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Rod Stewart 1973

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Posted on September 21, 2011 by Tony Ward

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CHARLES GATEWOOD INTERVIEW

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TW: What do you find most compelling about the medium of Photography?

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CG: I’m a card-carrying voyeur, and my exotic subjects excite me. My camera is a passport to adventure and creative fun. I am my own boss. I have never had a “job.” I travel the world, do whatever I please, photograph famous people, and have kinky sex with beautiful punkettes. ‘Nuff said!

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TW: You have covered a variety of subject areas in your involvement in Photography. Which of these subject areas do you find the most compelling and worthy of further exploration?

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CG: I’ve been photographing almost fifty years, and I’ve covered lots of subjects. Most of my work is about people and behavior, and I’ve spent many years documenting alternative culture in all its ragged glory. My extended photo essays include 60s counterculture, rock and roll (I shot for Rolling Stone and Crawdaddy), the radical sex community, and tattooing, piercing and body art (I helped launch the “new tribalism” movement by sparking the RE/Search book Modern Primitives). I also did lots of traditional photojournalism in the 60s and 70s.
One of my favorite extended photo essays is Wall Street, shot between 1972-1976. This work is more formal, and more about social conditioning, societal control, corporate excess, and fascist architecture. Which subjects do I find most compelling today? Barely-legal girls, ha ha.

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Jimmy Page and William Burroughs, 1975

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TW: How do you think the medium of photography has impacted popular culture at large?

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CK: Are you serious?

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TW: What was it like to encounter William S. Burroughs as a subject in your work?

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CG: In January, 1972, Rolling Stone sent me and writer Bob Palmer to London to do a feature article on William Burroughs. Talk about a dream assignment. We spent a week with Burroughs, smoked hash, stared into the Dream Machine, played with the E-meter, and dug all Burroughs’ best rants and stories. Rolling Stone liked the story so much they asked me to be their New York photographer.
I shot Burroughs again in NYC, 1975, for Crawdaddy. He and musician Jimmy Page met for tea and chat before a Led Zepp concert. I got great shots from that shoot too.
All my best William Burroughs photographs are in my brand-new book BURROUGHS 23 (www.burroughs23.com). The handmade books were released just a week ago, and already we’ve sold nine of the 23 copies. If you want one, act fast!
PS…I made a similar artist’s book about Dylan with photos from my 1966 Stockholm shoot (www.ACompleteUnknown.com).

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Burroughs

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TW: Are you equally compelled to photograph men and women. If not, which gender do you prefer to photograph and why?

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CG: For most of my career, I’ve photographed everyone. Today, I mostly photograph gorgeous women. Wouldn’t you?

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TW: How has photography broadened or defined your view of today’s world?

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CG: Like totally!

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Charles Gatewood

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TW: If you could turn back the hands of time, would you have chosen another profession?

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CG: No, no, no. I do enjoy creative writing, but at heart I’m a picture guy.

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TW: Describe the feeling of taking a great picture? What happens at that moment?

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CG: Well, for me the creative act is a wonderful high, especially if the subject is exotic or sexy. I go into what I call “magic space.” Psychologists call it “flow.” Athletes call it “being in the zone.” It’s an exhilarating feeling. Time stands still, there is total communion with the subject, and the creative process (right framing, angle, moment) is like a beautiful zen dance. I work it, work it, work it—and suddenly there it is, my shot!

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TW: How do you define Photography as Art?

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CG: Andy Warhol said, “Art is anything you can get away with.” I agree!

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Greatest Hits

Editor’s Note: To learn more about Charles Gatewood’s work log on, www.CharlesGatewood.com

Atomic Bombshell

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Atomic Bombshell

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Recetnly, I took some time getting to know Comedian Steve Hofstetter, (also known as an author, columnist, and the original writer for collegehumor.com.) who is currently on tour promoting his new album called Pick Your Battles. Hofstetter has written humor columns for the New York Times, SportsIllustrated.com, and NHL.com and multiple books. Check his website for upcoming dates near you: www.SteveHofstetter.com.

