Serge Thomann is one of Melbourne’s top celebrity photographers. He has worked with some of Australia’s best, such as John Farnham, Rachel Griffiths and Hugh Jackman; and on the international stage he has photographed the likes of Madonna, Celine Dion, U2, Kiss and Mr. T.
Serge said he launched his career in 1986 after Michael Hutchence, the then front man of INXS, loved the photographs he took of a Melbourne concert.
“Life as a rock n’ roll photographer was so different before the digital revolution.
“Back then we shot in transparencies and had to wait for the film to be processed, but the most time consuming part was distributing the photos.
“I spent so much time visiting all the magazine editors in Melbourne and sending prints via mail or courier to Sydney, or via FedEx to overseas locations.
“Today I take a photograph of someone in Melbourne, upload it to my agent’s website and within minutes it’s on the desk of every major picture editor in New York.
“It’s digital technology and fast broadband that has simplified my working life,” said Serge.
Serge’s digital SLR camera is equipped with a wireless image transmitter (www.canon.co.jp) which can automatically transfer photographs directly to his computer the moment the photograph is taken.
From there he immediately transfers the images to WireImage (wireimage.com), a division of Getty Images and one of the world’s largest entertainment image archives, using super fast broadband speeds.
“The world moves a lot faster these days and deadlines seem to be shorter, so I have to be ready to be as fast with my photographic deliveries as the world expects me to be,” he said.
“I work directly with music, theatre and on-screen celebrities, but I’m not a paparazzi. I only take photos where I am invited or commissioned and sometimes a call can come at very short notice. I have to be available 24 hours a day, so the latest technology and fast broadband is perfect for me.
“Because I keep odd hours I bought a Blackberry to answer phone calls and check emails no matter where I am working, or networking,” said Serge.
The personal contact time spent with the subjects of Serge’s photographs hasn’t changed though, only the speed at which he can deliver and distribute images has changed.
This leaves him extra time to pursue other interests and help friends. He recently found time to organise a special 80th birthday celebration for one of Melbourne’s famous artists, Mirka Mora.
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