SAT: Although I’m excited to learn more about your Adelaide Fringe show, I would like to begin by congratulating you on being a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for your service to the community through charitable organisations in this year’s Australia Day Honours List. This is such a fantastic achievement. Would you tell us more about your volunteering at various animal and wildlife rescue centres and charity work?
AC: Philanthropy is a huge part of my business philosophy and one of my driving passions. I work pro bono with dozens of animal rescue charities, sanctuaries or shelters, across the globe, by providing images, sponsorship and conducting major fundraising projects every year.
My two aims through photography are:
- to show, through images, how beautiful animals are, and
- to support, promote, and endorse animal rescue organisations
Every charity project I undertake is about improving the lives of animals. Knowing I can help make a difference to the lives of rescue-animals is a huge motivation for me. The right image viewed by the right person can mean a dog is re-homed, a donation is made, or that media will run a story that increases awareness or raises public concern for a cause which directly affects the welfare of the animal.
A very important goal of mine is to continue to do whatever I can to promote and support effective animal rescue and conservation organisations, be it dog rescue, bear rescue, or tiger rescue, through my images. There are so many species that need help right now and so many great animal organisations that need help.
I know that many people feel as passionately as I do about animals and conservation. If ever there was a time to step up for those who don’t have a voice, it is now. The more we share information and discuss issues, the sooner we can all act to help create change.
No matter where you live, there will be an animal rescue organisation dedicated to making a difference to the lives of rescue animals. I would love to see more people becoming involved with a charity that resonates with their own personal ethics and compassion. All effective organisations welcome support via donations, attending fundraising events, volunteering or maybe even becoming a foster carer for domestic pets or farm animals.
SAT: The title of your show infers you had a very different career prior to becoming an animal photographer. Can you tell us more about that?
AC: It feels like 100 years ago now, but I worked for WA Police for 14 years, seven as a Police Officer and seven as a Crime Analyst with major crime squads (armed robbery, major fraud, homicide squad and the child abuse unit.) Then I took up a federal government position as a transport security inspector in the aviation industry. I audited airports and airlines throughout Western Australia for their counter terrorist security measures. I started my photography business a few years in, and within 15 months the demand grew so much that I had to decide if I wanted to pursue it full time. I took that leap of faith and haven’t looked back.
SAT: I have had a look at some of your animal photos on your website. They show so much personality. How do you capture all the different emotions and temperaments that each animal uniquely owns?
AC: I find most animals very easy to photograph but I think that’s something which has progressed over the years. Dogs are generally very happy to be fed treats by their new favorite Aunty and most are won over easily. I welcome all animals in to my studio, even aggressive dogs, those who have suffered a traumatic past, or those who are fearful of strangers.
With these photo shoots I use a decade of knowledge about body language and movement (mine and the dogs) and I don’t push any boundaries or set off any of their triggers for fear or aggression. I love these photo sessions as I have to call on a whole other skill set, and their owners are often overjoyed as they didn’t believe their dog could ever have a successful, event free photo session. People often worry that their dog won’t sit still, but it’s a misconception that they have to – I shoot fast and get a lot of fun expressions and poses from dogs who are active.
Cats are generally the opposite of dogs to photograph. They arrive at the studio in a bit of an indignant mood because they had to go in the car and in the cat crate. I’m their least favorite Aunty, ha-ha, and they don’t want the treats I offer or have much interest in the toys. I photograph them in a black box (3 ft x 3ft) and that (combined with the dark and quiet studio) makes them feel safe and they eventually lie down in there or wander around and give me a few poses.
SAT: I saw a parrot in your portfolio. Is this unusual? Do many people bring birds to your studio and what sort of challenges do you face with unpredictable creatures such as birds?
AC: I photograph all kinds of animals in my studio – dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, sheep, ferrets, amphibians, birds, reptiles, native species. Dogs are very aware of their surroundings when they arrive, and cats are often wondering why they were woken up from their nap to be driven to my studio, so they can sometimes be harder subjects to work with. I call on my decade of experience to ensure I gain their trust and they have a positive experience. All other animals I find very easy. My studio is dark, calm and stress free, so animals generally feel at ease and relax pretty quickly.
SAT: In your studio shoots, how do you get the difficult animals to cooperate?
