What’s your name, age, and where are you from?
My name is Maximillian Menacher, I’m 25 years old and I live in New York.

Looking back, how much do you think going to photo school helped you become the photographer you are today?
I think it kind of helped me, but I don’t know if it was worth the money. I think I could have just moved to New York and lived off that money and interned somewhere for six months instead of spending ten months in photo school. It helped me get to know the equipment but once I moved to New York and started working in a studio that helped even more. It did help me focus my eye and decide this is what I want to do business-wise, but I think you’re really better off getting in and assisting someone instead of going to an art institute and not really knowing where to go with it.

How did you manage to break into the fashion scene in New York?
I don’t know if I’d say I’ve broken into the fashion scene in New York, more of just the photo scene. What helped me do that was working for studios, assisting photographers, doing tests for the major agencies, shooting for myself and meeting the major girls and eventually getting noticed.

You’ve kept various blogs of your own work and work that inspires you for a number of years now, what keeps you motivated to share those images on such a regular basis?
Updating them is easy, as far my inspiration blog gunfire. Really I just like to get lost in tumblrs, there’s so much cool stuff on there and so much stuff that inspires me. Whenever I do a photo shoot I’m looking at inspiration so it helps me organize what I like on a page, so I just do it for myself. Just because people like my personal style they choose to follow me I guess. As far as my blogs of my own work, I really just update those for myself as well, I don’t really promote myself yet through those so it’s more just for me to keep track of what I’ve shot and where I’m going. I am working on a website that should be done in a month or so, as soon as I have enough work that I feel is good enough to be out there. But right now I’m not promoting myself, just because of who I work for and what I’m doing it doesn’t seem relevant yet, but soon enough.

Your work utilizes a variety of digital and film formats – how do you choose what kind of camera to use for a shoot?
I choose the format of camera for a specific shoot based on a look I have in mind for the shoot going into it.

Why and how do you find so many beautiful women to shoot, what about them is it that makes you want to shoot them?
I like to shoot beautiful women because I like to create beautiful pictures and so it helps to have the most beautiful people you can find in front of the camera. It used to be a problem for me when I lived in Minneapolis and LA but as soon as I moved to New York and started working with the major agencies it became pretty easy. Now the problem is finding clothes, so stylists, holler at me.

Do you still make time to shoot skateboarding and/or snowboarding, or when you go out riding do you want to get away from photography?
I do still make time to shoot skating, I’m working on a new series right now for my new website. I don’t really shoot snowboarding because if I have the opportunity to snowboard I don’t want anything to do with a camera. I do ride to get away sometimes, I skate the Chelsea skatepark in New York once a week, it’s therapy. I’ll always shoot it though I think, it’s just part of who I am.

Max

Shout-outs/thank yous/last words?
Thank you Nicole Wing for being a huge inspiration in my life and always pushing me to do better. Thank you Mariano Vivanco for allowing me to work with you, you’re an amazing photographer and a good friend. Thank you Hudson studios for supporting me, all the agencies for supporting me, and anybody who’s supported my work down the line. Thanks to everybody who’s sent me good energy, I love all of you.

Nydansk Sacha Maric is an English born photographer who has been based in Copenhagen and shooting just about everything since 2004, With work for Norse, Wallpaper, WAD, Libertine-Libertine, and Nylon amongst others, his latest project “Good Mother and Father” is a step in the other direction and a personal look at life, death and sex. It’s being released tomorrow at the Playtype concept store from 16-19 so come along to see some amazing images.

from the series “Be as wise as you are beautiful”

What’s your name, age, and where are you from?

Géraldine van Wessem, age 27, I am from Ghent, Belgium.

from the series “Be as wise as you are beautiful”

There seems to be some consistency in your portraits, yet it’s not some easily identifiable quality. How do you go about choosing your subjects?

I choose my subjects intuitively. When I see these people, they somehow make me feel that I really want to photograph them. Perhaps they have some visual quality that makes me want to take their picture, but I absolutely do not have a set of conditions for the people I portray.
My whole work is based on personal and photographical intuition, as is the choice of my models.

If you could shoot any person, who would it be?

I really don’t know. There is no celebrity in particular that I really want to shoot. More probable is that one day I will cross some amazingly photogenic man, woman or child but will be afraid to ask.

from the series “Be as wise as you are beautiful”

How do you come up with the titles of your projects?

Songs and novels give me a lot of inspiration.

from the series “Be as wise as you are beautiful”

With all the different photographers on the web, how do you try to keep your work unique?

I don’t actually know if my work is unique. I started developing the style I have now in 2009, and it is still developing, but I feel that, unfortunately, I am not the only one working this way. An awful lot of people make portraits, work with natural light, work on film…
However, I just continue doing what I want to do. I just love the people I photograph, I think natural light is the best light and that film captures it the way I want it to. It doesn’t matter if my style or work is not so unique after all.
I believe that when you put your heart to it, it will show one way or another. It’s like these corny, but true words Tim Walker once said: “What comes from the heart, touches hearts.” I would never change my work because others do it too or to fit a new trend. It just comes naturally.

from the series “Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory”

You seem to be more focused on portraits currently, but your older work is more varied in subject matter – can we expect this trend to continue?

Yes. My work before 2010 were mostly assignments for art school, I tried out different subjects, but finally I felt that portraits were my main passion.
I also made a series last year of snapshots and landscapes. I will probably start working on a new series this summer.
But the portraits are always there, and the project is never finished. As long as there will be people, I will just feel like I need to make them.

Géraldine, photo by Thomas Nolf

Shout-outs/thank yous/last words?

Thank you for your interest in my work, since it’s not even widely known or spread. It’s nice to know that some people notice and appreciate what I do.
And to the people I portray: thanks for all your patience, time and trust.

Galleri Naboløs gets all physical this summer.

As an extension of their online platform they will open a summer showroom, located on Valkendorfsgade 15, as a space where works can be seen in their natural form, without the distortion of a back lit screen.

Hosting regular exhibitions and events over the summer, it’s best to keep an eye on their schedule at www.nabolos.dk, or on the book.

You’ll receive a warm welcome, weekdays from 10-16, 12-16 Saturday. Closed on Sunday.

Doors open on Friday, May 11, between 17.00 and 20.00 and you are welcome to join the Naboløs crew for an aperitif and chat about….., how shit the weather is.

Tonight sees the opening of the Keith Shore x Mikkeller show ‘When Harry met Sally’ showing Keith’s illustrations used on the original labeling for Mikkeller.

Presented by V1 Gallery and showing 09.05.12 – 31.05.12

Mikkeller Bar, Viktoriagade 8 BC

Lucas Vercetti, cover of Odd Future Tape Vol. 2

What’s your name, age, and where are you from?

My name is Julian Berman and I currently inhabit Los Angeles, California. I am twenty years old.

Tyler, the Creator

How’re you doing man, it seems like you’ve been doing a lot of these kind of things lately?

You know what Spencer, I have been doing rather well actually. School sucks, but thankfully it is almost done. For the most part, I have just been skateboarding, going to school, and going to the goodwill practically every single day. I need to get in the grind of shooting a bit more though, especially since I have not necessarily had an interesting gig in a while.

From District Protocol commission

Following your photos in the last year it seems you’ve really transitioned into shooting more commissioned work – how do you reconcile the difference between shooting for yourself or for a commission? Does your process change?

There is always that fine line between shooting for fun or a hobby, and shooting for work. I don’t know if that necessarily comes with age, or me just being lazy. Having a gig allows me to not only get my creative juices flowing, but also have a sense of creative guideline, or even a GOAL that these shots need to achieve. Besides, having your work published is badass. I still love shooting for myself, but most of the time I end up just bumming over the shots and scrapping them. In the end though, it is great to find a balance between the two.

In previous interviews you’ve been a big advocate for shooting film, but I noticed a lot of your recent photos have been from your x100, a digital camera. Have you moved away from shooting as much film, or are we just not seeing it online?