Steve Hofstetter

Photo: Adam Teixeira – 2011

Atomic Bombshell: So, would you ever consider giving up sports to be a dating/sex advice columnist?

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Steve: Well, it would be odd to have to choose between the two, but I have written dating advice columns mainly targeted at nerdy guys teaching them how to be men instead of piddling boys.

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AB: If I was a nerd right now, what advice would you give to me to stop piddling, move out of my mom’s basement and give up my dungeons and dragon’s??

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Steve: The first advice is to talk to girls like they’re actual people
Don’t worry about being agreeable or kissing her ass. Treat her like a person and she’ll be much more interested. I see guys struggle with that all the time.

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AB: Did you date a lot before you settled down?

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Steve: I made up for my awkwardness in high school, yes. I had my single idiot time on the road
I don’t like the term “settle down” because it wasn’t settling. This was reaching beyond my league.

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AB: That’s a wonderful way of putting it!

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AB: So let’s get back to your career for a minute, you do multiple things with comedy & writing. What would you like to do? What are some of your immediate goals?

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Steve: I have a movie that is very close to being made. That would be wonderful
I’ve also gotten into the business side of things. I own pieces of a few clubs, and I’m expanding that.

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AB: A movie! That’s exciting!! As a writer, that a major dream to have, come true!

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AB: Congratulations on all your upcoming success! Good luck on your tour for PICK YOUR BATTLES which hit #1 on itunes comedy chart on February 15th!!

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Steve: Thanks so much!

Atomic Bombshell

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Atomic Bombshell

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Recently, I took some time getting to know Comedian Steve Hofstetter, (also known as an author, columnist, and the original writer for collegehumor.com.) who is currently on tour promoting his new album called Pick Your Battles. Hofstetter has written humor columns for the New York Times, SportsIllustrated.com, and NHL.com and multiple books. Check his website for upcoming dates near you: www.SteveHofstetter.com.

Steve Hofstetter

Photo: Adam Teixeira – 2011

Atomic Bombshell: I saw that you became well known during your college years. Did it help you gain popularity with the ladies, as well?

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Steve: I don’t think any lady has ever said, “Wow, you run that sports website? We should totally do it!”

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AB: Obviously, you didn’t have a lot of cheerleaders at that college?

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Steve: At Columbia? No…

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AB: Still those were great accomplishments and that adds to a man’s sex appeal.

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Steve: Our athletes didn’t even get laid, let alone the guys who wrote about them.

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AB: That’s really sad.

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Steve: Actually, it’s kind of awesome that people didn’t care about that shit.

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AB: What was your first dating/bad sex experience like?

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Steve: When I lost my virginity, she was allergic to the spermicide.
So we had to get new condoms and try again the next morning

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AB: Allergic? Like what happened?

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Steve: Burning? Crying?

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AB: I can’t believe she would try again after that I don’t think I would.

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Steve: Well, we were allegedly in love. It wasn’t her first time, it was mine.
Lets be fair, she was also a 19-year-old girl who hadn’t had sex in several months.
Maybe she loved me; maybe she wanted to have sex?
Your guess is as good as mine.

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AB: Crying, burning, that definitely sounds like love to me!
At least how I remember it-

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Steve: Well it was only bad for her briefly – we started, 2 seconds later we stopped, and she was okay within an hour.

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AB: Do you think she tells people this story?

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Steve: No, she’s a Rabbi now. I doubt she tells anyone.

Atomic Bombshell

To be continued……

Atomic Bombshell

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Atomic Bombshell

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Recently, I took some time getting to know Comedian Steve Hofstetter, (also known as an author, columnist, and the original writer for collegehumor.com.) who is currently on tour promoting his new album called Pick Your Battles. Hofstetter has written humor columns for the New York Times, SportsIllustrated.com, and NHL.com and multiple books. Check his website for upcoming dates near you: www.SteveHofstetter.com.

Steve Hofstetter

Atomic Bombshell: Where was the first time you did stand up?