AC: My style of photographing is to let my subjects have free reign and grab the moments I see as photographs. I don’t try to control them too much and I find that this is the best way to capture their character. I’m usually sitting very close to them, about a foot away and I photograph in a small area so they tend to be quite engaged in me during their photo shoot. I work as fast as I can so that they don’t get a chance to get bored.
SAT: You are an award-winning animal photographer; what inspired you to make this into a show?
AC: I love sharing my passion for animals, animal rescue and photography with a wider audience. I’ve been presenting on a range of topics to different audiences for the past 8 years, and Adelaide Fringe provides me with a wonderful platform to share the stories behind my images, my journey, and my love of all creatures great and small.
SAT: Is this your first Adelaide Fringe performance? And have you performed this show anywhere else?
AC: This is my debut at Adelaide Fringe. Last year I was part of a joint show for Perth Fringe. I’m so excited to be presenting my first full length solo show in my home city.
SAT: Could you tell us more about the show? What can audiences expect?
AC: My fringe show (1pm on the 16th and 17th March) is called “From Law Maker to Image Maker” and goes for 140 minutes, including a Q&A hosted by Julia Wilson. Photography is the art of visual storytelling and every image has three stories attached to it. There’s the one created by the viewer, the one intended by the photographer, and the actual circumstances involved in the image capture. Working with animals can be chaotic and unpredictable. Often there’s as much going on behind the scenes, as there is in the final image. It’s a fun, engaging, up-beat event, suitable for all ages.
SAT: You have probably been reminded a million times of the old adage, “Never work with children or animals.” Without giving too much away from your show, could you share a couple of funny moments?
AC: I’ll be sharing the inspirational and amusing stories behind my animal photography images, how I captured that quirky expression, if there was a degree of difficulty or danger involved in getting the shot, and the distractions happening around me at the time. There is a very funny section on the times things have gone awry – its not the right job for someone who is worried about, excuse my frankness, poo, spew and goo.
SAT: There is a Q&A included in this show. What sort of questions can you anticipate or encourage people to ask?
AC: I’m open to anything, whether it’s a technical question about photography or one to do with working with animals, or about how I shifted my career. Hit me with them!
SAT: Just returning to your passion of animal rescue and wildlife conservation. Could you tell us more about the books you have published?
AC: I’ve been very fortunate to have 5 books published. They all contain positive messages about animals and the public response has been overwhelming.
- Mother knows best: life lessons from the animal world, 2014, Penguin books Australia.
- Joy: a celebration of the animal kingdom, 2014, Penguin books Australia.
- Zen dogs, 2016, Harper One USA.
- Perfect imperfection: dog portraits of resilience and love, 2018, ABC Books / Harper Collins Australia.
- For the love of Greyhounds: adopted greyhounds and their happy ever afters, 2018, ABC Books, Harper Collins Australia
SAT: What does the rest of 2019 hold in store for you?
AC: Ooh there are so many amazing things happening this year. I have three calendars due for release with a large calendar company. I’m travelling to Adelaide twice (once for Fringe and once to visit family and conduct a reconnaissance of Kangaroo Island in the lead up to a photo tour I’m hosting with Grand Master photographer Tony Hewitt in October 2020), am off to the USA to present at the inaugural Animal Images Makers Conference in Minneapolis, and then hopefully to New York in October for a trade event. I’ve just signed on as a brand ambassador for Profoto and Tamron USA and will be conducting seminars for them both as well. Plus I have a joint art exhibition on in Perth in May which is unique and quirky, and have some fun projects on the go, as well as conducting my wonderful day to day pet photo sessions for my clients.
SAT: Thank you for your time. Congratulations again and we wish you all the very best for your Fringe performances.
AC: Thank you so much. I really appreciate your support and hope to see lots of animal lovers at the show.
Alex Cearns from Law Maker to Image Maker
is showing on March 16 & 17 at
Exhibition Hall at The National Wine Centre,
Cnr Hackney and Botanic Rd, Adelaide
Tickets available on the Fringe website (click here).
I strongly urge anyone who is interested in anything at all to do with animals or entrepreneurial business, to visit Alex’s website and Facebook page. There are so many services, products and information, which we unfortunately just don’t have time to cover today. But it is SO worth a visit!
Website
Facebook
