“I like photo’s that educate me, or transform me to another world, a lost world, a world gone for ever.” UK Photographer and Film Maker Mike Dowson´s work is a timeless and sensual capturing of beautiful woman. Images that will catch your full attention and live on, long after the real moment is gone. Besides his wonderful visual language, there are many quotes out of the interview we did with Mike that continue to have an effect on us, like his words on bodyshaming, criticism or the art of photography as a role model for society. ”Art is a lie in search of the truth and photography is merely a fascinating pastime in which everyone can indulge.”
Why do you love photography?
I think everyone has a fascination/love with photography. With the introduction of digital the world is bursting at the seams with people taking photographs. I can’t explain why I love photography, it’s the mystery, I suppose, the possibility of taking a photograph which will enlighten/entertain future generations.
And what do you want to capture?
I’m not really sure. There are countless permutations when taking a photograph, making photography a mystery an unfathomable mystery. I like photo’s that educate me, or transform me to another world, a lost world, a world gone for ever.
In your portfolio there are a lot of slim girls, also lots who have large breasts. When is a woman beautiful in your eyes? And is that your own preference?
Many large breasted girls have different personalities than girls with smaller breasts, society treats women according to their bodyshapes, I find girls with large breasts quite often more gregarious, they’re usually more extroverted than girls with small breasts because of the attention they receive. Of course there are many exceptions but the world tends to notice girls with larger breasts and the girls have to adjust to the attention they receive. I, personally have no preferences, if I did, I’d be limiting myself, and that would be a mistake. To me everyone is beautiful.
If we stay on topic, there is still so much “bodyshaming” everywhere. At the moment there seems to be a lot of opinions against every woman who is slim. Do you notice this as well?
That only applies if you take notice of the media, in real life no one really cares about body shapes, unless you’re in the media business where appearances are considered important. Essentially, ‘bodyshaming’ only affects young people, the physically insecure and vulnerable, as a woman matures I’d hoped she’d have more important things to concern her than the nonsense written in the media. It’s just a phase, it will pass, eventually.
And how important do you think is “the art of photography” as a role model for society?
I don’t equate or associate photography with art, Many people do but it’s a completely different medium. Art is a lie in search of the truth and photography is merely a fascinating pastime in which everyone can indulge. Not to be taken seriously.
You do a lot of nude and provocative stuff. What inspires you on that theme?
I was naturally drawn to it, SEX SELLS! A very true statement. ‘Beautiful’ women sell products, I’m not sure why. I certainly don’t have a ‘preference’ I like all woman. I never restrict myself even though it might appear that way.
And how do you deal with criticism?
Criticism or praise never affects me. I don’t take either seriously or personally, I am the best judge of my own work.
“Girls on film” is one of your projects, right? Please tell us about it.
I was asked by several model agencies in Paris to shoot several short films for each individual model to be forwarded to prospective clients, Video, like photography, is so much more convenient and accessible, portfolios are too static, too restrictive for many clients who want to see how a model moves. So I decided to make my own, on going movie about models, the modelling world, it’s virtues and dark side, I’m making the film quite erotic for obvious reasons. More marketable.
How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it?
My commercial work and my personal work are very different, my commercial work is vacuous and contrived, there is no profundity in fashion or erotic, nude photography, it’s just mere titillation.
In an interview you said you love to travel and read in your free time. So what book are you reading right now? And where would you like to go next?
I used to read avidly, several books a week, I love the classics, both French and Russia, I like reading diaries, travel books, some fiction, History. At the moment I am reading ”A bend in the River”, by VS Naipaul and ”Seven Pillars of wisdom” by T.S Lawrence (rereading). At the moment I am in St Petersburg, Russia, I’ll return to the UK in Sept and then fly to Japan for a month before going to Thailand, Viet-Nam and Cambodia.
If you come once again to the world what do you want to be?
One life is enough, I’m not a lover of life.
Where do you see yourself in a few years?
Probably in prison, dead or a mental hospital.
The most important thing in life is?
Take huge risks, control your ego and not to have too many regrets.
