BEHIND THE LENS.. CHARLES MORIARTY
, by Behind The Gallery, 5 min reading time
In 2021, we sat down with Charles over coffee and couple of pastries in London and discussed working together and to bring his beautiful 'Before Frank' Amy Winehouse exhibition to Australia in celebration of the albums 20th Anniversary in 2022.
What we got was the most truthful and honest collection of photography of Amy Winehouse, when she was just Amy, before the fame, before the press, just a 19 year old girl with dreams and international acclaim just ahead of her.
We thought it well about time to catch up and have a quick fire discussion on photography.
When did you first start taking photos?
As a honey I was taking photos from about age 16, and was attempting to print in the dark room soon after that. With the complete lack of instruction the results were not great, but I enjoyed it all the same. With serious intentions and with a payment at the end My first job as a photographer was shooting Amy’s album cover at 21 in 2003.
Can you share your journey into music photography and what drew you into it?
Amy was my beginning into photographing artist, and the world around my in east London was exploding. I would regularly be photographing live acts at Places like there Rhythm factory in Whitechapel or at Arthur Baker’s night. Return to New York in Liverpool st, London. Music has always been an easy subject, as I trained in it myself as a teenager; I played both flute and cello.
Are there any particular themes that you find yourself continually drawn to?
So much of work is now looking at my own and others day to day existence as part of the LGBTQIA community, which with the way the world is going feels more and more important.
But I also love to shoot a landscape or create Still life works, and they’re not really thematically ordered. Sometimes a series of work may come across as something but it’s, mostly what my subject and I bring to something that day that gets captured, I really dislike over thinking things or being performative, unless something calls for it.
Do you have a favourite image of a musician that you have taken & why?
Honestly, no, I don't think in favourites. Recently I photographed St Vincent performing in Italy and those were very fun, she looked me dead in the lens as I shot from the crowd, then spat to the side and came right back to me, I had the biggest grin on my face.
Which is your favourite photograph on Behind The Gallery?
Choosing one is so hard, I love the Bjork portrait. The Strokes album cover is so fucking iconic and something I grew up with, but I’d also love a George Michael,
Who has always been a favourite.
See Charles Full Collection Here