Flags Violet presents Dayv Mattt [Pt.2]
+++
~
I really think any situation is right to document. That said, I don’t particularly like capturing cleavage, people making out, or nudity. I drew my own lines, and I try to abide by them. I once captured two bar workers hauling a drunk and belligerent woman out of a bar. The pictures were fantastic and really told a story. However, in almost all of the photos, her shirt was ripped and while they were dragging her out of the bar, her panties were quite visible. Regardless of how awesome that would have been to post or share with the world, I simply deleted them. Oh if only she’d been wearing pants!
~
You documented the Jungle and Drum’n’Bass scene in Toronto through the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Who were your favorite DJ’s and/or producer’s and/or label’s? Of the visiting dj’s at the time, Andy C was by far my favourite. Local dj’s I liked included Medicine Muffin, Marcus, Dj Otis, Mystical Influence, and a few others I’m not going to mention because they were assholes.
~
I took notice that in some interview, you recommended people look into TEPSIC magazine. I did and turns out it is indeed an awesome concept (conceptual publication?) and something I hadn’t necessarily seen done in that way. Any other projects and/or publication you’d care to share with the readers of Flags Violet? I don’t really follow a lot of indie publications. I like TEPSIC because it’s both a great idea and he’s my friend. I do recommend that people read the economist once a week, and if they can get their hands on it, Monocle Magazine. I like that magazine a lot, but it’s expensive and hard to find.
~
~
When did you switch from using film to shooting digital, why did you chose to do so, and in what way would you say that transition was a good and not so good? I moved to digital in around 2005. I chose to do so because I found a Nikon D1 on ebay for like $300. The image quality was horrible, but that was when shooting street became something I liked to do. I don’t miss film at all. Even today, I look at my negatives and just shudder at how much extra time and energy is required to get a photo “finished”. Film certainly is not a format I think should live on forever, and I am a bit annoyed that it’s so trendy to “like film” these days. I respect people who shoot film, develop the rolls themselves in a dark room, and then spend the time to dodge and burn their shots to perfection under the enlarger. That’s special. Getting rolls developed in an hour and scanned to CD at a Wal-Mart is special how?
~
You seem rather invasive in the sense that you’re able to capture rather private, honest, and earnest moments. More than not, how do people react to your snapping away? Do people come and talk to you, chase you down, ignore you, confront you, etc? No one knows I’m taking their picture.
~
~
Whether on your blog or in some interviews, you often state that you “don’t really have a motive” as a photographer and that you “shoot street photography because [you] want to capture the city”. You also seem very active in sharing and open to discuss anything and everything about your work. Doesn’t exposure and sharing with others also constitute a form of drive for you? If so, what are you trying to share with others (given that you feel like you don’t “say anything”)? When I say I don’t have a motive, what I mean is that I don’t have anything to say about the photography. I don’t think I need to offer up some quasi-intellectual “meaning” or “purpose” to the work. Listening to photographers blather on about what they think they’re own work means is off-putting and I usually ignore it. I like taking pictures, I like sharing those pictures online, and I like receiving feedback about the pictures. The drive to do something doesn’t mean that it requires some bullshit explanation about life and the meaning of this or that. Why does something need some kind of philosophical or intellectual message to be respected?
~
+++
:: Dayv Mattt’s photography book is available through Flags Violet™ ::
:: Please consider coming by the shop ::
+++
:: Questionnaire :: Dotmo ::
:: Editing & Revisions :: L. Olivera, A. Torres & Dotmo ::
:: Photography :: © Dayv Mattt, All Rights Reserved.
:: Commissioned by Flags Violet™ ::
Flags Violet presents Dayv Mattt [Pt.1]
+++
I was born in Toronto, went to university in Ottawa, and I have lived in Seoul since just after graduating in 2002. Later this year I will probably be following my wife to somewhere in Africa, but I’m not sure where yet.
~
What makes a good photograph? A good photograph is one that you stop to look at. It doesn’t matter what it’s of. If you stop for even the briefest amount of time to think about it, it’s good.
~
Apparently you left your home (for Korean) within a few weeks of your graduation because of friend of yours lived in Seoul. Would you say this is how you generally make decisions (and if this is possibly what allows you not to hesitate when capturing moments as a photographer)? I don’t generally make decisions spontaneously, though I am definitely not a meticulous planner, either. But back then, when my friend called me up, I was slowly moving toward a lifestyle I didn’t particularly want to be a part of, so I chose to extract myself from those bad influences. His phone call gave me a perfect opportunity to do so. I do feel it was the correct choice, and I’m happy I made it.
~
~
How do you personally best describe your work? I don’t really describe my work. It’s street photography. Each picture could technically have its on description, but I don’t like rolling like that. I capture what’s happening around me. The end result is what you see.
