CURRENT MISSION

I hope to learn more about the places I go, meet the locals, make friends and connections and of course shoot some photography and video to create artwork, documentary work and commercial (stock images). Above all I aim to have fun. Life is for living!

ABOUT ME

Well to sum me up in one sentence would be hard, but I'm a Photographer, a drummer and a skateboarder.I'm very open minded, and people that know me won't deny that I'm a very laid back person (almost too laid back, almost...)I am very passionate about photography. It's what I did my degree in, and also what I do a lot of the time outside of working (if I find the time). Now when I travel somewhere it's usually linked in with photography somehow. If I'm not planning, or out doing a shoot, then I'll be sat in-front of my computer until the early hours of the morning editing my images until I wake up with my face on the keyboard dribbling...I suppose I can be a bit obsessive when it comes to photography, and love meeting people who share the same passion for art (and music). I have a page on http://www.andreasandrews.deviantart.com which is a highly recommended website and community for artists! (shameless self promotion! mwa ha ha!)Enough talk about photography now! I love to play the drums, and used to play in a band called The Shift http://www.theshift.co.uk Music is definitely a big part of my life, and I love going to see live bands/musicians play, and funnily enough I enjoy band photography, although I'm primarily interested in documentary, and photojournalism as well as many other fields in photography. (there we go, photography again...)I recently have taken up web design as a practical hobby, as I have created my website, and my (previous) band's website from scratch, and have started doing small jobs in web design alongside my photography. Although I think I have a lot to learn in that field.I've used computers from a very young age (11 or 12) and have never stopped using them, so I've learnt a fair amount over the years from generally messing around with them, and people often come to me with problems or questions that I don't usually mind helping them out with if I'm not short on time (which is getting harder and harder to find these days!). I'm pretty much a PC person, but I just recently acquired a Mac from where I work, and I've grown a liking for them too. I'll never stop being a PC person deep down inside though... (sounds quite sad really doesn't it?)I'm not sure what else there is to say... I think I've said enough really... at least for now anyway.You'll find more about me on Myspace *update this is a little outdated now, I will update this personal description sometime, but you can find me on Facbook these days: facebook.com/andreasandrews and also check out my page for photography: facebook.com/drephoto

If you want me to host you and you've sent a request I'll try send respond within 24hrs. If I don't respond or you want an answer sooner, please message or call me using my phone number which is currently public and available on my website (I may remove/change it if I get nuisance calls in future: www.andreasandrews.com
I check emails twice a day 10am and 4pm, less at weekends. You can use WhatsApp to call me anytime for free.

PHILOSOPHY

It's been said before, but I'll say it again. You only live once! (as far as we know), and we shouldn't forget this. You've gotta make the most of it, and do everything that you want to do in life! I feel that travelling during my lifetime has broadened my horizons, and helped me mature, and become the person I am today!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I hope to participate in the future by making anyone's experience of the North West of England a little bit better if I can help it!I also like to think that I can do a lot with photography. Change the way people see things, show people things, and lately photograph people in creative and interesting ways.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I'm new here, but I've done a very similar thing with people I've met in Holland (where I used to live). So many good times, with awesome people....

Interests

Music is a big part of my life. I can get quite deep into philosophy sometimes (my Greek side coming out maybe?), but as you have guessed photography is my major interest right now! I have also been interested in Astronomy and Science from and early age, I do a bit of DJ'ing and I'm really into video production too and even web design and general geeky stuff, but deep down at heart I'm an adrenaline junkie, and by that I mean I love to rip things up on my skateboard, or fly down a red run on a snowboard and I'm always up for a challenge or an adventure especially when it involves trying out something new and interesting.

• arts
• writing
• design
• photography
• documentaries
• dining
• cooking
• running
• flying
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• drums
• snowboarding
• skateboarding
• astronomy
• journalism
• languages
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Donnie Darko is my favourite film ever!
I like Arthur C. Clarke's books, as I have always been into Astronomy, and science. I'm into loads of different music! Too much to name it all!
But here are just a few that I like from the top of my head:

Radiohead, Muse, Beastie Boys, Zero 7, Rage Against the Machine, José González, Foo Fighters, Massive Attack, Aphrodite, Portishead, Stereolab, Guillemots, Artic Monkeys.

I like Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Resivoir Dogs, Kill Bill 1&2) Social Documentary films ( Dead mans shoes, This is England)and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Fight Club, Swordfish, Pans Labyrinth

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I couldn't say there's one thing in my life that stands out above the rest, except the birth of my son of course! But I think travelling has always been an amazing part of my life, and some of the experiences I've had have been quite amazing, and also a little dangerous once or twice! Nearly got swept down a river in flash floods in Morocco one time!

Monument valley was an amazing sight, along with the Grand Canyon, but what I find even more amazing, is just meeting people from different places, and experiencing different cultures. Some of them are really extreme! It can give a whole new outlook on life, and I think that is quite an amazing thing.

So much for just writing about one amazing thing.....

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a few skills that I'd love to share, and teach. The main one though is photography, and I'm always teaching people things about it (even if they didn't ask!) so if there's something you wanna talk about to do with photography then give me a shout!

I would love to learn more languages, including Spanish (my first choice) and then maybe French, as they are both beautiful languages. I would also like to learn German a little better, as It should be quite easy having learnt Dutch. I speak fluent Dutch, which was only possible through living there for 2 years. Not sure how useful that one is! But it's great being able to speak a second language.

I often find myself teaching people about things, and also enjoying it. I'm always looking out for people who are very knowledgeable though, so that I can pick their brain, and have in-depth discussions about things. I think that's a great way to learn. I'll help people with their Dutch too! I am always looking for an excuse to practice my Dutch...

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love to share my passions and professional skills with others, my love of photography, music (including playing the drum kit, djembe & DJ'ing), journalism (showing truths about the world through my own eyes) and my knowledge of the local area and some surrounding areas and the UK. I like to cook for others (although I rarely find time and my cluttered little flat isn't best for being the host I aspire to one day become!) and enjoy food but usually with the friends I make through Couchsurfing it's the creative connections that have the most impact I think for both me and those I host (or who host me).

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, United Kingdom

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