Patrick Stevens
A series of short, quickfire interviews with photographers we admire, who push boundaries with their work and continue to develop and grow as artists.
Boom! This weeks QS interview is with street photographer Patrick Stevens
You can follow Patrick’s work at @alwayschasingdaylight on IG
A movie every photographer must watch: I hate to be indecisive on this, but movies are a place I’ve drawn a significant amount of inspiration from. Here are some thoughts on my favourites. For documentaries; Garry Winogrand’s “All Things Photographable”, Jim Marshall’s “Show me the Picture”, Robert Frank’s “Don’t Blink”, Vivian Maier’s “Finding Vivian Maier”, Paul Fusco’s “One Thousand Pictures RFK’s last Journey” and Tim Hetherington’s “Which way is the front line from here”. Non-Documentary photography inspiration I’m a fan of anything by Terrence Malik (Tree of Life, A Hidden Life), Danny Boyle (Trainspotting), & Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Lock Stock, RockNRolla)
An album to edit to: I’m a bit all over the place with music as well. A constant theme with music isn’t as much a genre, but more something that happens to be able to stir up an emotion inside me. Similar to how I look at most all art. Less about what I know about it and more about how it makes me feel. Current playlist I’m listening to has WuTang, Neil Young, Iron & Wine, Deftones, Bon Iver, R.E.M., Mac Miller, & The Smiths
Shout out an Instagram photographer: I’m going to have to politely pass on calling out an IG photographer as I have too many friends within the community that are doing inspiring stuff right now and I don’t want to miss anyone. Now I do have a favorite writer of photography that I really enjoy following on IG. Bill Shapiro @billshapiro, he is the former editor-in-chief of Life Magazine, Editor of Leica Conversations, and periodic guest on The United Nations of Photography Podcast w/ Grant Scott. I really enjoy listening to those that are can speak at a high level about the history of photography.
Your favourite photographer of all time: Favorite of all time is tough, but if I was to say who I feel is my spirit animal/photographer, I think I would say the Irish Photograher, Tom Wood. His bus work in Liverpool is outstanding. I get a kick out of his dry humor and his workman-like approach to the craft of street photography IMO is unmatched. Winogrand & Frank are at the top of my favorites list, along with many of other Magnum'esq photographers (Josef Kudelka, Larry Towell, Eugene Richards, Paolo Pellegrin, Gilles Peress, Ray Depardon, Chris Killip, Alex Webb)
A photo accessory you can't do without: My buddy Juan Sostre (@sostreshots) introduced me to the Light Pix Lab Flash Q about 2 yrs ago and I have used it consistently ever since. It’s an inexpensive and compact remote flash system that allows for me to have a off-camera flash option as I shoot in low or harsh lighting conditions.
Something we probably don't know about you: My first hobby that I can remember as a child was being a bird watcher. I think I ended up identifying around 250 different species of birds by the time I gave up my ornithology career path (10yrs old). I also once held a Baseball Home Run Record at a University that I attended, which lasted about a decade.
What's the most surprising thing that's happened to you because of photography: I think what has surprised me the most is the overall physical impact to the body to hit the streets daily. Maybe it’s just age catching up with me, but I can feel the mileage start to add up. Im a proper pavement pounder (approx 18,000 steps a day over the past few years), so stretching, hydration, sleep, and just all-around self-care physically and mentally has become more the rule than the exception.
If you could photograph anybody past or present, dead or alive, who would it be: I don't have a specific person and even if I did I'd be embarrased to showcase my portrait photography skills. Now, if I could pick an event vs a person in history that I would like to photograph. I would love to be able to join Jim Marshall as he photographed the 1967 Summer of Love Music Festival in San Francisco. The unfettered candid backstage access that Jim had to artists like Hendrix, Joplin, The Greatful Dead, The Doors, and Rolling Stones was just unprecedented. I'd imagine no one photographer has ever achieved that level of access to that level of talent at one event ever since.
You desert island item: If I'm going to take 1 book to read on a deserted island I might as well take the biggest one. Gilles Peress' "Whatever you say, Say Nothing" is the most intimidating tome of a photo book that I own and being on deserted island may just be the motivation I need to focus and finally get through it all.
Round Table Dinner: Garry Winogrand, Ernst Hemingway, Mickey Mantle, Frank Sinatra
Remember to check out Patricks IG @alwayschasingdaylight
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