Now I love the act of creating a new image. When everything comes together, it feels like ecstasy. It's like a climax.

I guess my work is described a lot of the time as very sensual and sexy. When I take a picture, I'm very focused on trying to discover something about a person. Or about an idea. I try to be quite successful at it.

My work was my life, and my life was my work, and there was a kind of blur between reality and what was being created.

...you don't need to be technically great, because if you have a strong philosophy people will be moved by your pictures regardless.

I try not to let the material aspects of different cultures distract me from getting to the essence of the person I'm photographing. Whether it's a man or a woman. Wherever they're from, I try not to let social status or cultural background affect me or affect the person. I strip all those things away to get down to the essence of the human being, the person.

Now I love the act of creating a new image. When everything comes together, it feels like ecstasy. It's like a climax.

You should be constantly asking yourself: What do I want to say next? What do I believe in? Who am I? What is my image? To be a successful photographer, you have to have a unique point of view otherwise you'll get lost in the mix.