arts /// ///arts

6 SOUTHERN CULTURE QUARTERLY SOUTHERN CULTURE QUARTERLY 7

T H R O U G H T H E L E N S

An interviewwith Elton Mogg

career began, his awards and everything in-between.

How old were you when you first became interested in photography?

I started photography when I was about 10 years old. I borrowed my Mum’s old Minolta camera and started taking pictures of the lakes at the back of our house. I then did three weeks work experience in the photographic division of the RAF at Odiham whilst I was at school.

What was your first memorable experience of photography?

I remember at the RAF I was strapped into one of their helicopters and sent out on a training flight with them, I ended up hanging out the door taking pictures. That was a pretty intense introduction to photography and has stayed with me ever since.

When did you realise that photography was going to become a professional ambition for you?

I think when you’re young it is often difficult to pin point exactly what you would like to become or do with yourself. As you learn more and experience

more then things can become a bit clearer. I’d always loved photography and after studying and working in a few jobs everything seemed to align at the right time and my career in photography started.

Your photographs focus on the human, why does this style appeal to you?

The documentary style allows me to watch the event and capture it without controlling it. The interaction and emotions that are on show at big social gatherings are both exciting and fascinating. I’m always on the lookout for that next special moment.

As an award winning wedding photographer, what do you think is special about a wedding that makes you drawn to photographing them?

The sense of occasion and bringing together of family and friends to celebrate a couples love for each other is very special. I spend my time surrounded by people having a great time celebrating love.

What do you think is the most challenging thing about wedding photography?

There are so many challenges...locations, weather, timings, equipment and people. You also only get one shot at it so there are no second chances.

Are there other forms of photography that you experiment with?

‘If photography is your passion and you’re willing to put time, energy and money into making it your profession then good things will come your way’

Award winning hampshire photographer Elton Mogg gives us an insight into his photographic world

Words | Rebecca RogersPictures | Courtesy of Elton Mogg

Trained in filmmaking and with a past career in TV and video production,

Elton Mogg certainly has all the creative passion necessary for a professional photographer. He says that it is this background in ‘storytelling’ that helps create his unique style of wedding and portrait photography. He talks to Southern Culture Quarterly about how his photographic

I have a young family and spend a lot of time photographing them, they are probably fed up with me and my camera now. I’m never in any of the family pictures either! I play about with still life’s but I think I’m best when I’m photographing people at occasions or as portraits.

What do you believe is key to a good photograph?

That is a tricky question. For me personally I look for images that have a real connection. It doesn’t need to be the latest effect or amazing set up. I like strong composition and a frame that tells me a story.

You were a prize winner of the Fresh M.I.L.K Photography competition and had one of your images printed in a book, how did it feel to win?

It felt great. I’ve entered lots of competitions and not placed anywhere so it shows perseverance pays off and maybe your next photograph will be the next winner. Never give up competition wise.

You are also an award winning member of The Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association. How does this impact on your work?

The association reflects the quality of your work. By being a member I show my clients that I am recognised internationally as a wedding photojournalist. I

have to adhere to a standard of work and customer service set up by the association.

Do you have a recent image that you took which stands out to yourself?

One of my favourite images is of a bride taken in Bath. The location was beautiful and historic. It was late evening and the light was fading, she was walking on her own and as I was on a slow shutter speed for the low light I tracked with her to keep her sharp. I love the feel of the image, it was just a coming together of all the elements

required to make a memorable picture.

Has there been a time where something has gone wrong when shooting?

I’ve busted a few flash guns whilst shooting weddings and dropped a lens on a really cold day. You have to carry spare equipment as a wedding photographer as there is no time to get a new one of anything.

What would you say to anyone who thinks they might be interested in photography? If you’re seduced by the potential glamour of a profession then

you will be sorely disappointed. If photography is your passion and you’re willing to put time, energy and money into making it your profession then good things will come your way.

What photographers or other visual artists are your favourites or sources of inspiration?

I like to look at the work of contemporary wedding photojournalists and from a wedding point of view, Joe Buissink is as good as it gets. As an inspiration one of my favourite photographers was Jeanloup Sieff. His books are

the most looked at on my bookcase for sure.

