Photo artist interview #7 - Barry Underhill

• In 1 word, what do you shoot?

Stillness.

• What’s your weapon of choice?

Canon 5d

• How long have you been shooting?

Five or six years professionally.

• Where do you reside?

Austin, TX

• What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

I have to admit a bit of a rut here. Yogurt, blueberries and granola. Same thing at least five mornings of the week for a couple years now.

• B&W or Color?

Color.

• Film or Digital?

Mostly digital. Film when needed.

• Sleep or Eat?

No real preference. Both seem a chore at times.

• Master Shake or Frylock?

Don’t really do the adult swim. Wish I could get at the heart of this question though, what they each represent. Maybe then I could have an opinion. I do like shakes better than fries.

• Macro, Fisheye, or Telephoto?

A little wide please.

• Do you prefer shooting at night or day?

I tend to like dusk or night better when I’m shooting on location. I can control things a little better. If it’s in the studio, it’s my job. Monday through Friday, 9-5.

• What’s the story behind the photo below?

I was shooting one night on some back street over in Boyle Heights. C-Bo was standing in the middle of the road. An SUV rolled past slow just a couple feet from him. He was looking over at the driver with a weird look of recognition on his face. It was heading away from me. I couldn’t see who was behind the wheel. All Bo’s guys seemed a bit concerned as well. They were up out of their trucks and coming out to see who the stranger on set might be. The SUV went down to the end of the street, did a u-turn and was heading back toward us. “Everything alright Bo?” I asked. “That truck’s coming back.” He still had that look on his face. “It’s De Niro,” he said. “Robert De Niro?” I asked. The SUV came back by slow, De Niro behind the wheel. He nodded.

• Photographers that inspire you?

Caravaggio.

• Any future projects or travels?

I guess. Most of the things I might classify as projects fall into a more personal category. Sort of fashion or beauty. A series of shots with a common theme. The music stuff that’s coming out I shot recently would be Savage’s new disk Savage Island, Yukmouth’s West Coast Don and a new one coming from Alchemist hopefully soon.

• In 1 word, last thing you’d say if time stopped right NOW?

Goodnight.




Photo courtesy of the artist "Barry Underhill"

Check out more of Barry's work @ underhillphotography.com/

Thank You

T2