I first became acquainted with the work of photographer, Chuck Goodman (aka, artie fischel, aka vw driver) in August 2009 while browsing online photography galleries. Moved by his images and subject matter, I immediately emailed him requesting an interview. After receiving his favorable response, we remained in contact via email and sites like jpeg, facebook and red bubble… making it possible for Chuck to share his latest works directly from his own gallery page. In the months since, I have come to know Chuck, his photography and the philosophy behind his images a little better.
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AM: When and how did you become interested in photography?
CG: When I was growing up, I had a neighbor who was a photographer, and I would assist him with some of his work. I was fascinated watching him set up his subject, adjust his lighting, shoot his assignment, and then take it to the dark room and transform it to the final product.. it was almost magical to me. I guess I'd have to say that's really when I got interested in photography.
AM: How old were you and why do you suppose of all the different activities exposed to while growing up you were drawn to the seemingly magical art of photography?
CG: I was around 12 or 13 years old. I'm not really sure what the initial attraction was for me. I guess it was the mechanics of it all… seeing it through from concept to hard copy.
AM: Was you neighbor an exhibiting photographer or like a photojournalist?
CG: My neighbor was actually an industrial photographer for the International Nickel Corp.
AM: Are You self taught?
CG: For the most part, yes. I always watched other people take pictures, and tried to learn from what I observed. I have been afforded the opportunity to work with some professionals who have shared volumes of knowledge with me. I read about photography and taking pictures every chance I get and a LOT of trial and error on my part. I guess that's how I've learned what I know.
AM: How did you come to work with professional photographers?
CG: Well, early on, it was with my neighbor. A little later in life, when I was in my early thirties, I was introduced to some photographers in Baltimore Maryland by a mutual friend. We became friends, and I was afforded the opportunity to go on some shoots with them, assist them on some shoots, and I even did some work for them in front of the lens.
AM: How did you come to work with professional photographers?
CG: Well, early on, it was with my neighbor. A little later in life, when I was in my early thirties, I was introduced to some photographers in Baltimore Maryland by a mutual friend. We became friends, and I was afforded the opportunity to go on some shoots with them, assist them on some shoots, and I even did some work for them in front of the lens.
AM: Photography appears to be more than just a well-studied hobby for you, yet you refer to yourself as an amateur… based on your photographs and your responses to the first two questions, I would say you are well beyond amateur status. Do you see yourself as an amateur based on technique or photo mechanics?
CG: I use the word amateur as a reference to my lack of any formal training in photography. I am happy with what I know, yet I am always learning new methods and techniques about photography. I will
be learning this craft until the day I can no longer hold a camera.
AM: What does the act of photographing mean to you & what does it do for you?
CG: Personally, for me, first and foremost, photography is my therapist. When I am shooting photos, I get lost in what I'm doing, and the rest of the world fades into the shadows.
AM: Interesting… so it’s kind of an escape for you or maybe it started out that way… Any correlation to your youth and the time spent assisting your neighbor?
CG: A lot of the time, it is an escape for me, but no matter whether or not I'm trying to escape, I still always manage to get lost in what I'm doing. When I shoot photos,
I like to find the beauty in the things we see every day but usually overlook. I like to document every day life, I like to take the ordinary shot and compose it into something artistic...I like to find the angle
or perspective that nobody else sees...I like to take that extra step to get that special shot.
AM: Now you’re talking my language! I too am drawn by the everyday beauty that exits all around us; however, unlike you I am not so fascinated with the mechanics of photography. I like to say I take my pictures with my eyes… I think I see what you see.
CG: If you think you see what I see, do this: take 10 people to the same place, give them each a camera, and ask them all to take a picture of the same thing....you WILL have 10 very different pictures! Everyone sees things differently. What is obvious to me might be invisible to you, and something that jumps out at you might be overlooked by me.
AM: Do your photographs reflect your personal state of mind?
CG: Absolutely.
AM: Care to comment further?
CG: If my mood is good or bad, I think it’s reflected in my subject matter accordingly.
AM: Do you plan the locations & subjects of your shoots before hand or do you carry your camera everywhere & shoot as the mood strikes?
CG: Sometimes, I plan-out a shoot. I have all these bizarre ideas about different shots I want to try. Most of these shots require a lot of planning. When I am afforded the time and resources, I'll put something together for one of these shots. Sometimes, I plan to shoot certain events ahead of time. I enjoy capturing local events, concerts, and shows. I ALWAYS have a camera on my person, ALWAYS. "My least favorite phrase in life is "I wish I had my camera with me". I do a lot of "spur of the moment" shooting you never know where you might find that one of a kind capture.
