Friday Art Star: Tom Haynes

With the sensibilities of the Street Photographers of the ’50′s, Artist Photographer Tom Haynes has been shooting now for 15 years as a professional. With a PhotoJournalist / Fine Art background, Tom is also a Film Director currently in production on a series of short 16mm films for the Fall Film Festivals. His credits include Disney, Time Warner Cable, The Improv Comedy Club, various Dallas area newspapers, Emmitt Smith, and Paul Frank to name a few.

When and how did you become interested in photography?

As far back as I can remember I’ve been interested in photography and movies. First I remember playing with my dad’s Super 8 Camera and pretending I was making movies when I was about 7 yrs old. My friends and I would pretend to make Bruce Lee movies with my young self, directing. Then after years of being told the camera is not a “toy,” I just grabbed the camera one day and shot the whole roll of film. I remember when my parents got the pictures back, they weren’t too happy that I took pictures of “things” and not of anybody in the family. But, I remember my older brother Joe seeing them and he said, “He takes cool pictures,” and that stuck with me.

What gear do you mainly use?

Well, I’m not big on gear talk. I truly believe in the old saying it’s the violinist, not the violin. For example, when I was living in Brooklyn, New York in 1997, I was shooting with this Pentax from the 60’s that was given to me a couple of years before as my previous camera had broken. One day while shooting some pictures during a heavy snowstorm I lost my advance lever. Just broke off. For the next several months, anytime I took a picture, I had to reach in my pocket and grab my needle nose pliers and advance the picture one frame to take another picture. It sucked, but there are a bunch of pictures from that time period that are some of my favorites to this day. When it finally broke down completely I used my scanner as a camera to keep myself from going crazy from long periods of not taking pictures! Now, that being said, I love Nikon!

What is your favorite genre to shoot?

I guess Conceptual. It’s less pressure for me, and anything goes!

Many times photographers find themselves with a full schedule of paying gigs, and end up with little time for doing the work they truly love. Do you struggle with finding time for your personal work?

No, I make time for my personal shots. Also, while I’m working at a gig, I’m getting the shot for the client- and myself. Honestly I feel like anytime I pick up the camera I’m making art or at least trying to.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I thought about this question for a while. I would have to say many, many things inspire me. Comedian Lisa Lampanelli once told me on a trip to Boston together that I was the most curious person she knew, and I think that’s a pretty common thread with photographers. I guess my curiosity is one of my main inspirations.

Do you have any upcoming shows or events you want our readers to know about?

I’m working with this girl from San Antonio on helping me finish up with this on going art project that I’ve been working on for quite some time called League City. It’s based on a fictitious record label in the tradition of 4AD, I.R.S., and Blue Note all wrapped into one. Its cool -and very detailed. I’m working on a series of 16mm short films in the vain of Bill Viola, but completely different. Also, I’m hoping to finish up this book that’s a collection of short stories called “In the Club: Stories from the Green Room” (working title), about my 20 year relationship with the Improv Comedy Club, stories from SNL, Spy Magazine, and all things celebrity! It’s really funny. Oh yea, and maybe projecting some of my favorite pictures on the side of a building for myself sometime this summer.

What is one thing you feel makes your style or your work unique?

Well, I think the amount of work that I have. I was talking recently with my wonderful Art Rep Suzan MacKay, and as we did inventory on my pictures, when we decided that I might have enough work for about 9 or 10 solo shows if I wanted too. I have always been intrigued by artists like Will Johnson who crank out the work, and she suggested that I’m like that as well. So I think that might make my work unique. Also, I like to think that some of my pictures pack a punch.

Samples of Tom Haynes’s work

editors note:

Some of Tom’s work is currently on display at The Meridian Room, Dallas.