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Steve: The Underground Lounge, NYC.

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Atomic Bombshell: I read during my research that you are a sports writer and a comedian. I know that a lot of people use comedy as a platform or foundation for other things (i.e.: acting directing.) What’s comedy for you?

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Steve: Comedy is a platform to be a comedian. I guess it does help actors get noticed.
But it’s silly when people see someone doing standup and assume they can act, they’re two different arts. Related, but different.

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AB: Which do you enjoy more, writing or stand-up?

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Steve: I love them both, but if I had to choose, I’d say writing. I like being able to take my time to be clever.

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AB: You seem pretty clever to me I attempted to do stand-up before. I couldn’t get a single word out, the room suddenly got hot and it was VERY quiet. What was it like for you the very first time you did stand-up?

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Steve: The first time was easy because I prepared for months. It was the second and third time that I went down in flames. I have my first show on tape – I have yet to show it to the world, but if I ever get my own show on network, I promise I will upload it!

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AB: I take it that you are a huge sports fan, You wrote a blog on the web called the ”Jerk of The Week,” can you explain to me a little of what that was about?

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Steve: It was a blog my brother and I started (before blogs, actually), where we awarded “Jerk Points” to athletes and sports-related figures who behaved poorly
It was the first time anyone really covered crime in sports, and a lot of people have credited us with starting that movement – that’s something I’m proud of, especially since I was 18.

www.SteveHofstetter.com

To be continued…….

March 1, 2011: Cover Shoot

……….Interview with Steve Hofstetter to follow in subsequent posts.

Press Image

TW:
1. Your graphic style is imbued with a very sophisticated use of shape and color that reminds me of graphic imagery of my childhood during the 50′s and 60′s. Is there a correlation with your current work and imagery you’ve seen from past era’s in the graphic design pantheon?
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CK: If my style reminds people of the 50′s and 60′s, it’s completely by chance. I’m self taught and self developed, mainly, and actually consciously stayed away from influence as a young artist. I believe this helped give me the unique perspective and reckless abandon that I have today. I am inspired of all of life and history, though, and take from it little pieces of what I find interesting or beautiful, to explore and integrate into my style or as content. All of the inspiration an artist needs is alive in this world, and an artist’s unique perspective should be the only direction they need (vs prompts by eras or other artists), to explore and develop their unique voice and craft.

Woman With Cigarette And Martini

TW:
2. Where would you say the greatest influence’s lie that created your amazing sense of color and the use of the simple line?

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CK: As a child, and for fun, I would write essays over my observations of people, society, their constructs, and I would then continue to consolidate those essays into 1-3 sentence essential summaries or “truths.” I would be very happy as a professional interior space organizer. I was a junior particle/quantum physicist in my youth.
I’ve always been inspired by beauty of simplicity, and extremely enjoy the puzzle and process of taking the amazing chaos and wealth of information we find in life, to organize it in the most aesthetically attractive, simplified, but emotional way I can. This way of processing information is the force behind my line illustration and photography. My involvement in other styles of illustration, graphic design, 3D modeling, or video, (etc …) is my exploration of a never-ending well of inspiration. I assume that someday all of my interests will merge together into something interesting. I’m looking forward to what that language looks like.

Resting

TW:
3. How do you best apply your stylistic approach? Is it free work, or are your illustration’s usually destined for a particular customer in the consumer world?

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CK: Though I do some illustration for clientele, it’s mostly free work in development, and eventually I intend to publish with magazines and events around the world. Currently my paid work covers furniture design, print, video editing and motion graphic compositing.

Edie

TW:
4. Did your parent’s influence the making of your art from childhood?

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CK: No

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TW:
5. Who in the arts is your hero?

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CK: Hero is such a heavy word. My dictionary defines it as, ” [someone] who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” I can’t say that I idealize any artist, but there are artists who inspire me. Some that come to mind include Picasso, Warhol, Bresson, Kandinsky, Shag, the amazing cinematographers of the world, and the musicians that give life an accessible soundtrack inspiring our deepest emotions.