David Mushegain
Ratty Matty－©David Mushegain
Introduction
Top fashion photographer David Mushegain has traveled the world, gone on tour with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and is no stranger to the red carpet. Yet despite the success there is something undeniably bohemian in his style, his photos able to inject a sense of freedom and rebelliousness into even the most established luxury brands. While not working with beautiful models on projects for H&M, Vogue Russia, Vogue Paris, Elle France and Muse Magazine- to name but a few who vie for his work-Mushegain has continued to embrace his original photographic passion, to “record the lives of amazing people”. His website and Instagram page balance the perfection of his editorial pieces with photos that evoke images of surfer and youth culture. Indeed, youth culture is a predominant theme in his works, particularly the 2011 “Don’t Call it Cool” exhibit in Paris, which showcased one man’s search for expression through black and white photos. If pictures can tell stories, then Mushegain’s photos tell tales of adventure combined with an energetic lust for life.
1.How would you describe your lifestyle and how is it impacted by your work?
I would describe my lifestyle as pretty chill. I kind of do what I want when I feel like doing it and I like living like that. When I was young I worked with my family. I probably started working around age 5, that sounds crazy but its how things were.
I can’t say it got really hard til around age 10, but at that point I was working long hours doing manual labor. My whole family worked hard. My dad and uncle had a junkyard where they salvaged old trucks. I used to cut iron and clear fields etc. It was really intense work. I would go out there to the junkyard and just think to myself I really love this, but then I always had this feeling that I had to see something else. I didn’t feel settled. It kind of killed me that I wanted to leave and explore because I love my family and I am so close to them but I just had to go. At age 15 it was actually my family that helped get me on the road and it’s been a kind of a non-stop trip since then.
Look, my dad has a law degree from Berkley and he doesn’t practice law because he doesn’t like to be inside an office. I’m kind of the same, I don’t have a law degree but I don’t like to be caged up. I cants stand it. With my work I have tried to support the people I believe in. I’ve tried to support the vision I have with things. I don’t really buy into a lot of the crap in our industry. And yeah it’s cost me. People keep you on the outside a bit. And why wouldn’t they, someone with an open mind is always a threat. I hear people say, “the old editors, the old guard, they don’t want to let go of their power so nothing is going to change in the business”.
I agree with that but at the same time the younger guys, my peers are getting some of the control and what do they do with it, they play the same political game. They’re not doing their research. They’re just following the sheep like everyone else. That’s why we have designers today that couldn’t design a piece of clothing if their life depended on it, but they’re a good face for a brand and their face can sell hand bags.
That’s why we have plant of photographers that couldn’t tale a relevant photo if their life depended on it. They don’t need to; the art director they’re working with is more concerned with getting a smile on set and a dinner at the photographer’s summer home, than they are with getting a good photo. In my opinion there is a traditional method to business. Its called working your way up the ladder. You get your job in the mailroom and you make it to the top exec. You know the cliché story in the movies. Well its like that now at companies. Like these big companies they hire people and they work their way up the ladder to get into positions where they’re in charge. They aren’t creative, they are not aware, but they made their way up the food chain, and now they’re your client. And for me yeah its come at a cost because I don’t relate to those people at all. They’re just on a different trip. But all good I kind of feel it coming back around. People still crave something real every now and then.
2.What is your favorite part of your job?
MY favorite part of my job is for sure meeting people and studying people and exploring. I love documenting and just learning about what is happening on this earth. People fascinate me. I’m kind of a loner but at the same time I love hanging out with people. I honestly can’t resist it. I crave it. Like today I saw this amazing young woman. She was so beautiful it was crazy. She was with her boyfriend. I had to talk to them. It turned out they live in France, one was Argentinian, the girl, and the guy was from France. They were artists and i gave them tomorrow and now we are going to hang out tomorrow. I don’t know what will happen hanging out but I’m excited to know them. Who knows maybe they’re just friends. Maybe I will make love to the girl. Maybe they’re married with kids and we will just have a nice hang tomorrow. Or maybe I never see them again. It’s all kind of up in the air, but the main thing is that it’s in the air. That’s so cool. Life is amazing but you have to reach out and touch it. You have to taste it and feel it. And you can’t be scared of it because sometimes it will scare the shit out of you. Most of the time. But you have to go for it.