The X100 is a neat little camera. I have just been a huge fan of experimenting with different formats and mediums, and I figured it would be cool to dip back into digital for a second. To be honest, I am already over it and cannot wait to break out the Mamiya 7 again. Also, many clients and class assignments favor shooting digital for assignments, so it is a tad forced… such a shame. All in all, I will still prefer film over anything.

The city of Los Angeles definitely has a significant presence in your photos, but you also seem to get around the country quite a bit. Do you see yourself shooting in more varied locations in the future or do you plan to stick around LA?

To be honest, I am rather burnt out on shooting in Los Angeles. Maybe this is why there has not been much of an influx in new photographs lately, I guess you can call it a loss of inspiration. I absolutely adore traveling, and think that shooting photographs in a new or foreign location is the coolest thing ever. I definitely hope to travel more in the near future, that is for sure.

Tyler, the Creator

When you create a diptych do you shoot the photos with that kind of presentation in mind or usually decide that when editing?

The diptych is a pretty neat little trend in the current state of photography. They are definitely not too serious, and most of the time look rather silly but they can actually end up with a rather pleasing presentation. Usually I will just have two photographs that I feel would look better together, rather than taking up two posts or whatever. Other times I will actually formulate these couples prior or as I shoot, in hopes that they actually do turn out well together on the computer screen. Most of the time it does not really work, though.

Though your photos of skateboarding are few and far between, you seem to still adhere to the general aesthetic of skateboarding in a majority of your photos – do you consider yourself a skateboard photographer?

I am most definitely not a skateboard photographer, but I would LOVE to shoot some more skating. I always thought the techniques and mathematics behind shooting skateboarding were so cool, definitely far different than traditional portraiture and studio lighting. I suppose I just fell out of the skateboarding loop as a whole, the entire ‘skate crew’ started to disperse, and now it seems that nobody really skateboards anymore. Hopefully in the near future I will get back into it though, I would really enjoy that.
What direction do you see your photography going this year?

Obviously in the near future I would love to travel and complete as many jobs as possible. I will still be in school for photography, taking the same bullshit lighting and portraiture classes. I’ve got some interesting gigs coming up, so we will see what happens there. In the end, all I really need is my Mamiya 7, a flash, a brick of Portra 400, and some babes or butts or something to accomplish my goals.

Julian, photo by lorenzo porras

Shout outs/thank yous?
Thank you for everything, Spencer. Shouts to Bitchslap, the Mamiya 7 Flickr user group, the straight edge, cheesy gordita crunches, my parents, my cats, and my friends all throughout the WORLD absolutely killing it in the photo game. Goodbye.

Thomas Pålsson, who we featured here in Bitchslap XII is solo exhibiting for 1 day on the 10th of May at Råhuset from 17.00 – 23.00. His show Supreme Manipulation is a collection of 20 thought provoking works. We’ll be there. You should be too. 

Luc Aarts – Frontside 50-50

What’s you name, age and where are you from?
My name is Eric van Rijsingen. I’m 23 years and live in the Netherlands.

Harmen Bazuin – Backside Crooked

How did you start shooting skateboarding? Were you doing other kinds of photography first?
Skateboarding is the reason I’ve started with photography. Before picking up a still camera, I was into filming. That didn’t last too long though. Photography looked way more interesting to me and it just came natural to start shooting my friends skating.

Hugo Snelooper – Heelflip Frontside Crooked

You seem to have strayed away from the standard skateboard compositions and techniques, was that a conscience choice?
I see that as a compliment and yes, it was a conscience choice. Mostly, it was the hassle of using multiple flashes that became an annoyance throughout the years. That reached a point to where I really had no fun in shooting skateboarding anymore. I sold my entire setup and chose to explore other genres and styles. For some reason, a minimalistic approach to photography appealed to me and that transferred to my skateboard photos.

Luc Aarts – Ollie

How is the skate scene in the Netherlands? Do you ever feel like being outside of the major centers for skateboarding holds you back?
The skate scene is really quite good here. I live in a rather small country, so everyone kind of knows each other. I never feel like living here holds me back in any way. That is, I know I probably will never be a staff photographer at any major magazine, but that’s not a problem. The scene here is alive and kicking and goes beyond the boundaries of the Netherlands, into Europe. I like it the way it is.

