Greg Sorenson
Do a graduate program, come with an open mind, be prepared to challenge yourself and learn new things, and use everything at your disposal like the lecturers, the other students and the facilities.
Greg Sorenson was drawn to graduate studies at the ANU School of Art by a colour processor.
“I wanted to take my photography back to the basics of analogue,” Greg says. “And I knew ANU had one of the very few large format Colenta processors in Australia.”
He says the reputation of the university was also important, but to an aficionado of analogue photography, the final prints really do matter.
“I wanted to get back to large format photography. I wanted to slow down the process of taking an image, to consider it more, and have more of a hands-on connection with the image and finished product.
“I’ve been shooting digital for about ten years but I found there’s a disconnect between taking the image, seeing the file on the screen and sending it off to be printed. I wanted to be able to have that creative input into the final product, and to experience the tactile, textural quality of print.”
Greg is studying photomedia after a decade working as a building designer. He says he reached the point in his career where he “wanted to go where my passion lies, and that’s photography.”
“I want to focus on social commentary in my photographs, following things that I’m passionate about such as environmental politics, or coal seam gas operations and how that affects farmers. I want to produce bodies of work that have some sort of impact in our wider community.”
Greg says he’s getting back into the rhythm of study and university life, helped by the “brilliant” lecturers at the ANU School of Art, and the rapport with his fellow students.
“The students are all extremely gifted and talented. The School feels like an artisan community, where everybody is helping each other and giving each other feedback.
“And because the lecturers are all practitioners as well, they’re always helping, and you can draw upon the experience and knowledge they have.”
Greg’s advice to anyone considering a change in career direction like his, is “do a graduate program, come with an open mind, be prepared to challenge yourself and learn new things, and use everything at your disposal like the lecturers, the other students and the facilities.”
To see more of Greg's work, visit www.gregsoandso.com.au
Greg has since graduated from the university.
