Sam McAdam-Cooper is a talented photographer based in Sydney Australia. She does both
commercial and editorial work as well as portraits. She was recently among honorees from the National Gallery for a portrait of actor Nathan Page (DI Jack Robinson from Miss Fisher Murder Mystery Series) for a portrait called “The Chameleon.”
Sam kindly agreed to take part in this interview about her craft;
1. Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?I studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts at what was then, the College of Fine Arts in Sydney. I went there straight from high school, and I was very focused on this throughout my teens. I had grown up in a house where the arts were celebrated and discussed all of the time, it was our ‘normal’. I
really feel for creatives that grow up in families that don’t understand their vocation, it must be so hard without that encouragement. The idea that we would develop our chosen creative paths was expected and encouraged in my family. I went to art school thinking I would be a practicing artist. It was a very academic degree, and I came out at the end of it, having researched my Honours thesis and receiving an excellent education in critical theory and art history, but with few technical skills. I didn’t really have a stigma about making commercial work, I couldn’t afford that luxury, so I set about learning how I could make a living using a camera.
2. How did you get into photography, did you have a mentor?I was lucky to have several interested and very cool art teachers in high school and they were important in
terms of translating my dreams into a practice. I first started shooting at 14, with an older school friend who was keen too, and we fed each other’s interest. There were so many incredible photographers working in fashion in the mid to late ’80s here in Australia such as Graham Shearer and Grant Matthews, and they influenced me enormously, as well as the explosion of clever, stylish music videos made by visionaries like Richard Lowenstein. Jean-Baptiste Mondino is a real hero of mine, some of my all time favourite campaigns and music videos have been shot or directed by him. I love that he’s still making visceral, passionate work now, though he’s well into his sixties.
3. What inspires you?To make work? Graphic, beautiful things. Usually something illicits a response from me, and I just have to explore it. It can be a beautifully designed piece of furniture, or something from nature. Something with form usually more than say, a sunset or the ambiance of a place. Shapes,
lines, sculptural elements. These can be in objects or people. More broadly speaking, I am inspired by random acts of kindness; great and moving works of art; people getting on with their lives whilst traversing extreme set backs. I think, in a nutshell though, humanity inspires me (and appalls me in equal measure).
4. Can you share what goes into creating your shots?That depends a lot on the nature of the shoot. In my editorial and commercial work, which is how I earn my living, I am working to a client’s brief and collaborating with a team that normally includes an art director, a stylist, assistants, hair and make up artists, maybe an editor or publisher, or an account manager and direct client. Many relationships to successfully
navigate. Someone, somewhere has written a brief for the story we need to create, it could be something a bit open ended that the stylist has been left to interpret, other times it will be exacting in the details we have to follow. Either way, there are always a set of expectations to fulfill, and hopefully exceed. Part of my job is to steer the visuals so that they work with the client’s brand, and that could be small things like questioning props or positioning of items to make sure that the narrative we are creating is the right one. I think my art school training helps with this- all those readings on semiotics and simulacra- as well as life experience. I’ll be given reference shots to describe the feel that everyone is going for, and I work with manipulating lighting and the editing process to play with this. It’s a collaboration between all the parties involved. With my personal, or uncommissioned work, it’s a similar collaborative process, but it’s my idea that we’re working to explore and resolve.
5. A lot of your shots are in black and white, do the shadows of it inspire you?Shadows are enhanced when an image is converted to black and white, and that is one of the reasons I might choose to edit an image that way. As I shoot almost exclusively in a digital format now, the images are automatically captured in colour and I then have the option of later processing the raw file in colour or black and white. Gone are the days of
committing to a roll of colour or black and white film. Textures change, and depending on how the filters are set, different colours brighten or recede in the conversion, and that is probably the biggest reason that would sway me to convert an image to BW. Often colours just get in the way of the narrative in a shot. Sometimes the lighting conditions aren’t ideal either, and it’s a way to pull something out of a shot that just wouldn’t make the cut had it been left in colour. Also, the colour treatment can really set in a viewer’s mind when it was taken. Like in the same way when you see a feature film made in the 1960’s, you can always tell from the film stock and styling. It’s not about replicating the past, or re-staging though many photographers embrace that as part of their practice. It’s more about being ambiguous and interrupting the train of thought in someone viewing a work, slowing down that process of interpreting and filing away an image. Having said that, I have no hard and fast rules in my work. Every situation requires something specific to that work.
