Five minutes with: SAE’s Jasper Johnstone

D-Photo has a brief chat with Jasper Johnstone, current student at SAE.

Jasper Johnstone, third-year student at SAE, is a talented DOP and still photographer who has just had his first solo exhibition at Auckland’s Monster Valley’s Poynton Studios on Karangahape Road.

It’s an opportunity that SAE’s HOD Film Michael Miller says shows an evolving maturity in his output. ‘Jasper has always done artistic, creative work, but during this final year of the Bachelors I see him maturing as a filmmaker by working deeper into narrative. His still photos hint at this also.’

Jasper first completed a Diploma at Yoobee before taking a job in digital design. After working a few years in that role he decided to cross-credit his previous qualifications and complete a Bachelor of Arts in Film Arts at SAE, which he has found to be valuable step in his film career.

On the opening night of his exhibition Johnstone sold 80% of his work, evidencing his mastery of the medium. The theme of the project was candid portraiture, with little artifice, which Jasper describes as ‘Taking photos of friends and loved ones with nothing added. It’s all natural, including the lighting.’

For any practitioners with previous qualifications who perhaps feel they could benefit from developing their skills, then a BA at SAE might be a good fit to help deepen their knowledge and develop a pathway in their chosen craft.