Photography News | Issue 64 | photographynews.co.uk
Interview 40
in 2015 and this was a catch-up – it was really lovely to meet Matt Baker and Alex James again. Matt came and chatted tome in the room for ages beforewewent on. He ismymate and it was lovely. I felt a bit nervous, but I did it! PN: Can you tell us what it was like to win the National Diversity Award for UK Positive Role Model for Disability? OH: I went to Liverpool for my award – in the big cathedral – and I had bacon, egg and chips while everyone else had posh food, and everyone else was jealous of my plate. I went up on stage and blew kisses to my fans in the crowd. It was a good night. WO: I had contacted thembeforehandand said that I was rather worried Oliver wouldn’t eat any of the rather expensive, unpronounceable
food they were going to be serving – you know, a swirl of this, and a layered ‘ballotine’ and ‘quenelle’ of that… And bless them, I told them what he loved and he was served just that – much to the jealousy of everyone else on our posh table! In his acceptance speech he said, “I’ve got Down syndrome. They said it would be hard. But I found it easy!” I think that’s a great quote! PN: What advice would you give to other photographers? OS: Just discover your eye and take some good images – always notice the detail in everything, and make sure you get down low to do the flowers; make sure it’s in the centre, look at the detail, sometimes use a tripod. I like to keep moving, but I use a tripod for long shutter speed shots of moving water. When
you take a landscape, make sure the trees are in focus, the twigs and everything. WO: Oliver is not constrained by photography rules and does not seek to impress. He knows about the rule of thirds but is not bothered by it, and is still very happy to most frequently sit his target in the centre of the frame. He also is more than happy to have a twig/branch/stem/ blade of grass, or whatever, go across in front of his feathered subject, as long as he has the eye sharp. He finds tripods frustrating and restrictive as he likes to keep moving and has his eye drawn to something catching the light, the shape and form, often taking pictures of things you wouldn’t expect. Followers of his Facebook page often send messages and make comments saying, “Oliver is my eyes now I can’t get out any more” or, “Whenever I’m out with my camera now I think, ‘I wonder what Oliver would take a picture of here’”, or, “You have really encouragedme to get my camera out again and renew my love for photography, which I think I lost along the way somewhere”. Countless messages are received daily from people saying how inspired they are by Oliver and his achievements, and fromparents of children with additional needs saying how encouraged and reassured they are about their child’s future because they follow Oliver’s page. Oliver, without even realising it, reaches out to people all over the world and says, “Look at me. If I can do this – just imagine what you could do…”
Oliver’s Birds
Oliver’s book, Oliver’s Birds , published byACC Art Books, is available to buy now through Amazon, or if purchased through hiswebsite for £17.99, you’ll receive a signed copy. oliverhellowell.com Facebook.com/ OliverHellowellPhotographer
images Despite having a wide-ranging portfolio, Oliver's favourite subject is wildlife
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