NIGHTLIGHT Exclusive Feature: Aidan Sullivan, Vice President of Photo Assignment of Getty Images
Aidan Sullivan started his career as a staff photographer for a local newspaper in the U.K. He then freelanced as a news photographer on Fleet St. covering stories, events and conflicts in Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and India amongst others.
In 1986, he joined The Sunday Times of London as deputy picture editor, soon becoming the picture editor during a critical time when the paper was re launched with multiple sections.
In 1993, he joined the Sunday Times Magazine and was promoted to assistant editor, responsible for all of the photography at the magazine including managing a staff of photo editors, researchers and photographers. While at The Sunday Times of London, Sullivan and two of his colleagues founded image.net , a leading distributor of high resolution publicity materials for major entertainment companies. image.net
In 2005, Sullivan moved to New York and became Vice President of Photo Assignment for Getty Images, taking over the assignments department, including Orchard and Global Assignment, and creating the Reportage division.
In the summer of 2008 he relocated back to London where he now runs the Photo Assignments globally. His other credits include:
Director and Founder of The Ian Parry Scholarship 1989- Created the Scholarship following the death of Ian Parry, a photographer and close friend who died during the Romanian Revolution whilst on assignment for The Sunday Times Newspaper. The scholarship is a registered charity and offers a bursary for aspiring young photojournalists. Now in its 19th year, it has helped many of the finest young photographers currently working in the profession. It is widely recognized as one of the most important awards available for aspiring photojournalists. In 2004, he produced a book EYES WIDE OPEN, a collection of work from twelve of the winners of the award.
Peachy Deegan was pleased to meet Aidan at an event recently for Foundation Rwanda at Bonhams that featured 901 Tequila, our favorite!
Peachy Deegan: What a fascinating career you've had in photography. When did you get your first camera and what did you take pictures of then?
Aidan Sullivan: LIKE MOST PEOPLE MY FIRST CAMERA WAS VERY BASIC . MY FATHER, ALTHOUGH A PILOT, WAS A KEEN AMATEUR AND GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER AND HE WOULD LEND ME HIS ROLLEIFLEX, WHICH I ADORED. I USED IT TO TAKE
PICTURES OF MY FRIENDS, BANDS, AND ANYTHING I SAW AROUND ME -- I WAS HOOKED FROM A VERY EARLY AGE. MY TEEN YEARS SAW SOME GREAT UK BANDS EMERGING FROM THE PUNK MOVEMENT AND I WAS PART OF THAT SCENE FOR A LONG WHILE.
What do you enjoy taking pictures the most of now? LIFE, JUST EVERYTHING I SEE AROUND ME, FRIENDS, FAMILY. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE MEMORIES AND I ENJOY NOTHING MORE THAN LOOKING AT CAPTURED, TIMELESS MOMENTS. NOW THAT I'M NO LONGER UNDER PRESSURE TO PERFORM AS A PROFESSIONAL, I.E. NOT BEING PAID TO TAKE THE PICTURES, I APPROACH PHOTOGRAPHY IN A MORE LAID BACK, PERSONAL WAY. IT'S MORE FUN NOW AND ALTHOUGH I STILL LOVE MY LEICA AND THE IDEA OF PROCESSING AND PRINTING, A CANON G10 MAKES EVERYTHING A LITTLE EASIER. I HAVE RECENTLY INSTALLED THE HIPSTAMATIC APP ON MY IPHONE AND THE FILE SIZE IS BIG ENOUGH TO MAKE DECENT PRINTS, IT'S A DIGITAL HOLGA EXPERIENCE, GREAT FUN.
What should most people know about Getty Images that they don't know?
GETTY IMAGES IS A LARGE COMPANY AND VERY DIVERSE, IT COVERS AND SUPPORTS PRACTICALLY EVERY GENRE WITHIN PHOTOGRAPHY-- FROM EXTRAORDINARY ARCHIVE MATERIAL TO THE FINEST SPORTS, NEWS, PHOTOJOURNALISM AND, OF COURSE, WHAT WE ARE GENERALLY KNOWN FOR, CREATIVE STOCK. THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH ARE AMAZING, SO TALENTED AND DEDICATED. THE PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD AND WIN COUNTLESS AWARDS FOR THEIR CREATIVITY AND, IN THE CASE OF THE PHOTOJOURNALISTS, THEIR BRAVERY, PASSION AND TENACITY. IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH THEM.
