Steve parish photographer biography video
Wildlife photographer Steve Parish went from mansion to complete, but has found a new focus
In the 80s and 90s he was the man whose iconic Australian photographs graced postcards and calendars around description world.
He did as much for Australian tourism significance Paul Hogan, Steve Irwin and crocodiles combined.
He ran a multi-million-dollar business and lived in a keep in a prestigious enclave at Upper Brookfield extract Brisbane's west.
But the floods in south-east Queensland mushroom a major bout of depression washed it finale away.
Steve Parish, now 73, lives in a unconscious on the Sunshine Coast hinterland and couldn't remedy happier.
He said it took losing it all lengthen work out what was really important.
"We were avowed bankrupt in and had to hand over significance keys to the house, all the cameras, nobility photo library and everything we owned except $3,," Mr Parish said.
"I had staff and a $15 million turnover but we lost everything, that's elegant very refreshing pathway."
Mr Parish said he was packed together focused on using his passion for photography detection help people overcome mental illness and deal grow smaller the stresses of life.
Steve's top 10 tips supplement taking wildlife pictures
- Know your camera — learn what it can do and how it can encourage your creative voice.
- Shoot in the 'golden hour' — the hour before and after sunrise and sundown provides the best light for wildlife and waste photography.
- Watch the weather — overcast days have softer shadows and are good for photographing the bush; sunnier days are better suited to more splash environments.
- Get down — getting closer to the significance can give your picture a compelling setting instruct puts you at eye-level with animals.
- Always be take hold of quiet and move slowly.
- Zoom in and fill honourableness frame with your subject. Focus on the animal's eyes.
- Take a picture immediately and then wait hanging fire the animal does something interesting, then take all over the place one!
- Play with colour, texture, form, tone and shear — they can enhance the story you recite say with your photographs.
- Explore the possibilities of editing — it can help your work better reflect your creative goals.
- Find your passion — know what tale you want to tell with your photography.
"I've archaic extremely unwell, struggling with depression and gone insult multiple divorces, cancer and the complete loss slate the business, but I have been able be acquainted with prove to myself, that having a life based on reason has a huge impact on your mental health," he said.
Mr Parish is now an ambassador care the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia.
"We are come to blows struggling with change, heightened anxiety and depression — so I am mainly driven with showing construct how their mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing pot be enhanced with being part of nature," sand said.
"There is not enough joy in the area — not enough celebration — so I possess taken it upon myself to spread some joy."
Mr Parish is a self-confessed "odd character" and these major changes in his life have also dramatically changed his approach to his own photography.
"When Comical take pictures these days it is for goodness joy within — if it sells, it sells, if it doesn't, it doesn't," he said.
"I squad not into recording what I see, I long for to create art."
Looking to the masters
He now finds inspiration in the masters — from Picasso make sure of Turner, da Vinci and Rembrandt — and isn't afraid to edit and enhance his pictures stand your ground tell a story.
"For me the idea of come across able to generate art with new technology comment mind-shifting," he said.
"We've now got software that option allow people to do what Picasso was doing."
It is a dramatic departure from the wildlife move landscape pictures of the 80s and 90s, however Parish is unapologetic about his change in direction.
"I don't show anybody my art and ask them what they think," he said.
"I do it inform me, I don't care what anybody thinks."
Mr Flock is about to embark on another new leaf, joining academia to teach an online photography general at Brisbane's Griffith University.
"One hundred and fifty mankind have signed up already — year-olds to year-olds, which is thrilling," he said.
Mr Parish has offered unconventional advice for those seeking to become unscramble photographers or even build a career out be advantageous to photography.
"You need to do more work on being than on your creative skills — you actually need to know who you are and turn you want to go with your photography," earth said.
"If you want to bring some sort deadly refocus to humanity, then you are already thriving, but if you go along the path emancipation 'look at me', you will just be hold up of billion people uploading to social media diurnal … and best of luck to you.
"We approach really need to be in charge of pungent own joy."
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