“It’s so easy to take provocative photos because yeah ‘Sex sells’ but it doesn’t last, It fades quicker then the newest trend, which is where I’d like to think I differ, I want my work to last the test of time.”

Josh Hedge is a self-taught photographer, vegan and life-lover. Aspiring to tell a story with each of his images, Josh set out to achieve new heights with his career. At the age of 19, after he bought his first camera, an old DSLR Canon 40D, he discovered the passion for photography and started sharing his view of the world with others. He started a blog that is filled with never ending self-portraits, sunsets, people, nature and happiness portrayed in both analogue and digital formats. Because of the inspirational nature of his work, he began receiving a lot of positive feedback that resulted in the gain of many new fans. And what started off as a hobby has at the end given him the great opportunity to do what he loves for a living. So many opportunities have arised: traveling overseas and across Australia for work, to shoot covers of magazines, editorials, album covers, solo exhibitions, joint exhibitions, meeting people he’s looked up to his whole life and connecting with companies he’d never thought of even being in the same room with; let alone collaborating with them. We talked to Josh, who is a free-spirit that loves to inspire others by exploring new places and being grateful for every aspect life has to offer.

Interview by Eva Davidova
www.instagram.com/evvvd

Hey Josh, how would you describe your work?

It’s very natural, I have always photographed true to myself if that makes sense. I think being self taught from the very start has helped a lot in building my own personal style as I haven’t been influenced to photograph a certain way, I set out to create images that people from all backgrounds can relate to and feel an emotion from. It’s so easy to take provocative photos because yeah ‘Sex sells’ but it doesn’t last, It fades quicker then the newest trend, which is where I’d like to think I differ, I want my work to last the test of time.

Where are you based right now and how is it inspiring you?

I’m in Sydney at the moment, which is a bit different to what I’m used to having spent a lot of time living in small coastal towns. But it’s definitely a place to be if you’re looking to interact and work with people, companies and labels. I’m about to head overseas for anywhere between 2-4 months at the end of April though and to where ever the wind takes me (us) after that, we will just have to wait and see, new places inspire me as I’m not too good at sitting around in the one spot.

What are your favorite subjects to shoot?

My girlfriend is numero uno, when we shoot together it’s just one of those things that can’t be matched. We’re on the same wavelength which makes anything we do real and I’d like to think it shines through in the work we create together which can be seen at www.weareglitterandgold.com. I also love photographing the ocean, to me it’s like the Earths heartbeat, never stops for a moment.. ever, always pulsing through whether it’s big, small, clean or messy.. Just a beautiful element.

“It’s important to have goals and to always be moving one step closer towards them otherwise you are just stuck sitting around with everything on repeat.”

What, besides photography drives your interest?

Huge fan of music, but the good kind of music. Mostly older stuff and not because it’s ‘cool’ to like that music now a days, but because it’s actually art. It’s hard to find an album today where it all ties in together and it’s usually just one song thats good but put on a Pink Floyd record and you can literally sit there from start to finish then want to do it all over again and again and again and still feel left wanting more (which i have done for quite sometime now and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon haha). If it gives me shivers then I know it’s something worth listening to.

The four most important things in life?

~ Family of course, I often wish I had a little mini version of my Mum, Dad, Sister and dog that I could carry around with me everywhere I go, but I can’t so I do appreciate spending time with them whenever I head back up the coast to the Hedge abode.

~ The ability to be happy and love, so many people are afraid to show emotion, hello we aren’t robots, it’s what makes the world go around and there needs to be more of it .

~ Having goals, whether they are hugely unimaginable but a tiny bit believable, ideas you want to achieve or just a day to day thing it’s important to have goals and to always be moving one step closer towards them otherwise you are just stuck sitting around with everything on repeat.

~ Giving back what you take, how and where you want to apply that is entirely up to you.

What have been some of the most rewarding moments in your career thus far?

I have had a lot of really cool things come my way in the 4 and a half years I’ve been taking photos. Just having people say to me that my photography brings them joy and happiness will always be the most rewarding thing, having battled with depression and anxiety since my late teenage years  it’s comforting to know I can provide a light to others in a dark place especially experiencing first hand how bad those places can be and feel, I can’t think of a more rewarding feeling to be honest and it provides me with the fuel to keep doing what I do.

How do you feel about the way your work has progressed so far? How do you see it evolving in the future?

It’s progressed a lot, having said earlier that I’m self taught in both analogue and digital formats it’s been quite a little journey so far and it’s always overwhelming looking back at the images I took in the beginning compared to now, going through the transition of photography being a hobby slowly into my ‘job’ has been very interesting as well. I’ve grown to be more precise when I photograph which has come with maturing a lot as a person, It’s hard to say or guess where it will take me in the future you just never know what will come around the next corner, this time last year I had all but given up on being a photographer and was working full time on farms to now being more motivated than ever as a photographer. The desire to share my art with as many people as I can globally definitely gives me the confidence in something special evolving though, I’m only 23 and just beginning to become aware of where I can go with it all so it’s a really exciting chapter thats unfolding.

“One of the most important things in life is the ability to be happy and love, so many people are afraid to show emotion, hello we aren’t robots, it’s what makes the world go around and there needs to be more of it .”

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Smiling, hopefully I will still have my gold tooth.

Favorite hideaway spot?

It’s a little place called Point Plomer on the east coast of New South Wales, it’s tiny I don’t even think it’s on google maps haha nah it probably is. Anyways it’s just this slice of heaven, a little headland where people camp, there is a block of toilets and thats a bout it. Basically all you can do is surf a wave thats 15 metres away from your tent, sit around a fire, eat food and talk with friends. It’s simple and it’s so damn beautiful.

“I also love photographing the ocean, to me it’s like the Earths heartbeat, never stops for a moment.. ever, always pulsing through whether it’s big, small, clean or messy.. Just a beautiful element.”

Three things on your bucket-list right now:

Visit Jim Morrions grave at Pere Lachasie in France

See the Northern Lights in the flesh

Have my own gallery, One day ~ Very far down the track though.

 A secret Vegan recipe you would like to share with our readers?

This is going to be a bit of a let down because my favourite meal is honestly coconut rice with steamed green vegetables haha. Which makes being vegan sound boring but if I had $1000000 in my bank I would still be eating this, and it’s not a boring lifestyle. It’s something a lot more people are becoming aware of which is amazing.. In the 5 years I’ve been a vegetarian / vegan I have had to visit the doctors on a total of ZERO occasions. It’s a good and healthy way to exist!

Words to live by:

No words, Just pictures :)

www.joshhedge.com
instagram.com/joshhedge

a black and white series of Josh Hedge himself

all images by www.joshhedge.com