Tim Hailand | timhailand.com
Corin Dupree: Tim, tell me when you first became interested in photography. And was there one of those "ah-ha" moments that made you realize this is what you wanted to do for a living.
Tim Hailand: I have always made art since I was a kid. I used to make paintings, and moved to New York in 1983 to attend art school and pursue a career as a painter. I moved away from painting and into collage, sculpture, and assemblage, as well as taking polaroids. Around 1996 I took a box of cut-out letters to Miami with me and a small camera. There I created my first “word piece” photos. I would say this was when I moved into my “mature work” as an artist. The camera really facilitates my vision best, its a machine that works with you to create an image – great invention!
CD: You seem to focus primarily on portraiture. What is your draw to the human face, body and expression?
TH: I’m interested very much in music and performers. I’m very inspired by musicians, by athletes, by talented people and personalities. I'm also interested in certain notions of the “classical ideal” - certain people I photograph embody these ideals in one way or another. I rarely shoot professional models, prefer people who do something, who create something in life, for me form follows function, and that’s what I document. I’m currently working on a project with a professional bodybuilder; documenting his body transformation as he prepares for competition. Basically I look for the HEROIC in people – and that comes in different forms in different people.
CD: Last winter you published your first book, One Day in The Life of Daniel Radcliffe. Describe the experience of photographing someone for a day and then having to edit down to only 50 photographs for a book.
TH: Dan is an interesting person, someone I am friendly with. I spend the day with the subject and document what I think is important about the day. The images are then edited to tell the best “tale” of that particular day.
CD: You're also working on a few other individuals for the One Day in The Life project. Who else to you plan to include in upcoming books?
TH: I just finished shooting (the extremely talented) Rufus Wainwright in Edinburgh recently as he began his world tour. I am friendly with Rufus so I get more intimate photos that way – I approach all my subjects with respect and hopefully it shows in the work. Also shot singer Nadine Coyle of the UK pop band Girls Aloud, and soon shooting Jake Shears of the band Scissor Sisters as they headline a big UK music festival (Glastonberry) this June. I'm on a plane now back from London where I was staying with my good friend Pete Burns of the band Dead or Alive. We did a number of photo sessions, and will also do a day in his life soon, as well as some world-class athletes to be confirmed.
CD: Who are some of your mentors and how do they inspire you?
TH: I'm most inspired by people who do things that I could not possibly do! So that would be mainly singing and performing on stage. The man who changed my life was Morrissey – his work with The Smiths really informed and shaped my thoughts. I am also a big fan of Rufus Wainwright, Antony and The Johnsons, my good friend and visual artist Jim Hodges, Pete Burns, Vivienne Westwood, Charles James, Joey Arias, Sylvester and Marina Abramovic just to name a few. I like people who really go all the way with their work , who are committed and serious about what they do, who make beautiful work, yet have a sense of humour. These people inspire me.
CD: Your work allows you to travel the world, Where are some of your favorite places to visit?
TH: I've spent a lot of time in Berlin over the last few years. I love the trees, the quiet, the museums and the statues. I really love classical sculpture – and Berlin is full of beautiful statues as well as being green. It gives me space to think and contemplate my work. Reflection is very important in the development of my work. I also like the surface and sensual beauty of Paris, especially at night. I like certain things about London (a nice city to stroll in), the high level of talent and efficiency of New York (but not the noise, dirt and abundance of people on electronic devices), and more recently Krakow. My muse and friend Maciek Mika lives there.
CD: Do you have any exhibitions planned in 2010?
TH: I may be doing an exhibition in Berlin sometime this year – focusing on portraiture – I have never done a big exhibition of my portrait work. I'm focusing more now on books – and also working on a book of images of men.
CD: What advice would you extend to budding photographers?
TH: Have a vision/point of view, explore what other photographers have done before you, learn how to make photos with film first, and just take lots of pictures and work very hard.
CD: What photographers do you most admire -- and why?
TH: Peter Hujar, Leni Reifenstahl, August Sander, Hilla and Bernd Becher, Kark Heinz Weinberger, Robert Mapplethorpe, Arthur Tress, Thomas Ruff, Arnold Newmann, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Horst, Catherine Opie, Cecil Beaton, Herbert Tobias, Helmut Newton. I like them because they are all great photographers, have a strong vision, and are quite influential. I adore great vision and influence.
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