What is The Power of an Image?

We sat down with Stephen Mead to chat about the importance of an image and what images in particular are important to him.

Tell us about the first time you picked up a camera.

I was twelve and I took some rubbish photographs – Luckily we all learn by our mistakes and I’m still learning.

What is the wallpaper image on your mobile phone?

White sails against an aqua blue sky.

What has changed since starting your career?

Digital

What has stayed the same?

The fear in the clients eyes that they will lose their job

If you could change something about the industry what would it be?

Lighten up and take the fear out of taking risks.

What should stay the same?

Passion

Who is the most important person in regards to your creative growth?

My conscience.

What is your most memorable project?

Too many, but possibly shooting Clairol in Jamaica we had everything including talking monkeys shipped from Florida.

What advice would you give your eighteen year old self?

Don’t worry what people think because mostly they don’t care.

What was the first piece of art you bought?

I ‘stole’ a Robert Mapplethorpe black and white photographic print out of a bin at the ICA.  It’s gradually decomposing because it wasn’t fixed.

What are you reading at the moment?

“Gods without men” by Hari Kunzru

What TV are you watching at the moment?

The News – Closely

What is the most important image stored in your mind?

Photographs replace remembered images, I suppose the most important images are ones that have no physical record, for instance an imagined place where I would like to build a house.

What is beauty?

Nature