Our Creatively Speaking serial publication of interviews uphold this week with the brilliant lensman Kevin Scanlon . If you readThe New York Times , Forbes , Time Magazine , orLA Weekly , you probably already know Kevin ’s work . But today you ’re cash in one’s chips to have a chance to get to know the man behind the amazing photographs . And tomorrow , we ’ll be giving away an original Scanlon mark to one favourable / smart lector , but you have to read today ’s interview if you wait to get in on that action .
In accession to well - known artists and doer like Steve Carell , Robert Redford , Tilda Swinton , Daniel Day Lewis , and Jodie Foster ( just to name a fraction ) , Kevin has shot athletes like Larry Bowa , rocker , like Neil Young , and many publicizing campaigns you ’d recognise .
Check out hisWeb sitefor a sampling , or see some of the extra images we ’ve include with the audience below . And do n’t forget to tune in tomorrow for your prospect to win an autographed Scanlon original .
DI : With camera technology what it is today , it seems anyone who owns a digital SLR calls him - herself a lensman these days . But it ’s not that easygoing is it ? Why not ?
KS : I think it ’s great that some digital television camera are affordable enough for just about anybody to buy one . My 5 - yr - old niece has a openhanded , pink digital camera . Great picture taking can come from anyone , anytime . Sometimes , it ’s being at the right position at the right time . However , that does n’t mean that everyone is a photographer , just because he or she has a digital photographic camera . I can restrain a scalpel and cut things , but I ’m no fondness surgeon . Not to say I ’m save living with my photography . But to me , it ’s all about taste . It ’s what you do with piece of music , color , contrast , lighting , etc . These are some thing that differentiate between strong and not - so - solid photography . And more , how the lensman interact ( or does n’t interact ) with the bailiwick that counts in the end .
DI : Of all the celebs you ’ve shot , who has been the most intriguing ?
KS : I ’ve been rosy to have had some really successful hoi polloi sit for me . And amazingly , the vast majority have been kind , generous , and humble . I can think of a few exception , but only a few . What made them difficult was their want of exuberance , and unwillingness to be photograph . And I get it . The photograph shoot is n’t the originative part of their caper . cause film or music ( or whatever ) is . The photo shoot is just a part of promoting their work . It ’s a tedious part of their job . That said , get over it and do your problem ! I will say that some of my many favorites have been Jodie Foster , Daniel Day - Lewis , Tilda Swinton , Kevin McDonald ( from comedy troupe kidskin in the Hall ) , and Pau Gasol of the Lakers .
DI : Who has been the most down - to - earth ? How did that down - to - earthness express itself ?
KS : The favs I advert are among the most down - to - earth . Also , James McAvoy , Ethan Embry , Beck , and Cate Blanchett . They all TALKED to me . And not talk , like " How do you want me to pose ? " Talking about … just hooey . McAvoy told me about his favorite Scotch Whiskey ( something I ’ve been known to sip on juncture ) , Gasol say me about making the doorways in his newfangled condo taller , McDonald about one of his ( and my ) favorite characters from Kids in the Hall , the King of Empty Promises . " Will do . "
DI : For the tech - heads in the blog , what ’s in your television camera grip these days ? What form of lenses do you prefer for different position ?
KS : I keep three lenses in my bag . I use the 24 - 70 2.8 for most work . I ’ll use the 70 - 200 2.8 ( or is it 80 - 200 ? ) about 30 % of the time . And for emergencies , I have a 50 1.4 . That ’s in case of a low - light fix and I ca n’t utilise my Inner Light for some reason .
DI : Who ’s your dreaming subject and why ?
KS : I retrieve I have several . In music , it ’d have to be Radiohead . The quality of work they free over and over again commands much regard from me . In film , the Coen Brothers are high-pitched on the list , for the same ground . Also Jim Carrey . And Audrey Hepburn , circa 1953 . But I do n’t think I was deport yet . And I ’ll add Tiger Woods to that list .
DI : Are there any similarities between recreate medicine and photograph pictures ?
KS : I would say there ’s a close family relationship between a picture shoot and read music ( rather than execute live ) . When I was playing in the set , I co - produce our record with our drummer . That unconscious process of " tape " or documenting music is very similar to picture taking . There ’s the initial capture and the prep study that go into it . There ’s the post - production ( the mixdown for music , and processing [ printmaking with film or digital processing ] for photography ) . And distribution is exchangeable . MySpace feature medicine and picture taking , for model .
DI : What advice do you have for aspiring lensman ?
KS : For aspiring career photographers , understand business . There are heavy lensman who do n’t know how to run a business , and thus are n’t as successful as they could be . And there are decent photographer who are super successful because they are excellent businesspeople . For those who just desire to take better pictures , do n’t be afraid to " shoot down from the hip . " Just point the camera and fervidness away . I determine that the subject do n’t tighten up up as so many people do when I raise the tv camera to my eye . You might see a much more spontaneous moment that way !
DI : You ’re from Pittsburgh . Care to place a stakes on your Steelers this year ?
KS : I have vision of the Steelers beating the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl .
