‘I’m told they have a cinematic
quality, a majestxy and grandeur that draw the viewer into the scene’
‘Photography is important to me as my
main creative outlet and landscape work was always my passion.’
‘I’m John G Moore, and I can only interpret
my subject matter in my own particular way,’ the Scottish photographer
explains, ‘I like to follow my own path, and not wanting to sound selfish, I
shoot for me.’
John has worked in the photographic
industry as a freelance photographer for over 20 years, first holding the
camera his eye as a professional in 1989. Before that he had a successful
career in the music industry. John’s dramatic decision to alter his vocation
came after he tragically lost his father in a road traffic accident. ‘My
father’s mantra on life was to enjoy it as much as possible because you don’t
get too long.’ John tells us, ‘Photography was my first love, so I decided to
go for it.’
To kick-start his career, John took full
advantage of the contacts he’d already made from his time spent working in the
music industry. He picked up work doing CD covers, promo shots for bands,
magazine features and tour brochures, and not long after he started, the
charismatic photographer was well on his way to making a successful living from
the medium. ‘The initial work I did led to fashion and portrait work offers in
the USA and Japan,’ John says, ‘which then broadened out to include corporate
and commercial work too.’
Sunrise
by John G Moore
John’s portrait work throughout his portfolio
is renowned for its intimacy and strong connection to the subject. The
photographer explains to us the key skills it entails to produce work at such a
high level. ‘It takes not just a gifted creative to make great portrait
photographs, but also someone of compassion, and someone who the subject can
quickly put their trust in. Your subjects can tell a lot about you by your eyes
in the first few seconds. If they trust you, there will be a communion, and one
that results in powerful moving images that engage the viewer.’ Despite his
incredible and extensive portrait portfolio John is best recognised in the
industry for his stunning landscape work. ‘I am particularly known for my large
vistas,’ he says. ‘I’m told they have a cinematic quality, a majesty and
grandeur that draw the viewer into the scene.’
John’s love of the landscape genre has been
a factor in his existence ever since he can remember. ‘Photography is important
to me as my main creative outlet and landscape work was always my passion,’ he
says. ‘My favourite uncle would take me on trips into the Highlands where I
would hone my photographic skills. Without sounding too asocial, it’s nice to
get away from everything every so often, get into the wilderness and clear the
head. Of course, my camera always accompanied me.’
Spirit
by John G Moore
John’s career as a photographer has taken
him to some amazing locations across the globe including China, Japan and the
USA. ‘I enjoy travelling, and it can be quite humorous on occasions.’ He
recalls. ‘I remember shooting at the Great Wall of China way back in the late
1980s, and I had blonde hair at the time. I could not get peace to shoot for
locals asking if they could be photographed with me. I had forgotten some of
them hadn’t even seen a westerner, never mind a blonde headed one.’ Other
locations John has particularly enjoyed visiting in his career are Trotternish
in Skye, and Sierra Nevada in California. The latter is where the photographer
shot his first book Spirit, which is a published collection of unique
landscape images. John tells us it has been one of the biggest highlights of
his career to date, and the most rewarding aspect of the project for him is the
money it has raised, and is still is raising, for charity. There is also a
revised eBook version of Spirit that was recently released and is
compatible with iPad, iPhone and Android.
