Photographer Andrew Knapp has captured the ultimate in canine-cute, hiding Momo the border collie in Where’s Wally-like scenarios around his hometown of Sudbury, Ontario.
Now featuring in his own book, the amber-eyed pooch is lapping up stardom. “He’s changed a bit,” Andrew tells us, “he now approaches just about everyone assuming they’re gonna love him.” And do we ever.
A photo posted by Andrew Knapp (@andrewknapp) on
Mar 9, 2015 at 2:44pm PDT
What’s the secret to an arresting image?
The elements that really pay off are composition, colour, symmetry, cleverness and relevance. In my case, a lot of the time it’s Momo’s eyes.
Speaking of eyes, did you always have one for photography?
Capturing photos felt like a lazy art when I was younger. Like ‘anyone can do that’. Sure, anyone can! Anyone can also bake an apple pie, design their own band poster or write their own book, but I can’t say that’ll be a pie worth eating, a poster worth noticing, or a book worth reading. Each is an art, and the more time you spend with anything, the better the product you create will be.
So how did you get started?
Luckily, my dad brought home a digital camera from work when I was in my late teens. It was an Apple QuickTake 100, which was like The Flintstones car of digital cameras. The ability to shoot a photo and immediately see it on screen (even if it was 0.3 megapixels) blew my mind. A few years later I got a Fuji digital camera, shot a photo every day for about three years and learned that photography offered the ability to share a story or a moment vividly without using a word. With enough practice, I was sure this was a hobby I’d keep.
A photo posted by Andrew Knapp (@andrewknapp) on
Mar 18, 2015 at 3:27pm PDT
What have been your career highlights so far?
Getting an e-mail from someone half-way across the world telling me they’ve been inspired by my work really grounds me. I think the biggest reward so far, however, has been watching projects I’ve helped with change things in my hometown. Though I don’t live there full-time (I mostly love an excuse to leave in the winter), every time I visit something has changed and grown. I see someone doing something and claiming that a project I’ve supported inspired them to work on their own beautiful creation.
How do you find your projects? Or do they find you?
I really like to believe that they find me. A Steve Jobs quote, of all things, put a lot into perspective for me. “Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesise new things.”
Where do you find inspiration?
From discovery, and discovery comes from exploring, or escaping your comforts. With everything you work on – even if it just touches one person – that person will live their life in a way that borrows from it. It’s the butterfly effect of inspiration. It’s a damn good reason to make new things.
Who are your photography or design heroes?
Theron (@thiswildidea) and Emily (@thuglifeforevs) have always left me in awe with their talent and the quality of their work.
Any advice on combining art with business?
Don’t be afraid of failure. Be aware of everything you do throughout your day, and if anything is against what feels right to you, figure out a way to change it.
A photo posted by Andrew Knapp (@andrewknapp) on
May 13, 2015 at 5:37pm PDT
A photo posted by Andrew Knapp (@andrewknapp) on
Jun 10, 2015 at 5:39pm PDT
Hoppy Weekend! A photo posted by Andrew Knapp (@andrewknapp) on
Apr 3, 2015 at 4:59pm PDT