Late last year I had the pleasure of meeting Sydney based photographer Anna Zhu.

Anna has graciously accepted our invitation to share some of her images and thoughts on photography.

Anna, can you tell us how you came to photography?

Both my father and my uncle are avid amateurs, so I was always surrounded by cameras growing up but I was never interested. I think as a child I wanted to find an area of interest that was different to everyone in my family. That’s probably why I chose to study Visual Communications at uni.

But it wasn’t until my year long exchange in China in 2006, when I wanted to document my experience, that I picked up a dusty old film camera simply because I didn’t own a digital and film was still so cheap in China. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Do you have a favorite lens which is always on your camera?…if so what is it?

I’ve only been using it for a year, but the Canon 35mm f/1.4 is a definite favourite. It’s a fast lens that works well in low light, and has a short focusing distance which allows me to get really close. Because it’s a wide angle, there is some distortion and slight vignette at the edges, which would mean hell to an architectural photographer, but is complementary to a documentary portraitist.

How do you know when one of your photographs is really good?

I don’t!! Editing is a very very difficult process for me, and something which cannot be accomplished in one round, rather over several rounds with periods of rest in between. And ‘good’ can mean different things depending on where you see the images going and who you’re editing for. For example, the images that’ll go on my wall are ones that I have a strong emotional connection to, but won’t necessarily interest a photo editor.

There are also a few people I trust who have a great eye for picking out the hero shots, and I rely heavily on their opinions.

I see on your website you recently traveled to Antarctica tell me more about this?

Antarctica was a result of the 2009 World Nomads Travel Photography Scholarship. This is an annual global competition for amateur photographers seeking mentorship in the field under veteran National Geographic photographer Jason Edwards (www.bio-images.com.au).

It was an amazing experience, a definite cornerstone in my career. Jason has become a friend and a rock in my life. We recently opened a joint exhibition in Melbourne of our Antarctica images. The exhibit is at the Michael’s Photographic Gallery, on the corner of Elizabeth and Lonsdale Streets, and ran until August 4th 2010.

What types of assignments are you attracted to the most?

I’m attracted to people and projects that aim to make a positive impact in the world because they inspire be both as a person and creatively as a photographer. By documenting their experiences and stories I hope to pass on some of that inspiration and contribute in some small way to positive change.

How technical is your photography?

Not very! I had a difficult time in the beginning learning the technical side of photography, there just seemed to be too many numbers and too many variables. All that seemed so boring that I almost gave up. But my first photography teacher at uni, Jonny (www.jonnylewis.org), changed my thinking when he described photography as a lifestyle rather than a profession. He threw the rules out the window, had us set our cameras on auto and just shoot.
Since then I’ve slowly picked up on the technical, and it’s become second nature. But I don’t like to bring in more technology than I strictly need. To date, I prefer film to digital, and natural light to studio flashes.

What is your favorite image, either your own or someone else’s or both? Describe its creation or meaning to you?

There are so many images that have made an impact on me that it’s impossible to pick a favourite!
I was, and still am, very influenced by Mary Ellen-Mark’s work. She spoke to me as a female photographer working in a field that is still dominated by men, and her documentary work on children, women and families on the fringes of society are compelling and inspiring. By the same token, I also look up to Dorothea Lange.

Do you align yourself with any particular photographic movement?

Not the last time I checked I don’t have much time to scour the internet for new work, so what I turn to for inspiration are the old masters and the occasional press photography exhibition (World Press 2010 is on now at the State Library!) We cannot help but be influenced by what we see elsewhere, all I hope that I’ll keep solidifying a style that is strong, candid and distinctive.

See Anna Zhu’s online portfolio at www.annazhu.com. She is available for domestic and international assignments.