Photo artist interview #29 - Talisman Brolin

• In 1-2 words, what do you shoot?

Characters

• What’s your weapon of choice?

Canon 1Ds Mark III, 5D Mark II, 35mm f/1.4

• Where is your favorite place on earth?

Wherever I am getting a massage.

• Why do you take pictures?

I love connecting with people.

• What would be your replacement Hobby/Profession if photography was dead?

Working with young children or some sort of creative consultant (I have lots of random ideas).

• Sleep, Eat, Sleepwalk while eating?

And then some.

• What do you favor:

B&W or Color? Color
Film or Digital? Digital (but for some reason I feel a little guilty admitting it)
Studio or Location? LOCATION
Night or Day? Doesn’t matter, as long as there is light.
Portrait or Landscape? Orientation: Landscape. Subject: Portrait.
Captain Hero or Cartman? Cartman pretending to be Captain Hero

• What is your most treasured possession?

Solid connections with family and friends.

• Favorite photo book and/or Favorite movie?

I’m horrible at answering these kinds of questions but the first thing that comes to mind is Undercover Blues (unbelievably cheesy but with all the right ingredients).

• Photographer/s that inspire you?

Elliott Erwitt, Bruce Davidson, Cartier-Bresson, Leonard Freed (any of the old-school Magnum photogs).

• Advice for the younglings out there looking through their first viewfinder?

Don’t think too much, just shoot.

• What’s the story behind the photo below?

This is from a personal project on the Joffrey Ballet School in Greenwich Village. At the moment it is a welcome opportunity to clear my head and just shoot, but I am slowly finding my focus. I seem to be zeroing in on the younger ballerinas (probably the age I would work with if I weren’t a photographer). I enjoy finding unpolished moments with a hint of tension. I am looking for beauty of imperfection in a discipline that strives for nothing but perfection.

• Any future projects or travels?

I am working on a project about Ken Parker (www.kenparkerarchtops.com), a master guitar designer and maker; another project is photographing at the Joffrey Ballet School in Greenwich Village; in addition I’m oddly obsessed with photographing surgeries so if anyone is interested in getting me into an O.R. it would be much appreciated; and I recently traveled to Belize with my boyfriend (also a photog/filmmaker: www.JeremyBales.com) and we are working on a multi-media project about the Maya Women down there.

• Where can we see more of your work?

www.TalismanPHOTO.com

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

Really?


Photo courtesy of the artist "Talisman Brolin"

Thank you

T2