interview with Troy Holden...

I first found Troy's photos on Flickr and (myself) being one of the millions of people who love the city of San Francisco, I would easily lose half hours at a time thumbing through his images. As I explain to Troy, this interview was (though most of them on here are) a selfish endeavor.  Back when I had time to walk around with my camera, I would shoot the obscurity of my surroundings and people in the streets, but never like this. Finding his images felt like someone else out there understands my point of view and exposes it as less unique, which is actually kinda comforting, especially when every photo makes me want to run away...back to San Francisco. 

Wlfmrs: ok.. first of all, thanks for taking the time for this. Based on the steady stream of photos you provide, you seem like a busy guy. I will admit that this interview is completely selfish on my part.

Troy: no problem. yeah, I try and keep busy. I’m happy to hear people enjoy it. Selfish? How so??

Wlfmrs: San Francisco is one of my most favorite cities ever and every one of your photos that I've seen captures all the elements that miss. So naturally, I had to take advantage of the featured artist section and do an interview with you.

Troy: works for me. It’s a great city, I’m lucky to be able to shoot it.

Wlfmrs: Where were you before SF and what brought you there?

Troy: I moved to SF in 1996. I rode the greyhound out here from Michigan, it took 3 1/2 days. I was djing hip hop at the time and wanted to move to a city with decent record stores. NYC was a: cold and b: too big. I also knew some people out here, so it made the transition easier. I was 17.

Wlfmrs: How long did you dj for, or do you still?

Troy: from age 17 to 23 or 24? I’m 34 today. It’s been a minute.

Wlfmrs: ha, yeah.. It's hard to stay up that late at our age. When did you get into photography-at the level you're at today?

Troy: I took a few pics when I was younger, but only on summer vacations with my family using disposable cameras, expensive developing. I remember being excited about picking up the prints, but never thought too much about it. Around 2005, I met my wife. She showed me her film camera and some pictures she had been taking on one of our first dates. I had also been taking pictures for a year or so on a digital point and click, but had no idea what I was doing (shooting in auto) and wasn’t very consistent. We started going on walks, exploring the city, and taking pictures together. So, we started this blog and started to get more attention from the bigger SF blogs. I began to take it more seriously and started putting text with the pics for context.

In late 2008, I bought my first DSLR, a Canon XTI. One day I called into work and read 42 online posts about shutter speed, exposure, and aperture. I decided to never shoot on auto again. From that day forward, a whole new world opened up and I just ran with it.

There is still so much to learn, I feel like I’ve just opened up the book. I’ve never taken a class, but I like to study older and current photographers to understand more and continue to learn my camera.

Wlfmrs: Are there any historical photographers that inspire you?

Troy: some historical, but more so in the last 1/2 of the 20th century....Ricky Powell, William Eggleston, etc.

I really like the work that PetaPixel is doing. Very well rounded coverage in the world of photography.

Wlfmrs: Do you ever go out with an idea of what you want to shoot or does it more impromptu?

Troy: sometimes I go out with a goal (shooting a bridge at night, finding a graff spot, etc) but most of my favorite shots come while on the way to find something else. Accidental, candid, those are the real gems for me.

Wlfmrs: Speaking of graffiti, you photograph a lot of it, have you ever gotten in trouble with it or had to deal with the law regarding your images?

Troy: no! Most of the good stuff requires trespassing. Every so often a security guard will come out. Sometimes they call the police. I carry business cards and printed photos with me and become very transparent if confronted. I show them respect and am very straight forward that I am only taking pictures. After a 5-minute chat, if I’m lucky they let me stay, but often they just ask you to leave and walk you to the edge of the property.

Wlfmrs: Yeah, you're lucky with that. Vancouver is a different scene, lots of cameras get taken by people just passing by the train yards here.

Tell me about your $2 portrait project.. do you have a plan for these?

