2 or 3
As an Artist & Photographer, what is your biggest frustration?
Finding time for art is by far my biggest frustration… everything else comes with determination, time just simply disappears.
Tell us about how you prioritise your studio work
Since you are working at home, can you please tell us about how do you connect with other artists, and your customers (i.e. how do you network)?
What advice can you offer other creative people who are just starting out and following their passions?
What dreams do you still want to achieve or fulfill in your life?
Improve my work & abilities; travel more and sell some art.
What is your proudest moment so far?
I spoke to a renowned photographer awhile back who spoke very highly of my work…
What is the most important lesson in life that you have learned?
Always remember that everyone is human and is subject to same fobiles, feelings, joys and sadness.
What book are you reading right now, and do you have a book you would like to recommend?
I’m re-visiting Hammond Innes.. I find myself relating to his central characters… apart from that I read photography mags ..a bit sad hey?
