Patrick Roddie

My name is Patrick Roddie; I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and grew up in a nearby town called Holywood before moving to Cardiff, Wales, to study physics of all things. Naturally, I hated it. I then got into journalism, eventually working as a staff reporter on a tiny newspaper near Liverpool. In 1994 I arrived in San Francisco, clutching the green card I won in a lottery. I started shooting when I was twelve years old, first with a box Brownie, then a half-frame Olympus Trip. If you'll excuse the pun, something just "clicked:" I somehow understood light, composition and the "moment" from the start and those early pictures still look pretty good, IMHO. I haven't been able to stop since - I don't have much choice in the matter.

Training: Entirely self-taught, I've had no formal training in photography, preferring to make my own mistakes, experiment and burn through film. Only when I'm really stuck will I reluctantly open the manual. Don't try this at home.

Philosophy: It's hard to explain the philosophy, if any, I have of my work. I just press the shutter when it looks right. Not much of an artist's statement, but hey, the site's free. If I was to offer any advice to a budding photographer, I'd say get closer and take more pictures. Having a fast lens and tripod doesn't hurt.

Equipment: Nowadays I shoot with a Contax 645, a Nikon F100 and a bunch of fast, prime lenses. My favorite film is Fujichrome Velvia, followed by the sadly discontinued Agfapan APX 25. I also shoot with the rather good Fuji S2 Pro digital body, which allows me to use all my lustworthy Nikon lenses.

Hips: Whether or not it's going to catapult me into the big time, I'm very excited about the release of my first book, hips. As the title suggests, it's about hips. Hundreds of them, all shot at Burning Man. It's refreshingly clear of text, apart from an afterword by SFGate columnist, Mark Morford, the only person I know who can explain Burning Man to non-burners.

You could call it a coffee table book if you have a really small coffee table - it's a 5x7in 256-page hardcover. I prefer it that way, people will be more likely to carry it around and show their freinds.

For a little more info, to pick up a copy or to take a peek at what's on offer click here.

Check this out

http://webbery.com

1 photo gallerie(s) by this photographer

hotels, budget accommodation & last minute worldwide

country guides