Simon Wheatley
British, b.1970
Photojournalist / Magnum Photos

Born in Singapore, living in London. Simon Wheatley began to take photography seriously while living in Budapest in the mid-1990s. In recent years he has focussed on marginalized urban areas, with a particular interest in the issues around regeneration and youth.
He has also spent considerable time in Amsterdam where he has photographed the 'liberal' era drawing to an end. He graduated from Manchester University in 1993 with a degree in American and Latin American Studies.

In 2005 he became a nominee member of the renown photo agency Magnum Photos.

01. Getting away from England and the importance of loneliness

Simon Wheatley talks about an interesting time to begin with photography during an 8 months stay in Budapest. About the freedom in his life that he felt to just wander around away from the pressure and about the importance of loneliness.

> Download Chapter 1: "Getting away from England and the importance of loneliness"
Duration: 03:46 min; File size: 3,53 MB; File format: MP3
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02. How to survive in the beginning and a wedding shoot in Nice

How a lucky shot got Simon Wheatley the title "Time Out Travel Photographer Of The Year" through which he got to shoot a wedding in Nice and eventually ended up taking part in an exhibition in Holland.

> Download Chapter 2: "How to survive in the beginning and a wedding shoot in Nice"
Duration: 02:48 min; File size: 2,63 MB; File format: MP3
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03. How to gain peoples trust

Wheatley tells about his way of gaining peoples trust and brings the example of hard drug users in Amsterdam.

> Download Chapter 3: "How to gain peoples trust"
Duration: 01:21 min; File size: 1,28 MB; File format: MP3
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04. About sensitivity and getting close

"I was very, very sensitive as a child and it was weakness but now it's my strength." ... "I don't feel barriers between myself and people. I only realize the gift that I have for that when I see photography by a student of mine for example."

> Download Chapter 2: "About sensitivity and getting close"
Duration: 01:33 min; File size: 1,45 MB; File format: MP3
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