Interview: Joel Grey

It is not every day that I welcome an Oscar-winning actor to my blog so I hope you are all suitably impressed and excited. Although it is his role as an acclaimed photographer which brings him here today. I reviewed Joel's fascinating new book of photographs, 1.3 , last week and he has kindly agreed to answer some questions.

SP: For the uninitiated can you explain how 1.3 came about?

JG: I was on a trip and had forgotten my trusty Nikkormat. I'd always had great disdain for people who take cell phone pictures, but it was all I had on me, so I thought I'd try it. And I became intrigued by the idea of shooting things on my simple camera phone that I'd ordinarily shoot with my Nikon. I came back, showed the photos to the editor of my first two books, and he said "This is your next book." And it is!

SP: Go on, be honest, how many of the shots you took with your phone turned out to be really bad?

JG: They were rarely not good, because you could see immediately, looking in the viewfinder, what the shot would be, and if I did shoot something that didn't work very well, I deleted it immediately. Not all of them were suitable for the book, but they were all good.

SP: For me, much of your photography is about presenting a slice of life, a fragment of a scene and making us look at it anew. What are the images that have most surprised or delighted you?

JG: I think the image of the two men walking arm in arm (below)...

 

I just happened to be behind them walking down Horatio Street in New York City. Somehow, there was such a symmetry and a kind of design made by their two bodies and colors that I said "Wow." That turned out to be a picture that a lot of people seem to like.

SP: What other photographers excite you with their work?

JG: Bravo, Arbus, Eggleston, Sander... to name a few.

SP: One of my favourite movies of yours is The Music of Chance which, I think it is fair to say, is somewhat of a hidden gem. Do you have any favourites among your screen performances that you wish more people had seen?

JG: Man on a Swing (1974). It was a great part and people still seem to see it at 4 AM...

SP: Finally, I always ask visitors to my blog to recommend a good book. What would you suggest as a good read for us all to check out?

JG: Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje is one I read last year that really sticks with me. Also The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer.

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1.3 is published by powerHouse Books. Joel Grey has a cracking website where he shows off his photographs, it is well worth a visit.