1. What does your office look like right now?

At the moment, my office is in a bit of disarray as I have just returned from six weeks abroad. I am still in the process of putting things away and getting on top of my incredibly long list of things to do.

2. How do you create the surreal aspects of your photography, particularly your “The Anonymous Man” series?

Every element has been photographed and then combined as composites using Photoshop. The surreal aspect of the images, I think, come from the use of the lenses that I use: I am using wide lenses to capture most elements, but I am then combining the images so they look as if they are taken with a long lens.

3. What inspired you to create that series?

The inspiration came from what I like to call “inspired thought.” I felt, dreamed and saw the images before I made them. I created them based on my emotions and based on inspired thought. The images have come from depression and uncertainty and were a way for me to cope and express what it was I was feeling.

4. Who poses as The Anonymous Man? Is it always the same person?

The first person to pose for it was my husband, Anthony, but because of some of the award rules when it comes to using the same subject, I have had to enlist a range of men that I know to pose as The Anonymous Man—lots of friends, friends’ husbands and even some businessmen for whom I have photographed headshots.

5. What’s your location scouting process like?

My location scouting is usually done online or by seeing an image of a building that I have been looking for. I tend to track the building down and work out where in the world it is. I then organize to visit the city or country to photograph the building as I see it in my mind for use within the composite.

6. What’s the last movie you saw that moved you?

Stronger, which is about Jeff Bauman, one of the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing. A couple of things about this movie moved me: the real-life depiction of struggle that is not often showed in such a way, especially when it comes from human tragedy, and how the camera was utilized to play a role and interact with the actors. It put us directly within the scenes rather than just watching the action from afar.

7. What’s your guilty pleasure?

Eating chocolate and taking a day of binge-watching TV.

8. What’s your favorite song right now?

“Saltwater” by Chicane.

9. What advice can you give photographers looking to set themselves apart?

When you’re looking to stand out, everything starts with a good idea, a good concept. If you think you’ve hit upon something unique, I suggest drawing it out on paper or writing a story based on that idea. Speak of the idea to others and see how they react. Doing all of this adds value to it and gives you something to hold on to during the process. It answers the “why” question. It also helps in getting the most power out of your concept. Some ideas are a springboard to another idea. Do not feel bad if you start something but do not finish it—you have permission to move on.

10. You’re working on finishing “The Anonymous Man.” What constitutes as finished for you?

The idea of finishing it is both exhilarating and something I am very nervous about. It would be a big step for me. The number I have in mind is 70 images within the series, and right now I have 36. The goal is to introduce the series to the world and to sell as many prints and books as I can. I don’t think I will ever fully finish this project, though. It will be with me forever.

Lisa Saad is an international award-winning photographer based in Melbourne, Australia. In addition to personal work, she shoots advertising, commercial, food, corporate and lifestyle photography.

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