METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Tom. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for Metal Pulp And Paper’s feature called Behind The Lens. We appreciate it.
Before we go any further, let’s first tell everyone what Behind The Lens is all about. This feature is about the person that’s behind the camera lens. All about that individual that captures that perfect fiery orange of the setting sun, finds a child jumping in a mud puddle in the pouring rain, or catches the moons glow in the water next to some snowcapped mountains. Or captures the rock guitarist jumping in the air during mid solo. It’s about finding that beauty in something that some might not take notice of in their everyday busy lifestyles. Behind The Lens will be a way to get to know a little more about the photographer and the work that they bring to everyone. A full 360 degrees around the camera.
So, let’s take off the lens cap, and go behind the click of the shutter and get to know more about you and your photography, shall we?
How long have you been a photographer and taking pictures?
TOM LUPTON: Well, I’ve been drawing and creating art since I was seven. About six years ago, I discovered I could capture similar things with my camera, and about a year ago, I discovered I could work with people who had the same visions to make photographic art!
MPAP: What first drew you to it? Was there an inspiration for picking up the camera and beginning that journey into the art of photography?
TOM: I’m very drawn to people, working their way through life. It’s the most beautiful thing for me when someone decides to jump over a puddle they’re not sure they can make. My passion started when I started literally capturing people on the street doing these things. I made friends with a number of people living on the street; and eventually discovered we all deal with the same puddles. Now I can even shoot people who don’t live on the street, with their own kinds of puddles!
MPAP: Now that you’ve been doing it for a while, what interests you the most about it? Is there a passion behind it for you at all?
TOM: Oooooohhhh yes. I’ve had people back out of a project with me when they realized how much passion is behind it! For me, it’s still about the what the person is experiencing in front of my lens — not pretending to be (because it’s obvious when it’s fake) but experiencing. Then I get to capture that with my camera.
MPAP: Can you describe that moment, the experience, or even the emotion you felt when you knew that photography was something you just had to do?
TOM: Yes, but we’ll need to sit, and I’ll buy you a beer.
MPAP: What do you like to photograph the most of? Do you have a favorite setting, scene, landscape, or any items that you like to capture? Or do you like to just take pictures of people, or perhaps a live music concerts now and then?
TOM: I just take pictures of people. People who have stories built up inside of them; people with hurt and love to share; people with songs; people with hurt, and people with love. People are everything. Without people, there is a blank canvas.
MPAP: Is there anything out there that you try to avoid taking pictures of?
TOM: No — but there are things I have a hard time taking pictures of, and those are the things that I should be taking. Sometimes I see tender, personal moments on the street: fights, despair, pain, failure…I reaaallly wish I could capture these moments, but they’re far too personal for my comfort level to intrude upon.
MPAP: When picking up the camera, it obviously took some time, along with some practice, to get the feel and hang of it of what you wanted to do or go with it? Maybe even a class or two was taken to learn more about it. Tell us what were some of the challenges you’ve encountered with taking pictures? What have been some of the difficulties you’ve experienced since first began, and maybe still happens to this day?
TOM: I started on a Sony camera, and it took care of itself for me: I could literally point it at something, and it would take a picture exactly how I wanted it. After a couple of years, hanging around other photographers, I realized I had no clue how to do what I wanted to do. I just relied on the Sony. So I bit the bullet and bought a Canon, and vowed to keep it on 'Manual' mode. I was stumbling for a while, but after a few months (I shoot daily), I got to know how to make the images I want — either on the street or in the studio. To do this, I spent a great deal of time watching videos on the internet…and I had the great fortune of world-class photographers Bob Williams and Bruce Couch spend some time with me to get me started. Seriously, a firm foundation in those basics beats a handful of filters any day!
MPAP: On the other side of it having some difficulties, what are some of your favorite things about being a photographer you can tell us about? What have been some of your camera highlights so far that you can share with us also?
TOM: Difficulties?! Who said anything about difficulties? LOL! Actually, there are a lot, in the genre I work in. People share their pain with you, and it’s often such a struggle to understand it and not let it affect you on a permanent basis. I’ve shot with some people whose stories have deformed and re-formed them. I try to focus the power that’s healed them, and not broken them. This is my favorite thing about my particular brand of photography: learning about the person I’m shooting and working with them to craft an idea that represents them at their core.
MPAP: When someone sees the picture you’ve taken for the first time, whether it’s the new bride and groom, or a family member that just had a baby, what do you want someone to get out of it? Is there ever anything you’re trying to say within your pictures, a message deep in the pixels that makes it up?
TOM: In every picture, I hope to represent the strength of that person.
MPAP: Is there an artist or another photographer out there that you admire and might have influenced you at all? What about their work do you love the most?
TOM: I think my most important influence was a stage director (Bart Guingona), who taught me that the expression will arrive when you’re truly feeling the emotion. The images I create aren’t contrived; they’re documentation of real emotion.
MPAP: Before we move on to talking about the pictures that you shared with us, are there any tips or advice that you would want to give yourself if you had to pick up the camera and start photography all over again?
TOM: Be true to what art you want to create; don’t spend any time with the other stuff.
MPAP: Now on to the pictures that you took and have shared with us here? Take us into each one of the pictures and tell us what they are about, and which one is your most favorite and why?
We crafted this image based on the moment Nicole’s dad died with her when she was a child, in a Paris subway. She’s carried this with her her whole life, and we wanted to purge that. Alaina is a ballerina who worked her whole life at it, and her career was put to the test when she had to undergo hip surgery which could put her out of commission for potentially a year. This portrait of metal and bandages seemed to represent her situation perfectly, and I’m very proud of that.
Sommer has had experiences that would put the rest of us out of commission — the strength she’s built up is self-evident.
This is a behind-the-scenes snapshot of Rebecca getting ready for her shoot. It’s beautiful and gentle, and then you notice the cuts on her arm. This image speaks to me about why I do this. We’re all scarred; but there comes a time when we’re ready to become who we were meant to become. MPAP: Everyone has a different style or taste, whether it’s street photography, modeling, black & white, or nature, from your point of view what do you think makes a good picture?
TOM: It allows your mind to create a story from it. It doesn’t paint it for you, but it triggers something in your head that stays with you.
MPAP: After the camera is put down for the moment, for the day, or for the night, whether it’s for a day or a week at a time, what else do you like to do in your free time?
TOM: I edit those pictures, and plan new photo shoots. I’m discovering new people to collaborate with; conceptualizing; creating story boards; sketching ideas; and working with the project teams so we’re all clear about what we’re going to do. I’m shopping for supplies; I’m charging my batteries, I’m…yeah, you got the picture.
MPAP: Before we bring 'Behind The Lens' to a close, just one last question and we’ll wrap things up and put the lens cap back on. What would you want to say to someone that’s interested in taking pictures for the very first time?
TOM: Always strive to do something different from what other people have done, and from what you’ve done in the past. Try as hard as you can to make the picture that’s in your head.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Tom, for being a part of this 'Behind The Lens' feature. It was great getting to know you and your photos. We look forward to seeing what you will capture in the future and beyond. Please tell us where we can find your work or your photo galleries on the internet, and any social media that the readers can follow you on?
TOM: Thank you, this was a great moment of self-reflection for me! You can find me at:
tomlupton.com - my best work goes here https://www.instagram.com/tomluptonphotos/ - I have some highlights here https://www.facebook.com/tomaslupton - I camp out here a lot… Feel free to find me here and have a short chat if you’d like to know more about my photography (or work with me) We also launched Cow Productions LLC this year, and we’re working on launching a new site for it…I’ll let you know when that happens!