THE DAILY FIX (208 BENCH)
(Q) How long have you been taking photos of graffiti & what interests you to do so?
(A) I have been taking photos of graffiti for a little over a year. My buddy got me into it. I like it because it is always a different scene every time I go to the yard. It could be awesome weather and I could get 10 flicks. There could be tons of reefers in the yard but I could get thrown out for trespassing. Then there are the days when the yard is full of freights and I get 200 photos. It’s always different, I think it’s the surprise that keeps me going.
(Q) Do you own photo albums of actual prints or do you prefer digital?
(A) I have a few prints that I made when I first started benching. I wish I had more prints in my collection. I prefer digital copies due to the price of prints.
(Q) How many photos are in your personal collection?
(A) I have over 1,700 pictures of graffiti. I don’t know how those guys have upwards of 40,000 photos on their Flickr. I’m sure I will get there one day.
(Q) Do you feel photography plays a major role in documenting graffiti culture?
(A) I think it plays a huge role. It is so much easier for people to see graffiti in different parts of the world. I get messages from people who bench in Canada. They tell me how lucky I am that I get all these reefers. They say they have never seen a reefer in their life, just hoppers and tankers. Without photography, I think people would miss out on amazing art rolling around.
(Q) Do you have any crazy stories or memorable moments while taking photos?
(A) My buddy and I were benching in Eastern Oregon one day. We went down to the end of the line. It was right on the edge of town, literally 100 feet from the nearest road. As we were walking down near these grain and seed silos, a big truck pulled up. Four guys got out and walked over to this field. They stuck some stick in the ground that had a shiny pinwheel type thing on the top. We heard a noise, and about a hundred birds flew up out of this field. They pulled out their shotguns and starting shooting. Birds were dropping left and right. We walked to the left of the train, on the opposite side from the shooters. We heard a few more shots, and a few seconds later, we hear *tink tink tink tink* on the cars next to us from the shotgun rounds. The guys were shooting towards us. They just kept shooting away. It was probably the scariest benching experience I have ever had. I will never forget that day.
Location: South East, Idaho
dope flix!!!!