Do you have any other creative outlets/passions?

I trained in film making and enjoy the

opportunities the new DSLR’s have given me from a film making point of view. I also like to write.

Finally, if you weren’t a photographer what do you think you would be doing now?

It’d have to be something else that made me happy. When you’re happy with what you do as a profession then it’s no longer a job as such.

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To see more of Elton’s work or for more information visit:www.eltonmogg.co.uk

SHAPE SHAPE

14 | www.revivemagazine.co.uk | 15MARCH 2011

Rhianne Aitkin (left), 19, Student

“I ran with my two sisters in memory of my mum who died of breast cancer in 2005. I wanted to raise money to prevent people going through what my family and I went

through. If you’re thinking of doing it you definitely should!”

Thousands of women take part in the annual Race for Life - Rebecca Rogers reports on how taking part can boost your fitness routine

Like many other women you are probably suffering from the same post-Christmas/New Year slump

in your exercise routine and want something fresh to kick start your enthusiasm again. Every year Cancer Research sets up a series of fundraising events across the UK. Race for Life is a charity run which encourages women of all ages and fitness to get involved. This year’s registration has just opened in preparation for the events in the summer, so why don’t you get involved?

Taking place at a number of locations across the country, Race for Life is the perfect opportunity to encourage you to stick to your fitness routine whilst raising money for a worthy charity. Whether taking part with friends, family, or alone, there’s the option to take part in either a five or 10k mini-marathon this coming summer.

If you haven’t taken part in a mini-marathon before, thinking about doing one might seem like a daunting task at first, but a proper training routine can help you reach your goal. It’s important to take it one day at a time, rushing ahead by thinking about how you will complete your 5 or 10k run, before you have even

started, will only lead to frustration and a decline in motivation.

Make sure you eat wellIt’s probably not new to hear that in order to achieve a desirable fitness level you

have to strike a balance between both exercise, and healthy eating. Your eating habits are one of the first things you should address before you get started with any training. Eating a balanced diet will help you get the energy you need to keep you going for longer, which in turn will keep you motivated.

Whilst it isn’t a secret that a balanced diet should be part of everyday life, it might surprise you to hear that one of the food groups that you can be more lenient with is carbohydrates. Often this is the type of food you are told to cut back on, but when preparing for a marathon (or in this case, a mini-marathon) your body may benefit from a higher carb intake, so don’t fret about having that extra helping of pasta – it will give you the extra energy boost to keep you going for longer.

The obvious no-no is takeaway food. Whilst we all enjoy that cheeky

Q u i c k t i p s t o r e m e m b e r . . .

*You will need a good pair of running shoes - Nike have a range of trainers specifically for running

*Build up your running time slowly - you don’t have to pay for this at a gym, find a scenic park in your area

*Each week, or fortnight, go for a lengthy run and build on this until you reach the length of run you’ll be doing on the day

*Sticking to a balanced diet will keep your energy levels stable

*Do exercise other than running - yoga can help to relieve stress and give you that mental preperation to keep yourself feeling strong

*Drink no more than one energy drink during exercise - water will keep you hydrated for longer

The feel good path to a healthy lifestyle

before your actual stop to get yourself moving for longer.

It’s incredibly important to vary your routine. Whilst a mini-marathon might call for your body to learn to run for long periods of time, spending all your time on the treadmill will get boring very quickly. See what exercise classes are available in your area and try something new – these are also held in places such as village halls, so look further than your local gym. Swimming is also great exercise, and it’s something you can do without feeling like you’re pushing yourself further than your body can cope.

On the dayAfter all the preparation you’ve done

Chinese at the weekend, having fast food too often will be detrimental to the hard work you are putting in at other times. However, treating yourself to your favourite takeaway once a fortnight, or once every three weeks will make you feel less like it’s a ‘banned’ food, and therefore you’ll be less likely to crave it.

Complement your diet with drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated. Drinking the recommended 2 litres a day will replenish the fluid you lose from sweating during your workouts and keep your body on form.

