gavin watson
london born photographer
His name is Gavin Watson. He was born in Kingsbury, London on the 7th September 1965 and when he was about three his family moved to High Wycombe, Bucks. He has Two brothers, Mark who is three and a half years his senior, and Neville who is three and a half years his junior. Gavin is more famous than ever for his documentation on skin head youth in the 1980's, he published a book called skins and if you never opened your eyes to photographic publications or just woke up from a coma then wont have heard of him. So we had a little chat.
Hey Gavin, So have you always taken photos or was there a secret occupation you always wanted?
From 14 onwards I knew I wanted to be a photographer, before that I wanted to be a comic strip artist, or a paleontologist.
What made you pick up your first camera and take photos?
My Eldest brother used to take lots of pics on his crappy KODAK INSTAMATIC , so I wanted to take pictures too so with some christmas money I bought my first camera from Woolies, A Hanimex 110, it had a glass lens so my first shots came out really clear and sharp and I was hooked.
How old were you when this happened?
I was 14 years old when all this kicked off
How did life change for you after the publication of 'skins'?
Not much really, except I now am a supposed expert on skinhead culture, I was a professional music photographer before SKINS was published, working for the paper SOUNDS . I'm still just a jobbing photographer.
So where do you see your photography going and how would you like it to evolve?
Well, I think that film will start to be used more again, the digital revolution has made everyone and there cat a photographer, so it is tougher now to stand out. Also I think the technology is not quite there yet, I've started using film again and you can really see and feel the difference.
Do you have any influences?
My old art teachers lessons on perspective...
What subject do you prefer to photograph?
PEOPLE I KNOW AND LOVE
Thanks Gavin, any thanks or hook ups?
Yes, give a shout out to Andy Capper from vice
cheers lads see ya soon
Gavin
Gavins Myspace
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Posted by Name on 26.03.2008, 09:31 | Reply | Quote