Story 72: David Nelson-Hospers
What is your backstory?
I was born in Sedona, AZ in 1989 and not long after my Mother moved us and my siblings back to the north east. I grew up in Amherst, MA - a small college town located in the Pioneer Valley on the western side of the state. I discovered skateboarding at around age 10 and that pretty much decided my fate. I spent the majority of my teens skating with my friends, getting into trouble and hanging out on the local college campuses. It would seem that many skaters find photography as their creative outlet - through skate mags, filmer friends, older skaters etc. Around 2007 this led me to pick up the Canon SLR my Mother had laying around and started taking pictures of my friends. I moved to San Francisco in 2010 then back east to New York City a year later where I've been living since. Over time I grew more interested in photography and through years of trial and error, I eventually learned how to apply it in my daily life.
What camera gear/editing setup do you use?
I primarily use a Leica M6 with a 35mm lens loaded with Tri-X and an Olympus Stylus Epic with Kodak Gold 200. I process the black and white in my apartment and have a local lab take care of the color. I scan the negatives on an Epson v600 and make small prints on my very basic inkjet printer.
How do you achieve the look of your photographs and could you take us through the process?
My pictures are made using simple, uncomplicated equipment and I tend to rely on natural light as much as possible. By keeping the technical aspects minimal I'm able to retain the same overall visual aesthetic. From a psychological standpoint I try to utilize my environment and what's happening around me to create pictures that reflect how I feel in that moment. Whatever is rattling around in my head connecting with the world happening in front of me is the recipe for all my work.
Could you tell us the backstory of some of your photographs?
These pictures specifically were made in Knoxville, TN while on a trip down south with my girlfriend Christina. Ending the trip with a weekend in Asheville, NC we were set to fly out of Knoxville but because I hadn't booked my tickets on time this resulted in a later return flight than hers, so I was stuck by myself in a place I'd never been before for 24 hours. On New Year's Day. Naturally I decided to walk around the city and take pictures.
What advice do you have for aspiring photographers?
When you're tired, your feet hurt and you want to go home, walk a few more blocks. I'd also like to state the importance of studying photo books and communicating with other photographers. You can learn a lot from your peers.
