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

(A) Since about 1995-96. I’m mostly interested in tags. I run a project called Handselecta (handselecta.com) and I have a blog on 12ozprohet.com. The handselecta project is about the documenting of handstyles and how they developed differently in different cities. Kind of a graffiti parallel to calligraphy history. I’m in the middle of writing a book, where I collect alphabets and oral histories from writers. It should be out Spring 2011 is all stays on schedule.

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

(A) Yeah, I have a couple of actual albums left. Dusty on the top shelf. I actually have about 3 dozen rolls of film in a shoebox that must date back to 98 that I’ve been meaning to develop for years, but always found something else to spend my money on when I had some extra cash.

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

(A) 10′s of thousands.

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

(A) Yeah. I guess so. Since the internet though I feel that styles are technically so advance, but have lost some of the grit and style that made them specific to their location or city pre-00. Mostly I shoot tags these days. And throw ups. I am more interested in them than pieces.

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

(A) Not really. I take a lot of photos in daylight. I have my kids with me a lot f the time. I left the clandestine aspect of graffiti a long time ago.

Location: NYC

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