A final word on what to eat: don’t over analyse everything! It’s impossible to eat healthy all the time, and if you’re looking for balance, that small chocolate bar you can’t stop thinking about won’t undo all your other efforts, so it’s best not to place a ban on all treats.

Don’t overdo trainingIt’s easy to get caught up in thinking you need a strict exercise routine that sees you at the gym five or six days a week, but we all know this is difficult to maintain. High goals become hard to stick to and this can often signal the end of any routine. Taking part in Race for Life gives you four or five months worth of training, so there’s plenty of time to plan, and you can take things slowly to begin with.

One of the easiest ways to make sure you stick to your routine is to be realistic. If you only have time to go to the gym three times a week, then that’s fine. Complement this by finding other ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routines. Maybe you could cycle or walk to work instead of driving, and if you take a bus you could get off one or two stops

you’ll feel more confident about the race day. Race for Life is set up to be a fun and pressure free event, so this is how you should feel facing it. There are no rules for how quick you should finish, or how fast you should run, so you should feel confident that you’re able to complete it at your own pace. Your motivation should be the satisfaction you’ll feel once you’ve finished, not only on a personal level, but also knowing that you’re helping a charity. It may seem daunting at first, but we guarantee this is a run that anyone, and everyone can complete...you never know, you may even enjoy it, and find yourself signing up for another - good luck!

For further information on where you can take part visit www.raceforlife.org

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‘Race for Life is set up to be a fun and pressure free event, so this is how you should feel facing it’

Michaela Mattocks (right), 22, Sales Advisor

“I ran with my mum. I wanted to prove to myself that I could

do it. In both raising the money and taking part you feel

great because you’ve made the effort and helped out a

great charity. I definitely want to run again this year.”

51www.reverbmagazine.co.uk

beady eyeThe sound of a

NOT QUITE. . . new generation?

Oasis defined the sound of the 90s. Following their split in 2009, Liam stepped up with new band Beady Eye. Reverb listens to the new album >

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ALBUM STAR RATING:WORDS BY REBECCA ROGERS

It’s all too easy to dismiss Liam Gallagher’s new band as Oasis repackaged. Beady Eye may only be missing Noel as a member but once you listen to the album more than once you get a sense that

the remaining members are ready to try something different. Whilst it must be undeniably tiring to hear comparisons to their former band, Beady Eye certainly have a massive predecessor to live up to - and so they present the album Different Gear, Still Speeding.

With Noel as the main songwriter in Oasis, fans may have been wary about Liam being able to pull off a whole album without him. This turns out to be a concern that slips away from your mind as the album slides from song to song. The first single (track 3 on the album), The Roller may have only managed to reach 33 in the UK charts but it’s a very solid offering that represents their album well. You can’t help but feel like the poor chart positioning was a lack of enthusiasm from fans after the split of Oasis, with a misguided sense of yearning for what once was. Nevertheless, you’re bound to catch yourself humming the chorus and realising that actually, the song is alright.

Track 4, Beatles and Stones has been well placed to keep you interested and excited about what might be next. This track has an old-school feel to it boasting some powerful guitar riffs. Here they indicate that

they have consciously taken a step back 10 years to get away from the slightly ‘pop’ sound Oasis started to sit comfortably in – and it has served them well. Further in, the song might surprise you with some well placed piano as if to say ‘We’re here, look what we have to offer.’

The album seems to fall into a bit of a lull at the 7th track for a couple of songs, making the middle the weakest section of the album. Don’t worry too much though, they pick up the pace again, leaving what are arguably the best songs of the album ‘till last. Hopefully their 2nd single will be one of these.

The last song, The Morning Son, slows things down to a steady pace without being off-putting. It turns out to be a worthy end to the album without theatrics or unnecessary over-the-top gestures. Be sure to get a copy of the album with the added bonus tracks so you don’t miss the brilliant song Sons of the Stage, a personal favourite. It’s difficult to understand why this track wasn’t included on the album in the first place.

Once you’ve listened to this album a couple of times it becomes easier to separate Beady Eye from what they once were. They might not be the sound of a new generation but with a string of sold out tour dates it will be interesting to see where they take things next. These guys just seem happy with the chance to experiment with something new.

For more information visit: www.beadyeyemusic.com

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