Peter Andrinopoulos

You could kind of compare Peter Andrinopoulos to one of those superheroes with mundane day jobs, but AMAZING side gigs. Accountant by day, superstar photographer by night (and also during the day when he clocks off), Peter produces powerful and stellar photographs that ought to be seen by the wider public. In COLLAGE’S latest spotlight, he tells us of his eagerness to capture the natural world and his desire to experiment.

Q: Hello Peter! Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

A: From a young age, I have always had a passion for the outdoors and love for macro photography. While most kids my age were reading comic books, I was reading non-fiction books and journals on the animal kingdom or browsing the amazing photos of National Geographic magazines. I knew it would only ever be time before I bought my first camera and started learning the art of photography for myself.

As an accountant by trade, photography began as a wonderful way of escaping the seriousness of work and helping me keep a balanced and creative lifestyle. As my career began to change to what I do now, I am fortunate that I can now begin to take my photography to work as well, shooting at various UniSA student events and staff functions.

Q: Who inspires you? What inspires your art?

A: When I think about my inspiration, I quickly think of those magazines and books I read as kid. I have to pay tribute to all the National Geographic photographers, past and present who captured a young mind and sparked many dreams. Nowadays, I am also grateful for having met a local photographer and florist, John Lloyd. I find John’s work truly amazing and he is a very positive role model. My art is definitely inspired by these people as I strive one day to produce such quality results as they do.

Q: Do you have a preferred medium?

A: My preferred medium is photography. I got my first DSLR in 2014, and while I haven’t had any formal photography training, I never let that slow me down. Ever since that purchase, I have taken my camera literally almost everywhere, taking every opportunity to practice my art and experiment with techniques and styles basically every day.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I describe my style as attempting to capture the natural and innocent beauty of the world around me. When I present my work, I want it to arrest my audience and make them see something which they may not have otherwise seen. Whether it is in a cityscape, a beautiful landscape, or up close and personal with nature on a macro level, I don’t really mind. I would have to say that waterscapes would be my favourite though.

Q: Can you please describe your artistic and creative process i.e.: from lingering idea to putting it into practice?

A: When I go out to shoot, I either have an idea of what I am looking for or I just want to get out of the house. If I have an idea I usually know where I am going to capture it and what equipment I need so I just head there and wait for the right time and shot to present itself. If I am just looking to get out of the house I usually pack everything short of the kitchen sink and choose a location which I feel like scouting for the day. I often walk around with the camera stuck to my face looking through the viewfinder for something that grabs my attention. It is amazing what you find in obvious places when you are looking around without any other objective to take your concentration.

Something I always find interesting is experimenting with different heights. People usually view their surroundings at head-height, but you always get interesting results when you look at something from waist-height or even lower. I spend a lot of my time taking shots from these low angles experimenting with various techniques to capture my shot for the day.

Q: Where do you see your art practice taking you in the next five years?

A: Over the next 5 years I want to see my art filling the homes or work places of my clients. Hopefully I can also enter my art into more exhibitions and one day have a gallery of my own. I hope that I am one day able to inspire other young artists and help them develop their passion and skills as I was once inspired and continue to be now.

Q: If you could recommend one artist, who would it be?

A: I can’t really recommend any particular artist as there are so many inspirational photographers and it would be a shame to name just one. Instead, for anyone serious about photography on any level or trying to find a place to frequently view quality photos, you can do so easily on social media these days by following the pages, groups or individuals you enjoy. I suggest trying Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, 500PX, Pinterest, viewbug and other similar social media sites.

Q: What is your favourite gallery?

A: I can’t really pick a favourite gallery. I would say any gallery which displays the art which interests you is one worth seeing; beauty is in the eye of the beholder and you shouldn’t let someone else tell you what art to appreciate.

Q: Where can we find more of your work?

A: You can find my work on my Facebook page – Photos by Peter.

I also have a Flickr, 500PX and viewbug accounts.

Q: If you had unlimited funds, where would you visit?

A: I would want to discover all the untouched natural beauty of North America and Europe for myself. There are so many beautiful and man-made places in these countries and you can see amazing and inspiring images of them every day on social media, one day it would be amazing to be able to visit them in real life to behold their wonders in person.

-Masya Zabidi