It's all Greek to me!

Can the ancient Greek sculptors teach us about contemporary photography and styles? Lucinda Merriman meets photographer Hannah Chambers to find out why she thinks that they can.

Hannah Chambers, 22, a little shy but determined, graduated from Portsmouth University in 2015 with a 2:1 in Interior Architecture and Design.

Interested in architecture and history from an early age, Hannah explains: “I’ve always been fascinated by classical architecture – Roman and Greek grandeur – soaring Corinthian columns and the drama and beauty of the Greek sculptures.  I love historical buildings that we don’t seem to be able to build now and I’m really interested in their restoration and conservation. It’s interesting to see contemporary architects designing new additions that sympathetically enhance, while not changing the integrity of the building. 

"I love what David Closes did with the 18th century Convent de Sant Francesc in Spain, his fantastic contempoarary auditorium fits perfectly with the original building." 

“I also admired Zahra Hadid, I respected her confidence, determination and style.  Her architecture is very innovative, I like her fluidity and sense of movement. Her designs enhance their surroundings and will be design classics of the future.”

After graduating, Hannah quickly got a job at an exhibition designers and has now moved on to be a 3-D designer conceptual and 2-D shop fitting designer.

Hannah is also a keen photographer, “My dad was always snapping shots which looks effortless but were really good, he taught me a great deal but it was only after doing my degree that my eyes were really opened to the art of photography.  

Ground breaking photographers like Richard Avedon with his series of documentary style shots of ordinary people ‘In the American West’ and Henry Cartier Bresson’s street photography really interests and excites me.  I’m intrigued with his idea of the ‘decisive moment’ when a photographer chooses the exact moment to capture the shot.”

Hannah would like to turn professional at some stage in her career and having had some experience in wedding photography, would like to do more. And it seems that her early appreciation of Greek sculpture is something she thinks can be applied to the photographer’s craft.

“Greek sculpture captured the human form in a way that was new – they considered proportions and poise and presented an idealised perfection of the human body. As a wedding photographer, you are asked to represent the couple at their peak – this is their optimum moment – their crowning glory - they must look like Gods! I want to capture that ‘decisive moment’ for them to keep always.”

“I see wedding photography as a merger of old and new – there’s a long tradition that has to be upheld which dictates which shots need to be taken but I always aim to introduce a new twist or angle that is unexpected. To me it's all about that true moment when someone relaxes and their true personality shines – it’s unguarded, spontaneous and above all real.”

As Zahra Hadid said, “There are 360 degrees, so why stick to one?”

To see more of Hannah's pics, please click here.