Troy: id love for those to be printed in a book someday. I don’t plan on making money, I would like to put that back into the few non-profs in SF who are making a difference. There are a lot of homeless here. It’s easy to just walk by and ignore them, it becomes an instinct after a short while. I’ve seen a lot of them since the first time we met and they remember our conversations. It helps me understand the human condition and I enjoy these types of interactions.

Wlfmrs: Do you think you could visit another city and have the same understanding for homelessness or do you think you're interactions have brought this population of homeless people closer to you?

Troy: That’s a good question. I guess it depends on how long the visit is and even with a longer visit (more time out on the street shooting) I would still lack the context of some of the references. I think being able to use the city of SF as an icebreaker helps when talking to other San Franciscans.

Wlfmrs: That's true. I guess there is a part of everyone that becomes part of the landscape, for better or worse. The longer you are in an environment, the easier it is to deal with or understand. Do you have issues with people being aggressive about not wanting their photo taken?

Troy: not too much. I try and blend in with my surroundings, and often times can shoot without being seen. A lot of times the person’s expression becomes unnatural when they are aware of your camera. So not only to avoid confrontation, but more so to capture the moment in a candid way. But every once in a while I get caught and have to roll with it, however it may play out.

Wlfmrs: What are your thoughts on the idea that photography steals souls? Do you believe that?

troyholden: I’ve heard that before, and I don’t really understand what it means. Sounds like a very old statement. In 2010 you are more often than not being captured on film/video somewhere and it almost becomes expected and ignored.
Then again, if you catch me/are ok with me taking your picture, I will give you my email addy, send you the link and even mail you a print if you prefer, that usually goes a long way with people.

Like I said before, I try and be very transparent about what I am doing when shooting in the streets.

Wlfmrs: that's so true.. with all the closed circuit cameras and tourists with cameras, it's almost as though your photo is being taken on every street. That's good that you are so forward with your purpose as a photographer, it probably makes people feel way more comfortable with it.

 Going back to graffiti, do you have a favorite writer/artist that you follow and do you have a personal preference to the content-letters or characters?

 troyholden: another good question...there is a lot of good graffiti in the SF bay area. until his arrest, I really enjoyed shooting GIRAFA. (check my flickr for the set). I also like JURNE, his colors and letter styles are surreal but those are more rare to come across. Another couple of local favorites: ORFN, PLANTREES, and MUSK. I really enjoy seeing characters.

Wlfmrs: ok.. How do you feel about localism? As a visitor, it's really quite apparent. Do you notice it very much when you're out and about? Also, do you ever feel like a tourist or dorky when you're out with your camera? I realize that ‘dorky’ isn’t really high end wordage.. just roll with me ..

troyholden: really? Whenever I run into a tourist, I try to be the best ambassador to SF that I can. That said, I was not born here, so in some ways, I am also a tourist. I NEVER take this city for granted. There are far more transplants here than natives, so maybe that helps balance the scales? I do try and understand this city beyond a topical view and I think the natives appreciate the effort.

But to answer your question, yes -- I often feel dorky with my camera flapping around my neck, taking pictures of cable cars and bridges. I try to make the best photo I can, and if the natives enjoy it -- its a great sense of affirmation that I take with honor.

Wlfmrs: it's not that I had a bad experience with it.. I also try to blend in when I'm in another city but I notice it with visitors who are so obviously not from there and over hearing locals comment on it. I should have hung out with you when I was there. I like your point of view with it though. Always a visitor and just enjoying it.

What would you say the top 5 things anyone should know before moving to SF?

troyholden:

1. It is what you make of it.

 2. Embrace Muni and learn it well. You should be able to get from the Excelsior to North Beach in less than 3 transfers and 45 minutes.

3. Be yourself. This should probably be #1. We celebrate creativity and self-expression here, in whatever form it presents itself.

4. Be nice and respectful up and down the social ladder. The relationship you have with the fellow sleeping underneath your stoop can be just as rewarding (if not more) than meeting the mayor.

