Introductions/Introducciones- Theodore Slavin

We would like to introduce you to Theo Slavin

Spaces Between Places

Guadalajara 2008

Wandering in the Company of Strangers

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theodorewslavin

Tell us about your band and how your music informs your photography?

I’m in a funkadelic soul band called Illusion Lounge and I play the guitar and make noise with my voice. Music definitely informs my photographs, I try to think like a jazz musician, riff off what’s happening, improvise, raw and visceral, make it groove like Miles Davis in the 70’s. When  I listen to music and close my eyes, I see colors, I don’t remember what that’s called but the wiring in my head. must be connected wrong, so music and image is interchangeable. But really, besides other photographers, I’m influenced by authors, filmmakers, musicians, comedians etc. I hope my pictures can ramble like Keroauc, have Andy Kaufman’s wit, Kubrick’s sense of space and narrative.

Tell us about your street photography, would you say your street photography is a reflexion of your personality?

Absolutely. I’m told I’m a “sarcastic prick” (in an endearing way I hope) and this definitely comes through in my work. I look for weird things, stuff that doesn’t fit, little fleeting moments you wouldn’t normally pay attention to because they’re so mundane. I mean, how absurd are cell phones? We walk around all over the place plugged into little computers and don’t smile at each other on the street and sit in a big metal box with wheels full of strangers that we don’t want to touch but share space with. That’s pretty damn funny if you ask me. I don’t pay much heed to shutter speed either, I like blur, out of focus, grain-these elements give the photos a surreal, weirdo quality. I’m not one of those socially concerned, Walker Evans types (no hate against that kind of photography, I know a lot of my friends do that and they make beautiful pictures), I guess I’m more attracted to the guy picking his nose on the street, than the junky shooting up. Hell, I see the junky everyday, but everybody thinks it’s rude to dig for gold in public

What do you have yet to photograph?

Besides projects for school and all that jazz, I’m going to start a series on the Financial District in Downtown San Francisco. The nine to five workweek, people in suits, coffee cups and I’m going to do it in color! Usually I shoot black and white film but I want to try something new for a change. I think I want to shoot some fashion, I’ve never done it before and I’ve gotta keep myself thinking in different ways because the worst thing you can do is repeat the same old thing over and over.

If you were given the opportunity to meet anyone in the world for an hour for beer, who would it be and why?

Oh man, I have to pick just one person? Woody Allen. I’d love to just sit and listen to that guy talk all neurotic and crazy. He’s one of the world’s greatest comedic geniuses and his books are almost better than his films and it would great to just have a drink and hear what he has to say. He’s getting old too, so we’ll have to make this happen fast! And hey, I just turned twenty-one so I could actually have a beer with him without getting him arrested for providing a minor with alcoholic beverages and corrupting the minds of America’s youth. Hot dog.

Thanks for talking to me, hope the answers are okay! And hope you all have your health and happiness and sunshine down in Mexico
cheers
theo

Mar 31, 2010 | Categories: Blog | Tags: Black Boots Ink, documentary, photography, Theo Slavin | 2 Comments »