Hendrik Gores – Frontside Tailslide

You were recently featured on the Skateboard Mag website, how did that come about?
Ha, I just contacted them at some point with some questions regarding getting some stuff published. Grant Brittain told me to contact Zack Dowdy and he was stoked on my photos and made it possible.

What are you looking to do with your photography next?
Currently, I’m busy with multiple assignments. In the past year, things started to become a little more serious. Actually getting paid for shooting photos is a great feeling and I’m going to explore doing that more and more. Next to that, I guess I don’t shoot my beloved landscapes enough. Hopefully, I’ll find some time and get some new personal work done.

Eric

Shout outs/thank yous/last words?
Thank you for the interview and exposure. Thanks to my family, my girl and my friends.

Never stop shooting.

Two of our favourite mini gangs, Libertine Libertine and Oh Dawn, are teaming up once again to offer us a 3 day pop up store and gallery in Copenhagen. It’s all going down at Kødboderne 14 from this Thursday until Saturday. Check the flyer for more deets or go to the facebook version.

Once again V1 prove their clout as a major player: Renowned Dutch-born, New York-culture photographer, Ari Marcopoulos shows a selection of his work with his first solo show in Scandinavia, Here and Now at V1 Gallery.

The exhibition opens Friday 27.04.12 and will show until 19.05.12

New Images is a series of short interviews with up-and-coming photographers who are pushing the medium forward. Too often we see images without thinking about where and who they came from – this is an attempt to change that. By giving photographers a chance to talk about their work, how they got into it and where they’re going with it we hope to bring a greater appreciation to some of the individuals whose images you’ll likely be seeing more of in the future.

What’s your name and where are you from?
My name is Alana Paterson and I am from the Pacific North West. Specifically The islands off of west coast Canada

How do you manage to find so many cool locations to shoot?
I just look up whats super cool in whatever area I’m travelling or living and go get it. I keep my ears open from friends and family too and whenever someone says something is super rad it usually is.

From the series “one young summer”

Do you generally plan your photos and series well in advance or find them as they come?
All my personal work is just totally random. I shoot it as it comes. The commissions are of course more planned out. I admire people who can plan out personal projects and stick to them. They are always so good. Hopefully I just haven’t found mine yet. I mean I have veins of interest but thats just part of my day to day as well.

From the series “clear water”

Where do your series names come from?
Some are taken from books or literature. Some are just how I feel about whatever was going on when I shot the series.

From Comune commission

How do you manage to keep the personal, everyday feeling of your photos in your commissioned shoots?
Hm thats a good question. I guess when I’m working with models I just try to get them as comfortable as possible just tell them it doesn’t matter and just have a hang out vibe rather then a business one.

From the series “i broke horses”

As one of the few women shooting skateboarding, do you ever feel like you’re intruding on a “boy’s club”? Have you experienced any barriers because of your gender?
Hm not really. I mean sometimes I will get dudes who thinks I won’t know how to shoot a skate photo, but its understandable. Thats like having a girl change the alternator in your car, even I would be like uhhh ok… I know its not that common so I just do my best to prove them wrong. And it’s not like I’m really trying to be a “skate photographer” anyhow. It’s just something I am around and can make a bit of money off from time to time. And as far as intruding…no I don’t feel like that.There are women in every “boys club” and I have been in this one for a long time. I put in all the endless hours at the park and took a hundred slams on geek tricks not worth slamming on just like everyone else. There are always dues to pay though, more slams to take more rolls to fuck up. haha.

From Poler Stuff commission

Why do you choose to shoot film?
A lot of reasons. So many reasons. For one it forces me to make choices and choose specific moments rather then shooting on rapid fire and editing it down in post. Thats boring and people can feel it in the photos. The quality of film is amazing. The depth and grain are so beautiful it gives me shivers. Plus if you shoot film people can tell. They value your images more just as you do because they understand the process you went through was far more organic (and expensive) then if you shot digital.