6. The wonderful actor Nathan Page is in a lot of your pictures, is he your muse? In the National Gallery Photo of Nathan you called him “The Chameleon,” do you like the challenge of that? That he never looks the same twice?I was really compelled to photograph Nathan because having seen his work, I was quite simply fascinated by his physiognomy. As a photographer one tends to study someone in person or on film, and you are able to pretty quickly understand their bone structure, how best to light
them, what their flaws and features are, but I found myself unable to get a handle on what he actually looked like. That became an interesting idea to me: that I could see hours of someone on my television but still be left curious as to their attributes. Especially in this age of information overload, that someone in the public eye could be so ambiguous. That idea became the starting point of our collaboration. I wouldn’t say that Nathan is comfortable being photographed, it’s certainly not his natural comfort zone and he’s quite an un-actorly actor in that regard. It’s a lovely, unfolding process of trusting each other and being willing to play and explore things that wouldn’t otherwise sit so comfortably for either of us.
7. How did your creative partnership with Nathan Page begin? Did it start as a process of experimentation for art (since he is an art lover) ?It took me a good 18 months to get the courage to even approach Nathan, and though the initial response was positive, it took us almost another year to schedule the first shoot. We live in different states and both have young families, as well as work commitments. From the outset we discussed this as collaborative project, quite open ended in how it might develop and open to where it might go. There is a real generosity of spirit with him, and a natural willingness to have a play. I think that comes from him being an actor, and being open to new experiences. It was a bonus that we get on quite well with each other too.
8. How do you balance work and family?Badly most of the time.9. Anything exciting coming up that would like others to know about?So many exciting things in the pipeline. In the next few weeks though, Nathan and I will release a new portrait, signed by him and in a limited print run. Still tweaking the details but we’ll let everyone know on his and my Instagram when it’s ready to go.Sam’s work has regularly appeared in leading Australian and international lifestyle magazines. Some of these titles include Inside Out, Vogue Living, Country Style, Masterchef, and Delicious. Check out all her work at; http://www.sammcadam.com/
All photos copyright ©Sam McAdam-Cooper unless otherwise noted.
Tag Archives: Creative Artists Showcase
Contest For Theme Song For Chatting With Sherri!
I am very excited to hear from all you talented musicians out there. I would like a short peppy theme song for my show Chatting With Sherri. What I need is short cute song that lasts less than 1 minute. It should reflect my happy positive view of the show. There is a dead line, I will need to get your emails by August 30th. Please send me your entry to rithebard@yahoo.com with Theme Song in Subject. The winner will be a guest on my show to plug their music! Since I am now booked up till next year this will be a special show with just you, it will be a great chance to reach an audience so send in those songs
Hudson Leick and I had a great time on my show Chatting With Sherri for our special broadcast on Wednesday. It was my first time doing an hour show and I was nervous but once I got in the flow the hour flew by. Hudson was wonderful, down to Earth and so much fun! I have already received a lot of emails and IM’s about it and it seems everyone was enchanted with
the lovely Hudson. We had so many people call in I had time to ask the questions I collected and the questions were so interesting. Hudson had a good time too, it was a great hour! We talked about Callisto in Xena, Warrior Princess and about how she got the part. We also talked about her wonderful yoga retreats(which sold out) and her wonderful cd which guides the listener in all kinds of meditations; Here is the link for Hudson’s site so you can check out her retreats and buy one of her amazing CDs; http://www.hudsonleick.com/ please listen to fascinating hour at; http://tobtr.com/s/5003953 .
