Where: New York, NY
1.When did you first decide to make photography a career?
I decided to make photography a full time career after a few years selling cars. My father was a photographer, among other things, but never really took it too seriously. Whenever I saw him, usually once a year for a couple weeks or a month, I would take his camera when he was off hustling or doing whatever he was doing. There was a lot of interesting stuff going on around the neighborhoods he was in or living, and a lot of crazy people around. I wound up learning a lot on my own, and he taught me mainly about settings, films and processing. I learned that he was selling drugs and women instead, because he made a lot more money, and never really could sell what he loved doing.
My mother always looked at me as my father after he went on the run for good when I was about 8. She assumed that I was becoming a hustler too, and since we had no money, I thought I'd make photography a career. I started selling random things from the neighborhood, stealing hood ornaments, and eventually got caught for that, so I started mowing lawns and shovelling sidewalks instead so that I could buy a camera and pay for processing and film. Soon enough, I had a camera and some lenses.
2.Do you have the first photo that got you your first check as a photographer? what was the image of?
I started taking photos of neighbor's pitbulls, graffiti, cars and things and selling them to people when I could. I started off selling them to people, and what I made basically paid for the film and processing. I don't really remember what the first photo was that got me my first check, most were cash... I did receive some awards in the late 90s that were some of my first, I think the first check was for a landscape photo from 1997.
3. I read that you've taught seminars on photographic Technics and lighting, if a person reading this wanted to get into photography whats the best tip you could tell them that could help them along the way?
The best tip I could give someone starting in this industry, is to realize and utilize the power of connections. Your ability to make money in this industry, like most others, depends 75 percent on who you know and 25 percent on your talent. You need the 25 to make an impact on the 75 though, and a lot of people think that if they just go around talking, that it will work for them. The other flawed logic is that if you have amazing work and only talk to a few people about it, that the news will spread. It won't. But if you get good work into the hands of the right people, it can make all the difference in the world. The main course of action is to work hard and constantly stay fresh, while having a unique style of your own that is instantly recognizable without your name on it, and get it out to as many people as possible (that can help you). Don't speak negatively about anyone, even if you think no one will know, and always exude positivity, and have a flair that makes you recognizable and a pleasure to be around.
what can we expect from John knappe in 2010?
For 2010, I have a lot of things in the works. Most I can't talk about. However, shows in Miami, California, even more shows in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as two more books are on the way in 2010. A lot of cool things are coming, but it wouldn't be any fun if I gave them away.
If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up. Buy the ticket, take the ride.
Hunter S. Thompson
Contacts - http://www.thenappy.com/
http://www.johnknappe.com
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