 5. Do what you love, no matter what it is. Anyone with a good idea and some ambition can make things happen here.

Wlfmrs: yes.. awesome! Great tips dude. Ok, lets get back to you and your crafty skills as a photographer. Is this a job for you or do you have a regular job as well? Do you even call your photography work?

troyholden: well it is certainly a lot of work, but I thoroughly enjoy it, and have a very tolerant wife. So no, it doesn’t seem like work. During the day, I work at Twitter.

Wlfmrs: oh? For real? How does one work for Twitter? Like writing code or selling ad space?

troyholden: I was working for Gap's corporate HQ and got tired of the layers of management that kept stalling good ideas. Being that Twitter is located in SF, I went and applied via the web. It’s a great company that encourages creativity. I value that and consider myself to be very lucky. As for what I actually do, I work on the user experience team, specifically mobile.

Wlfmrs: Ah, ok, very cool... I mean, I knew it was a 'company' that employed peoples but it just seems so effortless that I forget that real humans drive that machine. They do seem rather hip for our times

troyholden: we work our butts off there! There is plenty of effort going on behind the scenes :).

Wlfmrs: It's great that you have a wife that is supportive with your photography; do you both still go out together on little photo journeys?

 troyholden: she likes to take pictures on vacations. In SF, she mostly shoots on her iPhone. She has a great eye; I wish she shot more often.

Wlfmrs: Do you do any other forms of art? Drawing, painting, interpretive dance?

troyholden: no. I am not deep. I just like taking pictures. That said, I do enjoy photographing the art of others -- including interpretive dance.

Wlfmrs: are you a regular at art shows around the city?

troyholden: I try to be, but not enough as I should. I went to a great gallery opening for Sirron Norris this past weekend. If it’s someone’s work I respect or am curious about, I will certainly try to make it. Then again, most of these buildings that I trespass in are 'art shows' in themselves and I almost enjoy them more because it’s usually just me and a friend and its raw art intended to be viewed only by those who really appreciate it.

Wlfmrs: well said! I love that experience of going into a warehouse filled with murals of letters and characters. I never really compared them to an art show but you are fully right on with that one.

Have you ever been in a show with your work or considered it?

troyholden: I’ve been in two shows -- both were disastrous. Well promoted, but the execution was lazy at best. grrrrr!!

 Wlfmrs: Oh no! Sorry to hear that. Does that discourage you from doing more?

troyholden: yes. The next show I need to feel 100% about or its a no go.

Wlfmrs: That makes sense. It would be great to see your work in a show.

Digital vs film?

troyholden: for me, everyday? Digital. I shoot too much to deal with the expenses of film. That said, I have a great respect for film shooters. I have a Canon AE1 that was given to me as a gift that I hope to explore more. But digital is all I’ve ever known as a photographer.

Wlfmrs: Favorite beer and place to drink it?

troyholden: I like Guinness and I prefer to drink it with friends. There are 100's of great bars in SF. That said, I am on beer #3 in my living room right now, located in the north slope of Potrero Hill.

Wlfmrs: haha.. so good. I'm only on 2 but my day isn't over. What music are you digging right now?

troyholden: i listen to a lot of Bay Raps. Dre Dog, Messy Marv, Mac Dre, San Quinn, Richie Rich. i also enjoy rock n roll, White Stripes, Led Zepplin, Pearl Jam.

Wlfmrs: good mix of old and newish in there. Any advise you'd like to pass on to new photographers?

troyholden: keep shooting and stay humble. Embrace technology and acknowledge the past.

Wlfmrs: Any shout outs, last thoughts?

troyholden: the rest of CaliberSF: Stuart Dixon, Julie Michelle, Travis Jensen. Hamburger Eyes. Steve Rotman. Thomas Hawk. Ricky Powell. My contacts on Flickr and San Francisco for being so damn photogenic.

Last thoughts: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Big thanks to Troy for sharing his time and thoughts. For a steady stream of Troy's great work, keep CaliberSF in your bookmarks and check his Flickr updates daily. You can also gently stalk him on Twitter.

Keep that city rad, I'll be back soon.