This week I also chatted with the lovely Dianne Gardner about her novel Deception Peak. We had a wonderful time talking about
fantasy and science fiction. We also discussed where inspiration comes from that her stories were inspired by the children in her family. Deception Peak, Ian’s Realm Trilogy it is a best-selling YA adventure fantasy saga. It follows the adventures of a teenage boy as he travels into an alternate realm filled with wonder and excitement! Please listen to the wonderful chat at; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/07/16/chatting-with-sherri .
This Tuesday on Chatting With Sherri I will be interviewing award-winning journalist Doug Smith will talk about his first
novel, Same Same! He will also chat about his 30+ years of successful achievement as an editor and writer with three of the most influential newspapers in the United States – Newsday, The New York Post and USA Today. Please listen in this Tuesday to listen to this talented writer; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/07/23/chatting-with-sherri
I am working on getting more and more artists of all kinds. This week I am proud to let you know about artist Kathleen Kite-Powell with an amazing display of pottery will join us at the Showcase. I have more wonderful artists that are
coming to the show and I hope to let you know who really soon. I hope if you’re in the San Diego area you will drop by and take part as a patron to our first Creative Artists Showcase. It will be on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Fusion Glass Co. This will be a great time for all everyone is invited, if you’re in the area please stop by. We will showcase all kinds of wonderful creative projects. Art, Books, Performing Arts, Music, Food… So come one, come all to our first showcase! http://www.meetup.com/La-Mesa-Creative-Types/events/123334742/?a=ra1_te
My Spring Issue was a real success for me! I received a lot of wonderful feedback about the beauty and wonder of the jewels in that issue My next issue will be at the end of August so please read this issue of my beautiful magazine Sherri’s Jewel Box while you can still see this amazing issue. http://sherrisjewelbox.weebly.com/
On-Line Book Club Will Be Here Soon!
It is coming soon! It’s only nine days away till my own on-line book club called; Sherri’s On Line Book Club. I hope you all have my book; Fantasy Time Inc. and have started to read it.https://www.facebook.com/events/474453272631513/ and on Goodreads; http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/892000-sherri-s-on-line-book-club n Facebook;
I had such a great time talking with Melissa Good.We will talked about fan fiction, her Tropical Storm series and
its newest addition Moving Target. We will also discuss her brand new book; Partners which sounds like a really interesting novel about our future and the future of the oceans. She also talked about her day job as an IT expert and the cruise industry that she works in. It was a lively fun 45 minutes with her answering your questions and being so open and quite fun. Please listen in to this interesting and talented woman; http://tobtr.com/s/4856513 Also please check out her website with all the latest stories and information about her books; http://merwolf.com/
I had a lively chat with Tasha Donahue on Tuesday, she talked about her book, her love of adventure and family. She also talked about her son and what a challenging but rewarding road they have traveled together. In fact she
is going to write a new book on motherhood and would love your contributions so please check out her; www.MeetMeUnderTheEiffelTower.wordpress.com for more information. Her book; Meet Me Under The Eiffel Tower; is about retaining balance in life as a woman a very important issue for all of us. It is a book about coming into your own please listen at; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/06/18/chatting-with-sherri


I am so excited I have added several wonderful artists of all types to the showcase. It is starting to really shape up. Creative Artists Showcase will be on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Fusion Glass Co. This will be a great time for all everyone is invited if you’re in the area please stop by. We will showcase all kinds of wonderful creative projects. Art, Books, Performing Arts, Music, Food…This is a chance for new artists to show off what they have to offer and new patrons to marvel at the work and of course buy it. So come one, come all to our first showcase! http://www.meetup.com/La-Mesa-Creative-Types/events/123334742/?a=ra1_te
Please check out a new venture that’s called Book Fanatix; You can get FREE stuff by using social media to discover, talk, and buy books. Authors are rewarded too for the more they do. Let the book revolution begin! Please check it out, here’s the link igg.me/at/getfreestuff
Filed under art, blogs, blogtalk radio, creative, entertainment, events, fan fiction, meet up, On Line Book Club, writing
Interviews! I Love To Do Interviews!