~
What is the coolest thing you own that wouldn’t be worth anything if you tried to sell it? That’s a tough question, but I guess the coolest things I own that wouldn’t be worth anything on the open market would be mix tapes that people gave to me before the whole mp3 revolution.
~
Is there someone you’d really like to work with? I really have no interest in studio photography or fashion or lighting. When it comes to staged photography, and from what I have seen, you’re either the photographer or the assistant. I shoot street photography because I like capturing the life and energy (or lack thereof) of the place I’m in. Additionally, I like street photography because deep down inside I like being alone for a few moments a day, and being alone surrounded by people is so much better than being alone surrounded by nothing. Morgan Tepsic and another friend, Karl, were good photo mission companions because they’d discuss anything except photography. If there is one thing I hate, its “talking shop”.
~
~
Before photography, what did you try that you were particularly bad at? I am not particularly good at writing or acting.
~
What smell do you hate the most in the world? And which one you like the most? I hate the smell of rotting meat. Really, it’s awful. I love the smell of gasoline, skunks, and my fingers after rolling coins.
~
What is the most important thing you own that you would probably never sell regardless of the offer? I don’t think there is anything I wouldn’t sell. I’m not all that sentimental. I’d even sell those above mentioned mix tapes if the price was right! I don’t really own all that many things. Everything that is most important to me is human and I don’t own them.
~
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Rice. I don’t particularly like rice, but it’s functional. It’s nutritious; it can be distilled, puffed, baked, boiled, crushed, etc.
~
~
If you could only take one more photograph for the rest of your life, what would it be? I’d take a picture of my family at a gun farm posing with various armaments. I figure that’d have lasting visual value to all of us.
~
What sort of topics and/or news items are you paying attention to lately? What do you see as pressing topics people should be abreast of? I half-listen to the BBC every morning and try to get through The Economist each week. I’ve been paying attention to Syria, China, and was attentive to the US election, but I’m not sure I think those topics are all that pressing. Syrians should solve their own problems, China is China, and US elections have become so farcical they’re sad.
~
+++
:: Dayv Mattt’s photography book is available through Flags Violet™ ::
:: Please consider coming by the shop ::
+++
:: Questionnaire :: M. Cutlip & Dotmo ::
:: Editing & Revisions :: L. Olivera, A. Torres & Dotmo ::
:: Photography :: © Dayv Mattt, All Rights Reserved.
:: Commissioned by Flags Violet™ ::
Oooooh, this is gonna be tough to wait for.
Convolution 2012 Featured Guest Jennifer Brozek is editing the COINS OF CHAOS anthology, which is scheduled for a publishing date of Oct 2013.
Here’s yesterday’s announcement of the official Table of Contents, for your perusal and anticipation …
http://www.jenniferbrozek.com/blog/post/Coins-of-Chaos-Anthology-TOC.aspx
—-
CONGRATULATIONS TO JULIE DILLON AND LEE MOYER!!!
We are very pleased to extend our congratulations to Convolution 2012 Guest of Honor Julie Dillon and Featured Guest Lee Moyer for their 2012 A.S.F.A. Chesley Awards! The Chesleys were awarded earlier this evening at Chicon 7, the Worldcon currently taking place in Chicago.
Julie Dillon won in the Best Interior Illustration category for “The Dala Horse” by Michael Swanwick (Tor.com).
Lee Moyer won in the Best Cover Illustration: Magazine category for WEIRD TALES, Winter 2010/2011.
We are so happy for both of them, and look forward to congratulating them in person this November!
—-
Be a featured guest on "Check, Please!" hosted by our very own Amy Pennington, author of "Urban Pantry"
kcts9.orgHere’s a little bit about being a guest on “Check, Please!” from ktcs9.org.
“Do you have a favorite Northwest eatery that you’d like reviewed on “Check, Please!”? Would you be willing to go on TV and review a different restaurant?
“Check, Please!” is a weekly restaurant review series in which local residents, just like you, share dining-out experiences in a lively roundtable discussion. If you would like to tell our viewers about your favorite local eatery (restaurant, supper club, diner, lunch cafe, dive, hole-in-the-wall, stand, etc.) on “Check Please!,” go ahead and complete the application form.
Please note that in order to appear on the show, you must be at least 21 years old, and be willing to travel to and participate in a taping at KCTS 9 studios in Seattle, at your own expense. The taping will take place on a weekday and last a few hours. If you are chosen to be a guest you must also be able to travel to any restaurant location within a 60-mile radius of Seattle.
Remember, the more expressive and detailed you are on this form, the more likely it is you’ll be considered as a guest.
We love hearing about those restaurants that are off the beaten path — the more interesting the locale or cuisine, the better.
