MW
What inspired you to start taking photographs, and what have been some of the most important milestones in your career up until now?
CA
As a teenager I was really into music and so I started a fanzine and of course we needed pictures so I started photographing the bands. The first few shows produced horrible results, but after awhile I started to get a bit better at it, and then fell in love with the process.
Photography studies followed, and I started shooting professionally for music magazines all over the world. Then at the ripe of old age of about 17 I gave it up and moved to Florence to study art history.
After that my love of film took over and I started working my way through the Swedish film industry and then began directing shorts which led to TV work and commercials, music videos etc.
The irony is when I ended up moving to Los Angeles, I gradually dropped out of film making and I picked up a still camera for the first time in over ten years and was utterly enchanted.
I've been shooting still photographs now full time for about 7 years and although I do the occasional campaign or album cover I mostly concentrate on my own work which is shown in galleries.
Just being able to make a living is the milestone, I think!
MW
How do you approach editing your work, and what advice would you give to others about evaluating their photographs?
CA
Much of the editing is done before I even shoot, because I mostly use large format film and shoot very
few images.
I try to prepare as much as possible, so when the film is processed there's not much variation or much to choose from. Now that I've started working with wet plate, there's even less editing involved.
On the other hand, not everything comes out good, and knowing what to put out into the world is an art unto itself. I go with my gut, which isn't always right!
MW
How do you decide on new projects to work on? Do you always shoot with a concept in mind or do you wait to be inspired as you go?
CA
It usually begins with an awful lot of ruminating and brooding! Coming up with good ideas is the most difficult part of the process.
If I'm lucky I'll think of something decent once a year.
Then all the art direction / locations / costumes. Making costumes and/or masks. Perhaps renting or buying certain elements. Deciding on whether any type of crew is needed (I prefer to do as much as possible myself if I can get away with it).
The shoot itself is usually quite quick and painless if I've prepared properly. Unless of course the location is tough due to the elements.
I've done a lot of shooting in the Pacific ocean on cold, wet winter mornings and it's usually pretty tough on the models.
MW
What ways have you found successful for promoting your work and finding a receptive audience for it?
CA
My website is really the only platform I have. Sometimes I send out e-mails.
JULIANA
NOMAD
The Black Parade
© copyright all images Chris Anthony
