GRAEME MURRAY INTERVIEW

Graeme works with so many of the best athletes and riders that the world has to offer,. He has a great way of making what ever is being done in the photo, look as crazy as it actually is. Every spot is bigger when you actually see it in real life, but Graeme really has a talent for putting the viewer right there in the mix. As if you were watching it yourself.

Where and when did you get your first camera? What about photography intrigued you enough to the point where you wanted to gravitate towards it.

I got a camera when i was 14 yrs old, My grandad and my father both enjoyed taking pictures for fun. I was fascinated by how you would use this device. You’d put a roll of film into it and and then a few days later you could see the result. I was also into sports and i wanted to keep moments of these sports with a camera, it just seemed so natural to me for some reason.

I then got into developing my own film and printing BW in my parents washing room area. I set up a little darkroom. Was exciting to see the images come to life in front of your eyes.

Does photography still give you the same feeling from when you started. what is different about it now?

I get asked that a lot , Yeah I still love it as much as when I started it.

What’s different now is that is also a business but I love to shoot personal work all the time. It gives me a lot of satisfaction

What were your hobbies as a kid?

I loved drawing and being creative. Doing art also I was into sports like Motorbikes, BMX, wakeboarding, surfing, soccer and cricket

What are some of the qualities you like to find in your subjects?

I like to see how stoked people are living really, I love seeing that come across in images.

These people actually lift my stoke too.

What’s the last photo you took where you were truly blown away with what you were looking at?

Recently I shot a young kayaker Zack Mutton paddling the Huka Falls at dusk, was almost dark and I was lighting the flash up with a huge flash. He paddled the falls at a very high water flow level which is what made it scary and an incredible thing to photograph. No one had ever done it at dark. Very impressive.

Do you ever get desensitized to how impressive some of the things you shoot are? Or is it always exciting for you?

I have got desensitized for sure, I have seen a lot of epic things happen but it still is so exciting/ The cool thing is trying to push the photography side more and more while these amazing moments are happening.

I have seen athletes in big accidents but that can effect you emotionally later too, its not something you want to see at all.

What was the last photo that got away?

The main photo that got away was not getting a shot of Mad Mike Whiddett , The drifter and a helicopter rising up behind him on a mountain road on a shoot.

Would have been an insane shot but the due to some lack of communications we didn’t know it was happening. Will always regret not getting this shot.

What’s one great memory you have with your camera?

An incredible memory is getting to Photograph Shane McConkey , Miles Daisher and Chuck Berry. Base jumping and wing-suiting in Milford sounds area, New Zealand. In an area no one had jumped before .

An amazing few days of good times, laughs, stories also photography incredible base and wing suiting.

What is the hardest part of your job?

The business side is the hardest for sure and how much hard work it takes to stay in the industry.

The industry has so many people who get into it but they have bad business knowledge and what it takes to run a business.

What is the best part of your job?

One of the best things is meeting so many different types of people and hearing their stories, finding out who they are.

I’ve been to some amazing locations over the years and to see people doing some incredible things in those locations is the best.