What are some of your most favorite events you've attended and what did you like about them? A REAL VARIETY, I ATTEND A PHOTOJOURNALISM FESTIVAL EVERY YEAR, VISA POUR LIMAGE IN PERPIGNAN, FRANCE, AND THAT ALLOWS ME TO CATCH UP WITH OLD FRIENDS, MAKE NEW ONES AND SEE OUTSTANDING PHOTOGRAPHY. AS A CONTRAST, I HAVE WORKED WITH A LOT OF FILM COMPANIES AS A CONSULTANT AND ATTENDING THEIR MEDIA EVENTS, ESPECIALLY IN CANNES AND VENICE, HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL.
BEING INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF A VERY HIGH END VISUAL SPECTACULAR, LIKE CLOSING ST.MARKS SQUARE IN VENICE FOR A FULL DAY AND NIGHT TO SCREEN A PREMIERE OR TURNING THE CROISETTE IN CANNES INTO A WINTER'S SNOW SCENE IN BLAZING SUNSHINE, IS EXTRAORDINARY. ANYTHING, IT WOULD SEEM, IS POSSIBLE.
What makes a good photograph in terms of artistic composition? I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY OBVIOUS RULES AS THERE ARE SO MANY DIVERSE GENRES WITHIN PHOTOGRAPHY. LIKE ANY ART, IT'S QUALITIES TEND TO BE IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. PERSONALLY, WHEN I SEE A PICTURE I LIKE, THERE IS AN INSTANT RESONANCE, I'M BOTH DRAWN TO AND EXCITED BY THE IMAGE AND IT CAN BE AN IMAGE TAKEN ON A POLAROID, IPHONE OR 10X8 LAND CAMERA, IN THE END IT'S THE RESULT NOT THE EXECUTION REALLY.
What makes a good event photograph? WE ARE ALL SLIGHTLY VOYEURISTIC AND ENJOY SEEING HOW OTHER PEOPLE SPEND THEIR TIME, AND IF WE RECOGNISE THAT SOMEONE OR THE IMAGES ARE FROM AN EVENT WE ATTENDED, SO MUCH THE BETTER. THE IMAGE SHOULD CAPTURE THE MOOD OF THE EVENT, AND AS MOST ARE MEANT TO BE FUN, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE, PEOPLE DRESSED UP IN THEIR FINEST HAVING FUN!
Tell us about your commitment to Foundation Rwanda.
JONATHAN, THE CO-FOUNDER, IS ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS AND A HIGHLY RESPECTED PHOTO JOURNALIST. WHEN HE TOLD ME THE STORY OF HIS VISIT TO RWANDA ON ASSIGNMENT FOR NEWSWEEK AND WHAT HE DISCOVERED THERE, LIKE MOST PEOPLE WHO HEAR THE STORIES OF THESE WOMEN, I JUST WANTED TO HELP IN SOME WAY. JONATHAN WAS SO MOVED BY IT ALL AND MANAGED TO TURN THAT STRONG EMOTION INTO A POSITIVE FORCE THAT NOW HELPS THESE DESECRATED WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN.
Do you have any other comments?
I WAS SO PLEASED OUR FIRST FOOD & FOTOS FUNDRAISER FOR FOUNDATION RWANDA WENT SO WELL AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, WE THANK EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED AND WE DO HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR.,
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Aidan's other accomplishments include:
Chair of The World Press U.S. Jury for the World Press Photo Master
Class
World Press is recognized as the leading international award for photo
journalism. Sullivan was chair of the 2006 judging panel which includes
leading photo editors and photographers.
Member of the World Press Master class 'Masters'.
The master class is an intensive 10 day workshop organized by the World
press Photo organization in Amsterdam for young photographers who have
been voted into the program by an International panel of judges.
'Masters' share their knowledge, give advice, praise and criticize the
work.
Member of the International Judging panel for the Visa D'Or in
Perpignan, France.
Member of the Presidents Council for the ICP in NY.
Member of the W Eugene Smith Board
Member of the Foundation Rwanda Board
Judge for the ICP Infinity Awards
Chairman of the Sony World Photography awards judges
Judge for the Overseas Press Club
Advisory board member at The Frontline Club
Awards
International Picture Editor of the Year at Visa Pour L'image 2000
Honorary Fellowship to the Royal Photographic Society 2004
Books Published
War in the Gulf
Eyes Wide Open
