Interview with Iselin Shaw Of-Tordarroch

Hi Iselin! Tell us about yourself in two sentences - who are you?

I'm a 23-year-old Arabic & politics-studying Scottish Viking (half Scot, half Norwegian) whose main interests are the Middle East and photography. The Middle East because of hummus and falafel, and photography because it has yet to bring me a single moment of boredom.

QWhat's the weirdest situation you've found yourself in while taking a photograph?

AThere are numerous to chose between, but the first that comes to mind is probably being at The Taj Mahal where the Indian visitors were more interested in snapping pictures of my blonde friend and I than actually appreciating the Taj. People would take 20 selfies with us and then shake their head vigorously when I asked if I could photograph them. It was weird to feel more interesting as photo objects than one of the most famous places in the world, even in our dirty backpacking outfits, greasy hair and sunburnt skin.

QWhat do you shoot on? What's your favourite set up?

AI'm not very technically strong, so my gear has never been that important to me. I started photographing seriously with a Canon 60D and a 50mm 1.8, which have both accompanied me through three continents, been almost destroyed by dust, colour-dye and rollercoaster-Jeep rides and made me an extremely happy photographer. I have now upgraded to the full-format 6D, which is just as light and pretty... I've also got my eye on an 85mm.

QWhat's your number one tip for an aspiring photographer?

ABecause I mostly take pictures of people, I would have to say TALK and LAUGH with those you are photographing. Make them feel comfortable. Especially when travelling. I always try to think about how awkward I feel when being photographed, and that the gear I am using can seem very intimidating to people. It might sound obvious, but it is so easy to forget this and ruin potentially great photographs as well as memories and friendships. Oh, and of course, sign up with Picfair!