Lets start off with the basics, your name, your age, and your home base?
My name is Andrew Norton, I am 22 years young and I live in Toronto.
What got you started in photography? When & why did you pick up your first camera?
I got started shooting photos by picking up my dad’s old SLR camera that was sitting in the closet collecting dust. It was a Nikon FE and it had a 50mm 1.8 lens (still use that thing now). That camera had no shutter speeds, it was basically always stuck on aperture priority which at first was good for messing around and learning on. Got a little tricky when I wanted to advance my skills a bit though. I just sort of did what everyone does when they start, shoot photos of things around me and try to re-create stuff I liked and figure out all the different functions of the camera.
I understand you went to school for photography in Toronto, did you stick that out? Do you think it benefited you at all?
I took a year’s worth of night school courses at Ryerson and then went into full time in the Image Arts program for photography. I figure with school, like most things in life, you get out of it what you put into it. There were a bunch of people sort of coasting in the program and not really taking full advantage of stuff. If you want to learn, the instructors are there to help you and they are a great resource. Plus you get tons of access to darkrooms, studios and all sorts of cool gear. I would have never shot on a large format camera if it weren’t for that stint in school. It was also cool learning photoshop pretty well from the ground up correctly, that helps a lot. Also, the technical stuff they teach you helps you become more well rounded in general in photography. Looking and learning about various photographers, styles and even the nitty gritty technical stuff helps even though it’s a bit of a drag at first. Ultimately, I sort of put school on hold when I started working more for the magazine. Photography is definitely one of those things where you don’t need a degree or diploma to get a job. Don’t regret going to school though, it’s a good thing in general.
What do you think is the most important aspect of photography that kids should focus on as they're learning the ropes?
I’ve always backed the saying “a poor carpenter blames his tools” as cliché as that is. Instead of worrying about getting the latest and greatest gear, just get out there with your camera and try something different, even with natural light and an old beater camera with some black and white film. Or a basic digital SLR. Some of my favourite skate photos are the simplest and maybe I’m just getting old, but I’m started to get more and more stoked on simple, well composed photos or ones that have a unique perspective, not necessarily the brightest, sharpest and most in your face photos…. Though those are always going to be awesome. I guess don’t overlook the basics and get too hung up on technology.
You really blew up in one year, so to speak, you were shooting your friends, next thing I know you're a finalist in that Slap contest, how was that experience?
I wouldn’t really say I ‘blew up’, I was just doing what I was always doing and I guess just trying to push myself to get better. I guess in that little year after I finished school, I focused on just shooting photos all the time and really tried to make a go of it. I also just moved to the city and for whatever reason it was a bit of a right place, right time situation where Ryan Allan had just moved and some other photographers weren’t maybe shooting as much. But as all photographers know, for every photo that gets in a mag or that’s a winner, there are countless ones that suck or just sit on your hardrive/print files, so it was a bit of a slow progression rather than a sudden blowing up, you know?
That really led to you getting on SBC Skateboard as Staff, were you working a lot with them already before that?
I had always been submitting to the mag and obvious stoked on SBC Skateboard like any skater growing up in Canada and that one summer it was a bit of a right, place right time situation again. I was submitting to them quite a bit and then they were kind enough to take me on as an intern for an issue where I sort of did odds and ends, working for free. Eventually, they brought me on board as a staff photographer for a little bit, so I was shooting for them full time and I got to go on a few trips and stuff through that. Following that was they brought Owen and I on board full time as editors. So it was a gradual process of building a relationship.
What have been some of the ups and downs working as staff for a magazine, you get to travel a lot? Do you spend time checking stuff out? or mostly just skating?
I guess I didn’t realise how much work goes into making a magazine before getting on board, not that that would have stopped me, ha. But I guess I took for granted that every word in a magazine someone has to write and fact check and chase down from people, etc. So a lot of my time is spent talking to contributors and making sure photos and words are coming in. It’s always rad seeing new photos come in and getting to check stuff out on the light table. It’s definitely a humbling experience seeing photos from and working closely with Scott Pommier, Dave Christian, Brian Caissie, Ryan Allan, Rich Odam, Owen Woyotwich and countless photographers from across the country. Those are dudes I remember seeing in mags and studying their shit when I was younger. It’s insane, actually.
In terms of every day shooting, I’m definitely kept busy working to get the mag together, so I have to value my time a bit more. Maybe shoot smarter, not harder kind of thing. It makes you just focus on the stuff you’re stoked on. Now I sort of have projects that I work towards, like trips, interview or article ideas. It’s also rad being able to take off from work if there is a heavy move going down, that’s always a nice perk of the job is the flexability.
As far as travel, I’ve been lucky to be able to go on some sick trips with some insane skaters. After traveling for a while, I just want to be back home and after being home for too long I just want to travel, so its nice to have an escape every once and a while. Plus on trips, you usually don’t have the distractions of everyday work and life, its strictly skating and shooting.
I gotta ask this, do you still have the link to your youtube mockumentary video that you made?
Forgot about that thing, basically my friend Kris King had access to cameras, mics and studio time and I guess we had some time on our hands too…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvZpjBx6Soc
Any big plans or projects for the next year or so?
I am stoked to rip into the next year with the magazine, we got some sick ideas and a few projects and trips in the works. As with everything in skateboarding, plans are never 100%, haha, but it should be cool. We also have a photo annual coming out in the fall. I got to interview some photographers for that and we got a few cool features on the go. I always looked forward to the SBC photo annuals, so I hope we can deliver, should be sick. It’ll have some good stuff for photo nerds and some eye candy that will stoke everyone out.
We are also using it as a good opportunity for younger photographers from across the country to get a bit of attention. That’s one of my favourite things about working at the mag is that it allows me to help out photographers who are on the come up, that stokes me out. I know the feeling of having a first photo run, it’s a big deal for people.
What gear are you rocking right now? Which is your favourite to shoot with?
My bag is looking a little worse for wear, but I'm fairly stoked on the gear I'm rocking at this point. There is always an excuse to drop some more cash though... For bodies I am rocking a D70 still for bright days, as well as a D300 for sequences, natural light, portraits and later in the day stuff. I'm also using a Hasselblad with a fisheye, that gets broken out when I need the square fish or if its a cool spot that would really pop with some slide film.
As for flashes I recently, maybe not recently anymore actually, picked up a Lumedyne head with a 200ws action pack. Have been super stoked on it. Aside from that I have an assortment of Nikon SB's that I used doubled up usually. Nothing too fancy really.
My favourite thing to shoot with has been the Hasselblad lately, I think. Have seen some Hassy photos in magazines and have gotten re-sparked on shooting film a little bit I think. Especially for portraits and things like that, it's always rad.
any good advice for people sending in photos to SBC?
Keep shooting and try to self edit, only send your best stuff. We're always down to try and hook up and show off up and coming photographers, but its alot easier when you edit things down to just your best stuff when you send it along. Plus being critical of your photos and self editing is always a big asset. Just take a look at your work and compare it to what's in the magazines and make sure the skating and the technical stuff is up to par. It's just like skating, it takes a while to get good and very few gifted people have "mastered" it.
Another sort of personal thing that I've noticed is that alot of photographers who are just starting out that use those kit zoom lenses and more and more, there are weird wide angles being used. Keep in mind wide angles aren't fisheyes! This is just personal preference really, but I think that skating looks best shot with either a real fisheye or with something 50mm +. Of course there are exceptions to that and plenty of them, some of my favoruite stuff is shot with a wide angle... but as a rule of thumb for younger dudes, stick to the prime lenses.
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