I love doing interviews, it is really interesting and you get to see what really makes people tick. You get to peek behind the mask that we all wear in our day-to-day lives. It is really to borrow a word from my favorite Vulcan, Fascinating.
Tomorrow I will be having a special edition of Chatting With Sherri! I am very excited to interview the wonderful
bard, author, screenwriter writer Melissa Good . Melissa shot to fame with in the Xenaverse with her series Tropical Storm. We will talk about fan fiction, her series and its newest addition Moving Target. We will also discuss her brand new book; Partners, This special expanded edition will include a chance to speak directly with our guest during the last 15 minutes of the show. Please ready your questions! http://tobtr.com/s/4856513
On Tuesday we will have Tasha Donahue who is a food editor, travel writer and syndicated columnist on family issues. She also hosted and produced a seven-part television series on food, wine and lifestyles. To check out her work ple
ase go to her website; www.MeetMeUnderTheEiffelTower.wordpress.com . She will be chatting about her book; Meet Me Under The Eiffel Tower; Her Adventures Living in Paris and The Importance of Regaining and Retaining Balance in Life. It is a book about coming into your own, please listen to us chat on Tuesday at 1030am PST; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/06/18/chatting-with-sherri
I really enjoyed my chat with Gary Beck this week, we talked about theater and books. It was a lot of fun. Of course we also discussed his book Extreme Change. Extreme Change is about a strong
woman determined to help her family survive the horrors of the homeless system. Please listen to the recording of the show at; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2013/06/11/chatting-with-sherri
My kitty Xena was at my computer writing her blog this week. It has been a while but she has been very busy. Please enjoy her hard work; I Am The Mighty Bug Hunter! http://wp.me/p2Ljyb-G via @wordpressdotcom
I love classic movies and classic stars so as I watched these two movies I was deeply affected. So I had to of course run to my computer and write these happy blogs 🙂 Please check out my movie blogs; The Wonderful Short Film Hollywood My Home Town http://wp.me/p2MXCg-1l as well as The Magic Was Always There! http://wp.me/p2MXCg-1h . Please tell me what you think 🙂
It is coming soon in only a few weeks I will be having my own on-line book club called; Sherri’s On Line Book Club. I am looking forward to having a fun and lively chat about Fantasy Time Inc n Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/events/474453272631513/ and on Goodreads; http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/892000-sherri-s-on-line-book-club
Well my showcase is coming along nicely. I have some wonderful artists of all types that will take part. As you know I am calling it Creative Artists Showcase; I called it that so artists of all types can take part. It will be on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Fusion Glass Co. This will be a great time for all of us. We will showcase all our wonderful creative projects. Art, Books, Performing Arts, Music, Food…This is a chance to show what we can do and have a great place to do it. So come one, come all to our first showcase! http://www.meetup.com/La-Mesa-Creative-Types/events/123334742/?a=ra1_te
A fellow author Chris Salisbury has started an interesting new venture. It’s called Book Fanatix; Get FREE stuff by using social media to discover, talk, and buy books. Authors are rewarded too for the more they do. Let the book revolution begin! Please check it out, here’s the link igg.me/at/getfreestuff
My special guest on my blog this week is author Brian Francis Heffron, He has a written a new book called; Colorado Mandala. Welcome Brian!
I do remember that when I got my first copy of Winnie the Pooh, that was the moment I decided I wanted to be a writer. In fact, I cut out paper the same size as A.E. Milne’s Book and copied, word-for-word every syllable of Winnie the Pooh onto my own paper in my childish scrawl. Then I stapled it all together and I remember that eventually the stapler would not go through all the pages, and so I had to staple it to the last few pages and it kust turned into quite a mess…But still…I took it to my sweet Mother and told her I was now ready to publish my first book. Darling soft creature that she was, she let me down easy, explaining very slowly that in order to publish my own book, I had to write every word in it all by myself. This did not phase me at all, in fact, and I immediately began writing down my own stories.—And the truth is I have never stopped

Filed under blogs, blogtalk radio, creative, entertainment, events, fan fiction, meet up, movies, On Line Book Club, screenwriting, tv, writing, xena