Home BLOGS Mini Interviews Mini Interview: Mark Wickens

Mini Interview: Mark Wickens

Written by Nicholas Venaglia

Wednesday, 25 June 2008 08:36

This SF based photographer traded his bike for his Hasselblad. We get a lot of great emails from a lot of talented people introducing us to their work. From time to time we'll be sharing their work here in our mini interviews segment... To be considered for a mini interview send a few jpegs to: mini(at)fecalface.com *Make sure the images are at least 600 pixels in width. Age? Location? Website? 27, currently San Francisco, previously New York and New Orleans, www.mkwickens.com What was your first camera and when did you start taking pictures? I guess my first camera was a Nikon F2 which I "borrowed" from my mother. Started taking pictures in high school and getting a bit more serious about it through college. I have just moved to California from New Mexico and at times have a hard time feeling "comfortable" here, being away from friends and family. How has traveling and moving around the country been for you personally and artistically? Yeah, I certainly know what you mean. California almost seems like its own country at times... Fortunately, I've really enjoyed moving around a bit, settling into new cities, and meeting interesting people. It has really opened up my eyes to both the geographic and cultural diversity that exists in the states. On the creative side, moving to California has been fantastic. Living in New York, the city has an uncanny ability to suck you in, and its hard to break free from it. San Francisco feels different in that everyone is doing there own thing, and its easy to get out and explore the surrounding landscape...do your own thing on your own time... Your work certainly shows this as most of your photographs are not of the urban landscape, can you talk a little bit about your subjects? What draws you to nature? For me, photography and exploring the natural landscape go hand in hand in that one encourages the other and vice versa. I'd like to shoot more portraits and the like, but keep coming back to landscapes because of the quiet, solitary nature of the process. Do you have a day job? What's a normal day for you? During the day, I work as an architect at a firm down in SoMa. I get to draw most of the day, or am out in the field at various job sites. Its a pretty great job, and I'd certainly recommend it as a profession to anyone who might be interested. After work, I like to go surfing, play soccer, or just pass out on the couch and eat donuts... Do you have a favorite camera? When I first moved to San Francisco, I figured I'd ride my bicycle everywhere... Unfortunately, due to my general lack of interest in constantly riding uphill, I scrapped that idea and bought a car. Shortly thereafter, I met a cyclist who was kind enough to trade me a beautiful Hasselblad for my bicycle. I've been shooting with that ever since, and cant think of many other cameras I'd rather work with. Are there any albums, books or movies that made a big impact on your life? Lets see...I really like works that take you to another place...out of your element and into someone else's world. Donnie Darko...The Unbearable Lightness of Being...Tribe Called Quest were great story tellers... Favorite food ever? Gyros & Samosas. For sure. Hard to find them out here though... Any last words? I think I mentioned earlier that I'd like to shoot more portraits...so if theres anyone out there that wants to get together for some photos, drop me a line. {moscomment} Tags: mini interview mini interviews Related Articles Mini Interview: Nicholas Haggard Mini Interview: Dan Sparkes (Mudwig) Mini Interview: Noel Smith Mini Interview: William Hundley Mini Interview: Mel Stringer Mini Interview: James Cooper Mini Interview: Brian Willmont Mini Interview: Matt Elliott Mini Interview: Rey Ortega Mini Interview: Davor Svetinovic < Prev   Next >

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