Alana – photo by Michelle Ford

Shout outs/thank yous/last words?
Yeah sorry I have terrible grammar and thanks to you guys at bitch slap! also to Mila Franovic who is my stylist extrodinaire and Gordon Nicholas the photo editor at Color mag. They are both champs.

www.alanapaterson.com
alanapaterson.tumblr.com

Amazing light sculptures from NYC based artist Dev Harlan. This one is “Parmenides I” from his “Astral Flight Hangar” solo show at the Christopher Henry Gallery last year. You can also check his vimeo channel for more lighting locura.

Current State: Snowboarding MAKING OF from David Benedek on Vimeo.

Snowboard legend, filmmaker, creative mastermind and now author David Benedek, has done a book about snowboard history. From the early days of Sorel boots and tindys to todays tight pants and kinkrails. And even if snowboarding is not your thing, the video is very well made. Peep it.

The Avant/Garde Diaries documents personal views on the avant-garde…,
whoever they are.Festivals will be hosted in metropolises around the world, with each event curated by an expert from the creative industry.

With a fascination for nature and the sciences, Anders Maisner – SCRMN – creates rich and detailed work touching on collage and illustration, storytelling and chaos.

After 6 years working in Holland and Spain, he’s back in the land of pølser and hygge and has just completed an incredibly successful group show at Charlottenborg, being speedily snapped up by Hans Alf (Holbergsgade 13) for an imminent shared show opening March 23.

You’re invited.

www.scrmn.com

Caldwell Tanner from College Humor drops these sarcastic de-motivational posters. Have a look.

The second in a series of hand painted studies that aim to psychedelically capture the individual styles of influential skateboarders, this features focuses on Gravis ripper, Dylan Rieder.

Wow, I’m not sure if I’m ever going to come down from this trip. We missed the first one of these featuring Jason Dill, but there’s no way we’re missing the next.

Hats off to Matt Box from Unreal Estate - this is dope.

Recently while in Laax for the Burton European Open, I met Aaron Schwartz who was frantically editing and uploading his shots from that day’s halfpipe finals to the Whiteout Magazine site. He showed me some of his stuff which stretched beyond photography; his skills reaching into, and mastering, illustration and graphic design. We were instantly stoked on his work so have decided to share it with you. Canadian Aaron is currently based in Chur but following his pen and paper on the move to Zurich shortly.

We’ve gone for a kind of photo – illu – photo thing here so even those of you who are lazy get a good glimpse of the word. Enjoy.

To see more of Aaron’s work go to his site

Lasse spent a month in Marseille on a workshop directed by Magnum Photographer Antoine D’agata. Now Lasse is back with a bunch of photos and would like you to look at them.

Check them on his website. Here’s a little preview.

This completely brilliant film was made by Jarbas Agnelli and Keith Loutit. Using the tilt shift method, it captures a teeny tiny Rio de Janeiro and the Carnaval from 2011, with music by Jarbas Agnelli (although it does sound very Phillip Glass by the end).

Both Jarbas Agnelli & Keith Loutit were finalists at YouTube play, a Biennial of Creative Video at the Guggenheim, the rest of the entries can be found ‘ere.

This short clip featuring Eric Elms is shot by photographer Peter Sutherland and to be found on Offthewall.tv. It tracks Eric Elms through Tokyo during his “Wish You Were Here” exhibition at Common Gallery late 2011. It’s cool to hear his thoughts about zines on this nicely made mini-doc.

Source: Hypebeast

Dutch Levi van Veluw works both with sculpture and photography (but no digital messin’) to create these thought-provoking, abstract portraits (amongst a plethora of other works). With these, by using repetition as a theme, the person becomes secondary to the materials and form. If you like these, you should definitely check out his videos.

The Stussy Spring 2012 collection includes a series of t-shirts by Dutch artist Parra.

Parra is best known for his curved post-Pop imagery, highly saturated colors, vibrant hand-drawn letters and worlds inhabited by hybrid, surreal characters. Celebrated by galleries and championed by an underground following from the outset, Parra has quickly become a respected and eclectic artist worldwide. Working across drawing, painting, animation and sculpture, Parra creates an enigmatic and instantly recognizable style that defies easy categorization. Parra is co-founder of cult apparel label Rockwell Clothing and a member of electronic music collective Le Le. Check out this interview with Parra from his Amsterdam studio.

