“Neon Family Values” by Darwin Bell

I first heard of San Francisco photographer Darwin Bell from our friends at SFist via the daily “Photo De Jour” feature. His photos were bursting with color and his point of view provided a new way to see every day things that often are taken for granted.

I emailed Darwin a few weeks ago to talk about his photography. Below you will find his answers…

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Talk about your chosen image? When was it taken? Where? Why did you take it? What did you think of your image once processed?

I chose “Neon Family Values” because I just love the over feel and look of it. It was taken early October in front of the Louis Vuitton store in Union Square. I took it because I ADORE the overall design of the window and how almost any and every color is encapsulated within the window. At first, I was trying to just get a picture of the window with no one walking in front of it and then realized how much more interesting it would be with silhouettes passing by it. I must have taken about 50 images and this one with the family members, walking in order of height was the one that really stood out.

Walk us through your current camera gear and workflow.

My current “camera gear” is a Canon G9. As much as I think I have a good photographic “eye”, what I know technically about photography wouldn’t fill a coffee cup. My “workflow” is to basically to always have my camera on me and always take pictures of anything interesting that I see.

Are you working on any current projects? Talk about those.

My main goal right now is to get my images in publications and magazines and to just my name out there. So far I have had images in the last two issues of 7×7 magazine and I have to say, it is really surreal to see you images in a glossy magazine.

Tell us about a memorable instance where having your camera made an impact of what you were experiencing. What would be your dream destination for photographic purposes?

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Having my camera with me actually really impacts everything I do. I feel that I really can’t go anywhere and not be interested in where I am because I find challenge in being able find subjects to photograph. Because of this, I am excited to go absolutely anywhere, be it Oakland or Paris.

What photographers past and present lend inspiration to you? If you could spend a day with any photographer living or dead, who would it be and why?

Two of my favorite photographers, you probably wouldn’t guess since they don’t really influence my work, are David LaChapelle and the French team of Pierre et Gilles. I really love the way they totally stage their photographs and put them over the top in post production, two things I never do. I really don’t have the desire to do big photographic productions but I definitely appreciate aspects of photography that I don’t or can’t produce myself. A friend once told me that I “take” photographs rather than “make” photographs. And while it sounds sort of harsh, it is basically true. I guess I am more impressed or interested in photographers who have techniques and ideas foreign to my own because it helps me see beyond my own limitations, as well as inspiring me to go beyond those limitations.

Who is a photographer we should all know more about and why?

One of my favorite local photographers is Brandon Norris. He is a young up and coming night club portrait photographer who has a fantastic eye for what looks good on camera and follows that up with amazing technique. He is really a talented guy.

Thanks, Darwin.

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