How do you express yourself?
What you see in the photo is a circle of connection between the subject and the photographer. I'm not formally trained but started posting everyday to community photo sites and my blog with links and all that. This created instant feedback and an eco-system of people paying attention and using my work for profile pics, Wikipedia, etc. This interaction creates an immediacy in my work and gets my style out there.
What does your work say?
That's really up to the viewer but I'd say much of favorite work has a tension between the grimy reality of the cold, dark streets and a sense of personal innocence. A lot of my subjects aren't used to being photographed and I think form a relationship which coaxes out a unique and authentic slice of their soul whether that be grimy, sexy or both. A real, raw and intensely personal photo rather than a contrived scene.
What/who are your influences?
I really think
writer/copyright reformist Cory Doctorow is doing remarkable work on a
global scale and I've been wanting to make a teleportation machine ever
since reading Tim Robbins' Jitterbug Perfume. As for photographers,
there are two whose books I collect, Wolfgang Tilmas and Helmut Newton -
both shoot an edgy fashion style I like.
How did you get your start?
I experimented with many mediums but nothing flowed from me like photography. I bought a camera for some web work projects and starting shooting everyday. It was kinda a tough time personally so the camera became an escape - sort of saved my life in some ways. I would walk through the poor side neighborhoods shooting these gritty street images of areas in decay. I started posted to Flickr and the instant feedback encouraged me to experiment more. I began shooting self-portraits for technical training and personal expression while I sorted my life out. After learning my cameras and films more I began shooting for friends, then more models and designers...
What ignites your soul?
Travel, bright eyes, big smiles, going camping, hanging out with people who are pushing boundaries, taking risks, banding together to make art and, and don't mind laughing at themselves.
What’s on your deserted island?
Wi-fi
Favorite place you’ve traveled
Shanghai - traveled there 4 times in the past 2 years and its feels like the exploding edge of the universe with a mix of jet set ex-pats and mesmerizing local culture.
Words to live by
Create your own reality - i am what you say i am.
You’re successful when you’ve.........
When you are liberated and found ways to inspire others.
Advice to those comin’ up
Get in where you fit in, seek out collaboration and offer up what you got to benefit others.
Last words:
Give your stuff away.
