Originally inspired by the work of Salvador Dali, Carl Warner is a London photographer who was in search of a fresh perspective after a successful string of projects in the 1980s and 90s. And a fresh perspective he did find, though in the unlikeliest of places. Shopping in his local market, he came across a batch of portobello mushrooms that reminded him of a forest one might find in some strange world. So he took them home and photographed them – not knowing it’d be the start of a major opportunity.
My first camera was…
A Canon FT
I wanted to become a photographer because…
I loved showing people the way I saw the world as I had a keen eye for composition. I also began my career thinking I would be an illustrator but photography was a much faster medium and I was able to be far more prolific with it.
My first paying photography job was…
A shot of the Westminster Council building in Victoria, London.
My inspiration for “foodscape” photography came from…
Some portobello mushrooms I saw at a fruit and veg market.
I would describe my style or shooting philosophy as…
Creating illusions and conveying ideas through quite an illustrative photographic style.
Some of my industry role models are…
Photographers who apply a certain degree of craft in their work, because I love to see quality and attention to detail, as well as skills in lighting and composition that make their images stand out from the crowd.
I knew there was no turning back when…
I was at Maidstone Art College doing my foundation course and I was producing 20 printed images at the end of a week instead of one single illustration.
Before I got started in the industry, I wish somebody had told me…
What a roller coaster ride freelance photography would be.
My favorite piece of gear is…
My sketch book and pencil.
What is your current set-up?
I still shoot on a Hasselblad H3D 39 that is tethered to an iMac. Once the camera is in position and focused, I rarely touch it during a shoot as everything is done in the capture software.
