PHOTOGRAPHER LEVON BAIRD
Through observation, experimentation and research Levon Baird (b. 92), trained himself in photography and uses a broad range of media, drawing reference from everywhere. The visual identity can be recognized by a bold graphic style.
I grew up on a small island called Waiheke off the coast of New Zealand. Primarily self taught in photography, I’ve been shooting professionally for about 6 years now. Clients and commissions include Vogue Australia and Singapore, V Magazine, Man About Town, Shiseido and Nike.
Tell us about your greatest inspirations or influences please.
While I love looking at photographs (obviously), I try as much as possible to not get influenced by other peoples images. Lots of painters do it for me - People like Jeffrey Smart and Bo Bartlett inform a great deal of my compositions, and the colours come from a mixture of abstract expressionists like Wassily Kandinsky and modern advertising - I like the idea that we’re surrounded by these bold colours in the form of adverts, so I draw inspiration from those tones.
How are the current trends in technology and innovation affecting your work as a creative?
Good question. Hmm. Honestly, the biggest affects on my work are mostly caused by the shifting landscape of how people perceive imagery. You can’t ever expect a series of images will actually be seen in series - Given that the primary way photographs are viewed these days is via social media (and generally online), everything has to be able to exist as a stand-alone piece, as well as part of a greater project.
We’d love to hear more about your creative process.
As an overarching concept, I like my photographs to have a degree of chaos and “mess” to them - I don’t want anything to feel too perfect. To do that: my work is almost entirely shot digitally. I then tend to go through layers of processing the images digitally, printing them on various types of paper, scanning or rephotographing those prints, then reprocessing the files of those prints until it’s where I want both texturally and tonally.
How did the pandemic affect your creativity or work?
Well you know, it wasn’t great. Did do a cute little series involving photographing isolated communities across the world using Google Maps though. Trying to reach outwards while being stuck inside, you know.
What does wellbeing mean to you?
Keeping my hands on the wheel. I think we all can swing a bit negative and pessimistic given the current state of the world - Its worth putting in the effort to feel good within your own mind, as it’s one of the few things you both have some degree of control over and have to be with all the time. For me it means a lot of reading, exercise, eating well, working on projects that excite me.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I’m heading off to the island I grew up on in about a month to photograph my hometown - very excited for that.