Michael Wright has been the royal photographer since just after High Queen Minda ascended the throne. His new memoirs, Queen Yuki: Rising From the Ashes is due to hit book shelves later this month. We sat down with him to discuss both the book and his line of work.
What inspired you to take up photography?
Well I was interested in the new field of photography from young. I mean, capturing pictures for posterity? That was amazing. The power of pictures and even some of the moving pictures as we first called them had a way of moving people into action. Hearing about something was not always the same as conveying raw emotions on film, forever preserved for the present and the future.
How did you feel when you got your current job?
It was the shock of my life actually. I had applied for it on a whim because I was a starving artist fresh out of school. I remember they had asked for a potfolio and I sent in a few pictures of my then fiancé and her brothers being well... a family. Apparently the selection committee liked them enough to give me a chance to do the photoshoot for Minda’s coronation. That was our test. Me and the other four candidates were to photograph the coronation and the person with the best pictures would win the job.
What is your favourite picture overall?
My favourite picture? That’s a tough one there are so many, but one of my favourites has to be the one with King Sonluth talking with the refugees during the long march. He’s supporting a woman on his shoulder as people and soldiers walk around them, not even looking back. It demonstrated both his empathy for people and his strength to carry on, leaving no one behind. It kind of typified his reign and helped solidify his reputation as the right choice for the people.
What is your favourite picture of the current queen?
High Queen Yuki’s best pictures are when she’s being herself. As much as people love her portrait hanging in the Monarch’s Hall, my favourite is one of her leaning on the window sil looking outward. It was snowing, so the lighting is low, her eyes look distant, but because of the kitchen light behind her, her hair still is bright fiery red. We originally printed it in black and white, but the contrast between her hair and the rest of the scene when printed in colour is by far better to me. Like fire and ice. Another favorite is a picture of Marie and Yuki having a laugh like sisters. We were supposed to have a photoshoot for her 1st year anniversary and Marie was teaching her how to smile, which devolved into internal humor.
Any changes you’ve noticed over the years?
Other than the monarchs getting rougher by the generation, not really. The monarchs have developed in their own sense of self. Minda wasn’t much into the role, having been brought in as basically a baby factory to produce an heir she was rather distant to the throne. Sonluth took his task alot better, especially during the war when he buried himself into his work. Yuki seems to be a bit in the middle. She takes her job serious to a point, but sometimes she lets her queen mask slip and reverts back to that commoner she was raised as. True she has yet to write her full chapter, but she has grown into the role more than when she was that dirt faced high school student at coronation.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlkWXYtyMD
