|
Big Time: An Interview with Ben Watts,
Big Up
A shutterbug who
grew up with a thirst for documenting boxers, dykes and hustlers can shoot
big-name superstars without sacrificing his street cred. That's the first
thing that strikes you about Ben Watts. The other thing is his lo-fi style:
Polaroids rule Big Up like Rakim rules rhyme. From famous faces (including
his sister, Naomi) to anonymous up-and-comers, Watts' photography keeps
the vibe gritty and sentient. One man's anti-gloss is another's cultural
production, whether you like it or not. A scrapbook years in the making,
Big Up is Watts' love letter to his field. No return address requested..
Morphzim: What
first compelled you to document street culture?
Ben Watts: It's something I've been involved in for a while and
it's kind of a personal passion. I used to work in a nightclubs, grew
up in nightclubs and was always interested in music. So it was the first
thing I pointed my camera at while I was learning. It was a natural thing
to do. A lot of the people I know are involved with music, so I made them
my first subjects. It developed from there into a cultural scrapbook.
Morphzim: These
pictures cover some a wide territory.
BW: I love it. If I woke up in the morning and someone told me
I was only shooting certain things, I probably wouldn't last long. I like
a broad spectrum, but I always like to bring a certain sort of flavor,
if I'm able. Just keeping things animated, sort of a direct view into
or contact with the soul of the person I'm shooting. I try to get a definite
feel from them, rather than going with something too sterile,complicated
or conceptual.
Morphzim: How
long did it take you to collate it all?
BW: There's some stuff that dates to 1989, and then up to the present
day. The book came out the same year I shot some pictures for it.
Morphzim: Which
are your favorites?
BW: Every one of those experiences was as great as the next. But
a lot of the boxing stuff was something that I was into while in high
school and university. I just took my camera along, because it was just
so close to me. I was a trainer as well, so if I saw someone interesting
in the gym I'd go, "Hey man, can I take a picture?" And it was cool, because
it was direct. I wasn't an outsider.
|
