Here you go son - just got to dig a bit deeper for info next time (N)
1. How old are you? - 47
2. Where were you born? Cape Town, South Africa
3. Where did you grow up? Cape Town
4. Where did you go to college? University of Cape Town
- What did you study? Law
5. How did you 'break into' the world of photography? I was working as a
solicitor in the City (London) and got into photography and mountain
biking around the same time. As I developed my photography, the mountain
bike magazines were just starting to get going, and I guess I was in the
right place at the right time.
6. did you look up to any photographer when you started out? have any
influenced your work?
I was given a lot of guidance by a photographer called Mark Wohlwender
who was already shooting cycling at the time, he was very generous with
his advice and tips at the events I was covering. I guess I was more
influenced by the work of the surf photographers at the time, and some
of the ski photographers that I was working with than the cycling
photographers. Steve Giberson and John Ker of the americans were doing
some nice stuff early on in mountain biking though.
7.Why have you chosen to photograph 'extreme sports' / Mountain Biking?
I guess I grew up surfing, and was always (and still am) into that -
when I came to live here it was harder to go surfing so when I found
mountain biking I really got into it, and that coincided with my
burgeoning interest in photography. So it kind of naturally happened.
8. What early photography jobs did you have / if any?
My first paying commission was for MBUK back in 1988 - I was asked to
shoot some London couriers. I had sold a few mountain biking pics before
that, from races and leisure stuff, but that was my first commissioned
feature.
9. How did you come about founding stockfile?
- When was it founded?
It was founded in 1989, when I returned from travelling round the world,
looking for surf and biking a bit. I went into partnership with a ski
photographer, Tony McLaughlin, and we set up Photomotion, a skiing and
biking picture library together. His work took him abroad a few years
later, and at that time my wife Jill came on board and we changed the
name to Stockfile. Over the years the skiing side has got smaller and
the biking has taken over.
10. How did you come work with MBUK? (I have seen your work through this
magazine)
I've been working with them pretty much since they started, I submitted
a few race pics for the first or second issue, and they used them and
the commissions started from there. When I got back from travelling I
started doing more and more for them till that was my main work.
11. Apart from MBUK, is there any other 'projects that you photograph
for?
- Who have you photographed for in the past?
I've done a lot of work for a variety of magazines in the past , and
continue to do so, but most of my work is for MBUK and its sister
publication What Mountain Bike. I have at some time done something for
pretty much every cycling title in the UK, past and present. In addition
I've done features for a lot of the mens mags, and a lot of commercial
work for the bike manufacturers /distributors and importers. A fair bit
of my work nowdays is for catalogues, ads, brochures for clients in the
cycling industry.
12. Do you enjoy the travelling aspect to your work?
Yes and no - sometimes it gets a bit tiring, and its hard being away
from my family - I have 2 young boys and its difficult to be away for
long periods. But its usually a lot of fun, and its great to get to some
good locations and good weather with good riders.
- Are there any favourite places or memorable trips you have been
to / on?
Alaska was pretty memorable, and very beautiful - I was there twice in
the winter covering the iditabike races, chasing after riders on
snowmobiles. Very hard work but a great experience, very memorable and
enjoyable in spite of the cold. Otherwise I've spent a lot of time in
the States, where I've seen some great terrain. And of course the alps -
Chamonix is a particular favourite for shooting.
13. Do you have a favourite photograph that you have taken?
Phew - not really, though there are a few that I look back on and think,
"yes, I'm glad I took that." There are some that are favourites for
reasons of who the rider is rather than the picture itself, there are a
couple of people like Jason McRoy, Steve Peat, Rob Warner, and Dave
Hemming that remind me of them and I like for that reason. Otherwise my
favourite photo is the one I'm going to take next time I go out....
Hope this helps, good luck.
steve
Steve Behr
Stockfile
+44 1344 872249
steve@stockfile.co.uk
www.stockfile.co.uk
