Recent WCC graduate shares perspective via his photography

By Nicholas Ketchum
Contributor

Andrei Pop is a Spring 2018 WCC graduate. The Ann Arbor resident majored in Photographic Technology. He was also photographer and photo editor for The Washtenaw Voice. Some of his work is on-display until the end of September, at the Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea in Ann Arbor’s historic Kerrytown District. More of his work can be found at andrei-pop.com. During an interview with Pop, he responded to questions about his thoughts and experiences as a photographer.

Q: How did you end up at WCC while holding a camera?

A: Honestly, I was never really into photography in high school. I started going to WCC to do social work, so I was in that program while I was there. I took all the classes and got my Associate’s degree and was ready to transfer to Eastern Michigan University to continue in social work.

During my studies I needed to take some extra-curricular classes. I didn’t know anything about photography. However, I had friend who was into photography and he said, “Just try photography. You don’t know what’s going to happen.”

So I took an intro photography class. I was really bad at it when I first started. I didn’t know what I was doing at first; I didn’t even know how to use a camera. It was frustrating for a while, but people liked what I did and so I took more pictures.

Q: You must’ve had an initial attraction to photography—since you chose that medium—as opposed to dancing or, say, acting?

A: Yeah, it just sort of clicked in my head. I’ve always been into the visual aspect of things. I really like movies, and analyzing them for their cinematography. In the back of my head—subconsciously—maybe something pushed me, but I’m not sure.

When my intro photography class ended, I bought my own camera because I enjoyed taking pictures so much. And I was still studying social work at the time; I had one credit left before I had planned my transfer to EMU. But I wanted to take more photography classes and so I took the next-level photography class. I never transferred.

Q: So, something happened, or “clicked” as you say, where you were on the track to study social work, and then you weren’t…

A: Yeah, it was really weird. I started taking a couple of photography-related additional classes in the summer of 2015. I was really conflicted. I remember thinking, “I’m so close. Shouldn’t I just transfer and finish my social work degree, or do I want to keep doing photography? I have all my other social work pre-reqs out of the way, so shouldn’t I just finish it?”

Honestly, the reason I wanted to get into social work is because I like helping people. I liked being part of a system to help people and being educated in that system. But I kept hearing stories—from friends’ mothers, for example—of how badly social workers are compensated and wasn’t sure I wanted to go through that.

So, then I thought, “Screw this. EMU kind of sucks. I’m not going to transfer.” Besides, with college tuition costing so much nowadays, I was wondering if the cost was worth it. I didn’t know what my financial situation would be after I had finished everything at EMU.

Q: On the one hand you avoided risk by dropping social work, but on the other hand you assumed risk for photography?

A: It was a big gamble. If I go into the creative fields everything is based on me, and that’s what it’d be about. I’d have to go out there and find people myself. There was a lot of thinking; but I knew I liked photography.

One of the reasons I really wanted to stick with photography are because of the connections I make with people here at WCC, and the reassurance I get from friends, classmates, and instructors. Plus, I like the immediate feedback when people see my pictures. It was fun showing off my work.

Another reason I wanted to practice photography is that—honestly—the photography facilities at WCC are amazing. I had every tool to be creative and to experiment with no one to judge me. What student would want to pass that up? All the stuff I created, the student collaboration, and the validation I received was amazing.

Q: Is there an underlying philosophy driving your work?

A: I mean, I don’t want to consider myself an artist—I’m not one. Well, I don’t know. That might sound pretentious.

Q: I’m not sure if it does or not. How would you consider yourself?

A: A photographer. That is… creatively… just… taking pictures. Showing the world through my perspective.

Q: Among the constellations of destinies, where might you see yours?

A: I want to teach. I want to teach in a university or college, where people would take it seriously. My end goal is to pass down what I’ve learned. Of course, I’ll never stop learning, either.

But with how things are nowadays, I would probably combine teaching and freelancing. And if you’re going to choose to be a photographer you have to think about how to run a freelance business and how to market yourself.

Q: But I thought the market for photography is dead?!

A: Sure, people can say that. That’s the one thing that’s always a lingering thought, ‘Man, nobody takes photography that seriously anymore.’  But I don’t think photography is ever going to go away.

Technology is always improving, and photography is becoming accessible to everybody. That can be a drawback to the profession—that anyone can do photography. But I don’t mind that, I’d like everybody to be able to do it.

Q: In a world where everyone can do photography, might the expectation of a “good” photographer be changing?

A: Well, that’s the nature of it. In your head you have to keep realizing it’s always changing and evolving into something else.

Q: What could be that “something else” be?

A: I don’t know! You don’t know where photography will be a year from now.

Q: The big question: Nikon or Canon?

A: Canon, I guess. That’s what I learned on.

Q: Would you encourage potential photographers into the profession?

A: If you’re dead-set on doing it. Photography isn’t traditional or blue-collar work, and I hear a lot of people bashing on photography—even my own parents. That can be scary. But if you’re patient, if you validate your work, and you keep doing it, then you’ll eventually meet the right people who can help make it work.

One thing that makes me optimistic is seeing young photographers—my age or even younger—that are doing it differently.  They really get into it, and engage other people to think about the world in a different way.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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