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Interviews,  INTERVIEWS,  IntImate Interview,  News

Mobile Photography & Art – ‘Intimate Interview’ with Rob Pearson-Wright from London, United Kingdom

Our forty fourth interview in this new series of intimate interviews is with talented mobile photography and artist, Rob Pearson-Wright from London, UK. This is an exhilarating, big hearted and in places, ripplingly funny interview, pitch perfect, enjoy!

To read the other published interviews in this series including artists, Adria Ellis, Rino Rossi, Mehmet Duyulmus, Alexis Rotella, Lou Ann Sanford Donahue, Irene Oleksiuk, Kerry Mitchell, Filiz Ak, Dale Botha, Lisa Mitchell, M. Cecilia Sao Thiago, Deborah McMillion, Rita Colantonio, Amy Ecenbarger, Jane Schultz, Anca Balaj, Joyce Harkin, Armineh Hovanesian, Kate Zari Roberts, Vicki Cooper, Peter Wilkin, Barbara Braman, Becky Menzies, Sukru Mehmet Omur, Sarah Bichachi, Michel Pretterklieber, Alon Goldsmith, Judy Lurie Whalberg, Andrea Bigiarni, Sean Hayes, Oola Cristina, Kathleen Magner-Rios, Linda Toki, Deb Field, Emilo Nadales, Lydia Cassatt, David Hayes, Jean Hutter, Frederic Deschênes, Mark Schnidman, Fatma Korkut, Fleur Schim and myself, go here.

All images ©Rob Pearson-Wright

What was your earliest childhood ambition?

To become an astronaut or anything spaceman related! 

First Recognition

Future Music magazine in the 90’s. I sent in a cd with some tunes that I’d made and it made the review section. They liked my lead track but suggested I should look at the mixing of it. They had a point. Could have done with another look at the EQ balance. They liked the atmosphere of the track though and that made me feel fuzzy.

mobile photography
‘Space Man’ ©Rob Pearson-Wright

First Job

Helping out in the family ironmongery business. Defunct now.

Private or State school

Private schools. You don’t get a choice as a kid. That’s parenting stuff for better or worse. 

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‘Sparks’ ©Rob Pearson-Wright

University or work

Several Universities for a bit until one didn’t offer me a place on a film course. Then work proved necessary to pay for life things like food and bills.

Who was or still is your mentor?

No one. Just me and the internet. Inspiration comes in many forms. Books, music, films, TV, art, design & fellow artists. 

‘Mirror Mirror’ ©Rob Pearson-Wright

How physically fit are you?

At 44 I feel reasonably fit. Bits creak but still mainly function.

Ambition or Talent. What matters more to success?

Both and more. Find your own voice and both can apply with a healthy dose of luck too. Throw hard graft in the mix and you might get a winning formula. Success will be defined in its own way by different people. 

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‘Let’s Talk’ ©Rob Pearson-Wright

How politically committed are you?

I’m engaged with national and international politics and know where I stand on most issues. I always cast a vote given the opportunity. Politics is everyday life from the smallest thing affecting you locally to the widest issue we all face globally. We should all get stuck in.

What would you like to own that you don’t currently possess?

A Fuji X-T3 with a 23mm 1.4 lens stacked up front. Also a very pretty Gretsch guitar with a whammy bar. 

mobile photography
‘Electric Dreams’ ©Rob Pearson-Wright

What is my biggest extravagance?

Wine. It’s moreish! Travel too. There are loads of places I could drop a large wedge to visit. 

In what places are you happiest?

I’m good within my own headspace. Handy that!

My hometown of London, England. 

The Maldives was nice. I could slum it there.

Zakynthos, Greece. A beautiful Ionian Island and a great place to chill. I’ll be spending time there again soon. Crystal clear waters like you couldn’t believe. *sigh*

‘Gone Swmming’ ©Rob Pearson-Wright

What ambitions do you still have?

I handed in my notice and am now a freelance photographer for hire. I would also like to try my hand at film making. 

What drives you on?

The next good photo. The need to create. A drive to be better and nail each shot every time. Improve my craft. The next interesting moment captured. The joy of the hunt. To learn more.

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‘Will Sir be Long?’ ©Rob Pearson-Wright

What is the greatest achievement of my life so far?

Surviving thus far. No arrests and you can’t prove anything guv! 

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‘Meet the Goslings’ ©Rob Pearson-Wright

What do you find most irritating in other people?

Where do I begin…? Slow walkers. People standing on the left on escalators. Phone zombies. Plain old bigotry. 

If your twenty year old self could see you now, what would he think? 

You made it! Sorry about the stuff I’m going to do to you for the next 20 odd years.

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‘Find my way home’ ©Rob Pearson-Wright

What object that you lost do you wish you still had?

I’ve lost a thin black hoodie that’s really good for summer nights. Can’t find it anywhere. Fingers crossed it turns up in the last place I’d think to look for it.

What is the greatest challenge of our time?

Making people accept that pineapple is a suitable topping on a pizza….that and climate change.

Do you believe in the afterlife?

Only if I can bring my unicorn.

mobile photography
‘Rush Hour Unicorn’ ©Rob Pearson-Wright

If you had to rate your life satisfaction so far, out of ten, what would it be?

Lucky 7. 

mobile photography
‘Just you and me babe’ ©Rob Pearson-Wright

Contact Details for Rob Pearson-Wright

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Joanne Carter is a British photographer, photography journalist, editor and curator and the founder and editorial director of TheAppWhisperer.com, an independent international photography publication established in 2009.Her journalism, criticism and commentary have appeared in The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Financial Times, BBC, Vogue Italia, LensCulture, Popular Photography, Android Magazine, NikonPro, DPReview, Which Digital Camera and Which Camera. She has lectured internationally on photography and mobile art, served as a juror for international photography awards, and exhibited her own photographic work across the UK, Europe, South Korea and the United States.Alongside her editorial work, Joanne's photographic and postgraduate research explores death, grief, memory, representation and social inequality through contemporary photography, participatory practice and visual research methods, with the longer-term aim of developing this work through doctoral research.Through TheAppWhisperer, she continues to publish independent photography journalism spanning contemporary photographic practice, mobile imaging, photographic apps, computational photography and emerging imaging technologies.Joanne is available for editorial commissions, photography projects, judging, curatorial work, speaking engagements, consultancy and selected collaborations.