(Q) How long have you been taking photos of graffiti & what interests you to do so?

(A) I’ve been taking photos of graffiti for about 5-6 years now. I got into it when I really started noticing tags and things around my neighborhood and started taking photos of those on a regular basis. Then I started going down to the train yard and taking photos of the graffiti on the cars and that’s when I really got hooked. I take shots of city stuff sometimes, but I mostly hang out at the yard these days. I love the artistry behind graffiti and the thought and time that many writers put into their pieces. Catching a big burner can really make my whole day worthwhile and I love seeing different styles from different artists, whether they’re local writers or whoever happens to be rollin’ through the yard that day.

(Q) Do you own photo albums of actual prints or do you prefer digital?

(A) I have some prints of my favorite catches that I keep for trades, but most of my stuff is digital and on my computer. I shoot film every once in awhile and keep a small album of what I’ve gotten developed.

(Q) How many photos are in your personal collection?

(A) Around 6,000 but could be more. Most of those are freight photos and taken within the last 2 years or so.

(Q) Do you feel photography plays a major role in documenting graffiti culture?

(A) Absolutely. Photography helps anyone that’s interested in graffiti keep up on what’s going on in other parts of the world. I love to see what’s going on in LA and overseas in Europe and other people are interested in what’s going on in the US and maybe interested in my little corner of the Midwest. Without photographers and benchers, we’d only know what’s going on where we are, and what’s the fun in that? Photography allows us to experience and see things that we’d otherwise never see and get ideas on how to better our craft, whether it’s painting or capturing images of graffiti.

(Q) Do you have any crazy stories or memorable moments while taking photos?

(A) Other than being run out of the yard a couple of times (including when I was catching my first reefer), not really. I did get attacked by a bird once that was defending it’s nest and that was pretty crazy. Painful too. I run into a lot of black cats which always makes me nervous. Luckily I’m able to do my thing without much trouble.

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

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