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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05. Getting involved

Simon Wheatly talks about getting involved with his subjcts. About the age difference between him and his subjects and about the consciousness of beeing able to walk out of the situation in which he photographs.

> Download Chapter 5: "Getting involved"
Duration: 03:05 min; File size: 2,90 MB; File format: MP3
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06. Giving back prints

On giving back prints to people you photograph, choosing a frame you wouldn't choose for your project and about people beeing very vain on him.

> Download Chapter 6: "Giving back prints"
Duration: 01:53 min; File size: 1,78 MB; File format: MP3
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07. Work can get depressing sometimes

"There is a lot of joking and banter between me and the subjects. I really enjoy beeing with people but it can get depressing as well." Wheatley talks about the behavior of people and about not beeing to judgemental about it. He talks about accepting a certain amount of exploitation in photojournalism and that there are limits to it.

> Download Chapter 7: "Work can get depressing sometimes"
Duration: 05:00 min; File size: 4,70 MB; File format: MP3
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08. On beeing a good photographer and the Magnum ice cream

Simon Wheatley talks about not taking yourself too seriously and about Magnum the ice cream.

> Download Chapter 8: "On beeing a good photographer and the Magnum ice cream"
Duration: 02:55 min; File size: 2,75 MB; File format: MP3
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09. Getting in touch with Magnum Photos and getting accepted as a nominee

"I did send a picture [to Stuart Franklin] so I guess that's why he'd agree to see me but when he saw the rest of my pictures he just ripped them up." Simon Wheatley talks about his first encounters with Magnum photographers, about a meeting with David Hurn in Perpignan and the e-mail he got when he was accepted into Magnum.

> Download Chapter 9: "Getting in touch with Magnum Photos and getting accepted as a nominee"
Duration: 13:49 min; File size: 12,96 MB; File format: MP3
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10. Beeing rich after 3 months and the benefits of Magnum

"I think if anything I am probably poorer than I was 3 months ago at least in financial terms.
I feel richer because of the experience I've had in meeting some of the photographers whose work I've always admired." About the feeling of beeing recognized, about his middle-class background and the benefits of beeing with Magnum Photos.

> Download Chapter 10: "Beeing rich after 3 months and the benefits of Magnum"
Duration: 06:22 min; File size: 5,98 MB; File format: MP3
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11. Advice for aspiring photographers

"The most important thing is: You don't give up. Believe in what you are doing. The moment you stop believing in a story you are doing then that story is over." About not beeing too distracted from ones paths and a successful period of failure.

> Download Chapter 11: "Advice for aspiring photographers"
Duration: 04:13 min; File size: 3,96 MB; File format: MP3
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The next interviews have already been recorded. It's Joachim Ladefoged from the VII photo agency and Chris Anderson from Magnum Photos.
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