Here is the second installment of our photographer profiles! These talented individuals have been hired through Langara’s Photo-Imaging Program to shoot the images for this year’s Pacific Rim Magazine, available May 8 in the Globe & Mail.
Josh Esterhuizen was selected by PRM’s art department for his expertise in photojournalism. We caught up with Josh for a quick interview between shoots.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Pretoria, South Africa, which is the capital city. I lived there until I was 12 and then moved to Chiliwack with my mom, dad and sister.
What is your earliest memory of being interested in photography?
I was always interested as a kid in painting and drawing. I took classes all the way through school. When I left high school, I didn’t go into it because I knew there wasn’t any money in painting. So I did marine biology [at university] then got bored of it. When I was about 18 or 19, I picked up an old Nikon film camera that my dad had lying around and I started shooting film. Then I went to Emily Carr and focused on photography and painting.
What is your favourite subject to photograph and why?
I like people. I like photographing people and emotions. I don’t like portraiture specifically, but I like capturing emotions and stories and things that are raw and real rather than contrived and made up like commercial stuff.
Whose work do you admire?
There’s too many, but I really admire William Klein’s work. He was a street photographer that was in New York back in the 50s. I’ll throw another one out there: Joel Meyerowitz. He was one of the first guys to start using colour in street photography and fine art. He’s still shooting.
What are your plans after you finish the program?
I’m looking for a job—preferably not in photography just yet because my plan is to save up enough money to travel. So I’d like to get a job, maybe doing retouching in Photoshop for a company and then leave in October and go travel and work on my portfolio—hopefully go to South America for a while.
How would you describe your photography style?
It’s a little more gritty—a little more raw. Sometimes it’s subtle, but in your face—almost at the same time. It’s hard to say. It could be the nature of what I like to shoot or it could be the way I like to present that subject. You have to find a different way to present subjects because everything’s been photographed now. So if you don’t choose a new interesting way to do it, it just looks like everyone else’s work.
For more of Josh’s work check out his website here.