Thank you and good luck!”
Flags Violet presents D.L. Keenan [Pt.1]
+++
I was born outside of Detroit, Michigan on a dark and snowy night in February. No, I have no idea what the weather was like that day. My primary residence is Austin, Texas but I also have a small place in NYC where I spend about half the year. Beyond my lease in NYC, I’m open to living somewhere else but no one place pops out at me right now. I plan to keep my Austin base, though, for the foreseeable future.
~
How do you personally best describe your work?
Hmmm. It’s very personal in the best possible way.
~
What makes a good photograph? I think a good photograph says something without words. It should be able to be one thing to one person and maybe something else to the next person. Or maybe the same thing but it should just have some kind of voice. I prefer photographs of people. Most of mine are people pictures. I like photographs that make people smile or laugh. Elliott Erwitt , my hero, is so good at these.
~
~
Within the world of photography who has influenced you the most? How about outside the craft? There are so many. I remember this question when I just started getting serious about photography again in the early 2000s and I didn’t know anyone really except for maybe HCB. (All us cool photographers refer to him, Henri Cartier-Bresson, as HCB. It shows that we know our shit.) Now the list is quite long. I’ll mention two who has me rethinking some things: Viviain Maier and Ralph Eugene Meatyard. Two of the best photographers no one has ever heard of. My grandfather was a decent family photographer and he introduced me to Leica cameras when I was a teenager. There can be no discounting that especially when you count how many Leica cameras I have owned. Outside the craft…I honestly can’t think of anyone right now. I guess to be cool I’d say Steve Jobs, right? But actually I owe a lot more the Bill Gates. Lots more.
~
Before photography, what did you try that you were particularly bad at? Running. Why do people torture themselves so?
~
What smell do you hate the most in the world? And which one you like the most? I’ve never smelled it actually but decaying flesh is very unpleasant smelling, I’ve heard. And, there’s the urine smell of my cat box, not that it’s really so terrible but it means I have to change the litter and I HATE doing that. The one I like the most has to be fresh ground coffee.
~
~
What is the coolest thing you own that wouldn’t be worth anything if you tried to sell it? First thing I can think of besides my 1991 Nissan 300ZX, which is worth actually worth something, is this little coconut monkey with a Udall pin that I have had since I guess whatever year it was that guy ran for something. It has really cool teeth for a coconut monkey.
~
I love cameras. Not all cameras but some I find to be the most beautiful objects mankind ever made. The Leica IIIf, the Nikon F, Pentax Spotmatic, Rolleiflex, right I’m in love with a Polaroid Land camera from the 1960s. Digital cameras for the most part are pathetically ugly. But I’ll kill you if you try to take my M9 from me. Sadly, I’ve never owned a Spotmatic.
~
What is the most important thing you own that you would probably never sell regardless of the offer? Oh, easy. It’s the aforementioned 1991 Nissan 300ZX, pearl white, 5-speed, 2+2, with only 110,000 miles on it. My little spaceship.
~
What would you do if you weren’t a photographer?
Nothing. I’d be very, very bored.
~
~
I think the OWS movement is very important. Truth be known, I fall into the 1% for sure, thanks to many years of hard work (certainly not from photography) – but I completely support the ideals of more income equality and people like me paying a responsible amount of tax for the benefit of our country. I do not understand greed, people for whom no amount is enough. This has to be some kind of pathological flaw. Wait, did I mention that we need to kill all the… no, I better not.
~
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? That’s easy. Pez, cherry-flavored Pez. No question about it. [A nickel to the first person that get’s it…]
~
If you could only take one more photograph for the rest of your life, what would it be? Wow. It would be me with a boyfriend if I ever have one.
~
~
If you had the chance to sit down for brunch with anyone one person, dead or alive, who would you invite? Why? I’m loving your questions. This is going to sound really terrible but Hitler. I want to find out if he farted as much as the historians say.
~
What is your motto? As a street photographer, see but not be seen. Otherwise, I’ve never really had one.
+++
:: Questionnaire :: M. Cutlip & Dotmo ::
:: Editing & Revisions :: L. Olivera & Dotmo ::
:: Photography :: © David Lykes Keenan, All Rights Reserved.
:: Commissioned by Flags Violet™ ::
“I can’t tell you how important networking is while traveling and preparing for it as well"- Lindsay DeAguila ”
—http://www.3girlsandamap.com/lindsay-deaguila.htmlBlutch Cancellation
Regretfully, acclaimed French cartoonist Blutch has been unable to resolve passport issues in France, and will not be attending this year’s TCAF as scheduled.
Obviously we are very disappointed but the circumstances are beyond our control. We would be happy to welcome Blutch to TCAF or to Toronto another time. For futher information, please refer to the PictureBox website.