AM: Further confirmation that… an amateur you ain’t! Dare I say, perhaps artist?
CG: I definitely see some artistic value in some of my work, but I have a hard time considering myself an artist.
AM: The photograph titled “Fading Away” – what does it represent to you?
CG: "Fading Away"... that photo is a pretty scary self portrait that I took around the time I was told I might have colon cancer. I was really sick and I had lost a lot of weight when I took that photo. Fortunately, there was no cancer, and I got over my illness. To me, that photo represents hope, it represents a second chance, and it represents fate.
AM: Scary indeed, happy to hear you are all right. I ask about that piece in particular because I find when an artist shares a works meaning, it can often change how the viewer sees/perceives it. I try to view works absent of my own personal experiences, focusing instead on seeing it simply as it is; leaving only pesky personal observations of I like it or I don’t like it. A work like Fading Away, whose meaning, I now know to be quite profound, would not be so without that explanation. Viewers like me, would never learn the truth of what really exists in that image. I have to tell you your answer transformed Fading Away for me, I can see the hope, fate & second chances you speak of… talk about revealing yourself – makes the following question a bit obsolete!
CG: I agree with you about knowing the artist meaning of the work. It definitely influences the way you see a particular piece. To me, that can be good, but it can also be bad. I think part of the beauty of photography is the individual interpretation each person brings to it. I love how the same photo can mean so many different things to different people. A photo might bring back a wonderful memory for one person, and the same photo can induce just the opposite feeling for another person. I like leaving that window of imagination open for the individual who is looking at the piece.
AM: Do you find it difficult to reveal yourself emotionally in your work?
CG: I feel that if I don't reveal myself emotionally in my work, my work suffers. All of my work has a piece of my soul attached to it.
AM: Clearly, your connection to your work is born of spirit, emotion… a very grounded need that appears to complete you… if only for brief, but sustainable moments in time. Do you think about your relationship with photography in these terms or do you simply acknowledge the relationship without thinking to deeply about it?
CG: I think my photography does complete me somewhat. If I have to go a day or two without taking pictures, I can't stand it! It's like something's missing. I don't really think about my relationship with photography too deeply, I just do what I do and I have fun doing it.
AM: What makes you choose to capture an image in black & white versus color?
CG: The setting, the lighting, the shadows, the mood, the subject all have some say in how I compose the shot, and what format I choose to shoot in. Some things look better in color, some things look better in B&W. I rarely post edit my photos, but I have a few that I manipulated to be color and B&W together that I think are cool shots.
AM: How many photographs do you take of a subject before you are satisfied with the shot?
CG: Sometimes, I take one shot and I'm happy, sometimes I take over 100 shots of the same subject, sometimes you only get one click of the shutter and the shot is gone. I tend to shoot less in controlled environments, unless I'm experimenting with something new. Usually when I'm shooting outside or in natural light I take more shots, but in a studio setting, where I can control the lighting, it doesn't usually take as many shots to get what I'm looking for.
AM: Would you want to or even consider exhibiting your work, I mean beyond all of those fantastic web galleries like JPG and Red Bubble.
CG: I think that would be fun to do. I have participated in art shows and exhibits in the past, with a different medium (stained glass). Perhaps one of these days I'll submit a photo to a jury to judge for an actual art exhibit.
AM: What do you hope to convey with your images… If anything?
CG: That completely depends on the image. Different images convey totally different things. I'd like to think that some of my images are convey beauty, some convey humor, some convey pleasure, some convey pain. I think this sort of goes back to that individual interpretation thing.
AM: Tell me about your favorite works?
CG: My favorite works of mine are often those "one shot wonders", those pictures that I took one shot and walked away, or those split second shots where you have one chance only to capture the moment. There's a lot of satisfaction for me when I get that irreplaceable piece of time captured forever in all it's glory.
AM: Why did you select the images featured with this interview?
CG: When I selected the images to feature for this interview, I tried to showcase a variety of subject matter that interests me, and of course, to show off what I consider to be some of my best work.
AM: Well... mission accomplished. Chuck, thank you for sharing your time, your work & your words.
*Artie fischel's (Chuck) photography is available for purchase in a variety of formats at www.redbubble.com/people/artiefischel