Source: Stussy Vimeo

Dutch Loulou & Tummie have a fancy coloured website and make fancy coloured illustrations. Here’s a series of maps they’ve done over the last year. It’s pretty candy, but hey, candy tastes good until you have too much. Right now, I’m in the still-tastes-good part.

This video shows 360 degree rotations of the 26 three-dimensional letters developed for the Arkitypo project. The six-month long project is a collaboration between London-based design studio, Johnson Banks, and the Digital Media University of Ravensbourne.

Surprisingly though, this is not supported by audio, leaving the viewer with the feeling of not quite being able to find where it itches.

Field Notes have just added this brand new red blooded Field Notes notebook to their line-up. The good news? Your girlfriend can finally give you a proper gift for Valentine’s Day. The bad one? You’ll have to make all the cutting and gluing yourself.

Posted by Thomas / TheMeat.dk

She’s the Forrest Gump of our time. She has whitnessed more than many of us ever dreamed of. She met Barack Obama, ran with bulls in Pamploma, were almost hit by Tiger Woods’ golf ball and beat some jamacin guy during Olympic Games.

Here’s a quick follow up from the last few days of madness in Berlin. Thanks to Bright for having us and we’re looking forward to breakfast in the hotel next time.

We took half of these on our phones after several G&T’s so don’t hate on the quality. Next time, we promise to bring a real photog, instead of a couple of old dogs.

Above: Steven / Soletech Europe.

Above: Best ever minigolf course. Seriously. We sucked at it though. Claus from Obey got 3 hole in ones.

Above: Jo & Gunnar from Shins & Cheeks, a series of portraits which we ran in Bitchslap issue 14.

Above: Bright Girls Are Awesome #1 / Filis, 21, Student (left) & Tina, 28, Student. Thanks for the Vans window scraper glove Filis – you’re awesome!

Above: Bright Girls Are Awesome #2 / Bela-Tess, 20, Fashion Writer (left) & Anne-Katrin, 19, Student.

Above: Bright Girls Are Awesome #3 / Johanna, 26, Law Graduate.
Johanna was pretty awesome because she had no idea why anyone would want to take her photo and made her boyfriend face the wall because she was so embarrassed. Cute.

Above: Bright Girls Are Awesome #4 / Annelise, 24, PR intern at Element Europe

Above: Bright Girls Are Awesome #5 / Gabriele, 17, Student and am skater. Gabriele is awesome because she was at Bright scouting for new sponsors with a portfolio showing her doing mean tricks like kickflipping stairs. We would sponsor her just for that smile!

Above: Bright Girls Are Awesome #6 / Camille, 28, Designer for RVCA Women
Camille is awesome and holding 2 small girls in her belly. Double trouble.

Above: Bright Girls Are Awesome #7 / Crista, 28, Photographer. Crista was awesome because she put up with our shit over the whole weekend, and takes brilliant photos on real film. She’s a bit fucked now that Kodak had gone bust though.

Above: Chris Haslam & Fluff Magazine’s Marcel Veldman. Wicked skateboarder and wicked photographer.

Above: A blurry Ray Barbee giving a solo performance at the first ever European Skateboard Awards – which, by the way, were hilarious and tightly landed.

Above: Transit in Berlin had yummy food and lots of bird cages.

Above: Girls are Awesome #9 / Mali – our second favourite girl in Berlin. What a pleasure to hang out for the evening and thanks for the presents!

Above: Odessa. Thank you for existing.

Above: Breakfast at YamYam at around 3pm Sunday.

Above: Nike skaters Danijel & Wieger. Wieger couldn’t get in – anywhere.

I was in Australia for three weeks to visit my sister’s husband’s family. We drove along the Great Ocean Road, went swimming in the sea, hung out Melbourne and the foothills to Adelaide, ate tons of great food, I looked at lots of girls and spent more money. This is all I’ve got to show for it – Peter