这也是为什么我们有太多的摄影师不能拍出一张像样的照片，如果他们的生命抵押在上面，而他们不必这样做。和他们一起工作的艺术指导，比起做出更好的照片，他更在乎谁对他笑脸相应，和晚上到哪个摄影师家去用餐。在我看来，生意场上存在着传统的方式，那就是拼命往上爬。你在信件室得到一份工作，然后你慢慢地爬到办公室主任，你知道电影里的这些老生常谈的故事，但这就是现在各个公司的样子。
2. 你的工作的哪些部分是你最喜欢的？
我最喜欢的工作部分就是与不同人见面，向不同人学习，以及不断地拓展。我喜欢记录和了解这个地球上正在发生着什么。我对人很着迷，我是那种独行侠，但同时，我还喜欢跟朋友外出。说实话，我抵御不了这种诱惑，我渴望这样，就像今天我看到的一个漂亮女孩，她是如此的漂亮，这很疯狂，她和她男朋友在一起，我想我必须去和他们说话。得知他们在法国居住，男孩女孩都来自法国，其中一个是阿根廷人，他们是艺术家。我们约好明天出去玩。我不知道出去玩会发生什么，但是我非常兴奋，想要去了解他们。谁知道呢，也许他们只是朋友关系，也许我会和这位女孩做爱。也或许他们已经结婚而并且有了孩子，而我们只是一起共度良宵。也或许，我可能再也见不着他们了。全部的可能性都在空气中悬而未决，但是主要的事情就是他们都漂浮在空中。这太酷了！生命充满奇迹，但是你得去身手够到它们。你必须去品尝它感受它。但是你不能怕它，虽然有时候它能把你吓出屎来。大多数时间都是如此，但是你还得去追寻它。
3. 在工作中你花了很多时间旅行。在你去过的地方中哪里是你最喜欢的地方？为什么？
我去过最喜欢的地方就是地球，因为我想这是我目前为止唯一去过的地方。这是一个毫无说服力的答案，但是这差不多就是我所想的。这个世界令我着迷，但实际上许多地方都有相似之处。真的是类似的事情到处在上演。人们在吃喝拉撒、坠入爱河。人们在保护或摧毁着靠近他们的人，人们渴望着被欣赏和被爱。我们是动物，我们都分享着类似的基因。除去衣服、语言、饮食和习俗，我们都是一样的，所以一切看起来都一样，就像一股旋风在一个空间里盘旋。
4. 在你所有拍过的照片里，哪一张是你最喜欢的？
哇，这是个好问题，我也不知道，我不能告诉你。我最喜欢的照片我却从没有拍出来。有一张关于名字叫苔的巴西女孩的照片。我第一次来纽约的时候还是个小年轻。我1980年和家人也来过一次，但是那都不算。这次是九十年代。我当时在绿点区，我遇到过一个女孩，她其实是我一个好朋友的朋友。然后我们晚上出去了，结果最后我和她一起去了她位于威廉斯堡的洛里默街的家。在那个时代，去威廉斯堡是一种完全不同的旅行。那时的威廉斯堡与现在完全不同，比现在更加的原始。对于这个女孩的能量来说更加有益。如此的性感、如此的热辣。
我们到家都已经很晚了，太阳都出来了。我在她的床上躺下，她用一些布遮掩着窗户，但是他们做的推拉窗帘活很糙。太阳光很容易就透进来了。她就在窗前站着，穿着一袭长裙。她正把一些东西放进抽屉里，背对着我。她那完美的屁股就在这里，她整个身体都显得如此的紧致和美丽。房间里的光线是如此的美妙，那一刻我永远不会忘记。对做爱的渴望、对你面前的灵魂的欣赏。如此年轻紧致的巴西女人的身体，金色的头发垂满她的背部。这就是我经常在脑海里闪现的照片，这是一张我从没有拍过的照片。我可以给出很多例子，但是这次太晚了，对于这个问题来说已经够了。
5. 你怎样来评价你的摄影风格？和其他的摄影师有什么不同？
我想我的风格就是是其所是。这就像出去随意溜达，然后拍拍照片，如此的随性，但没有太多神秘感在里面。我只是喜欢为某个人拍一张简单的照片而已，已经足够了，至少对我来说是这样子的。我其实对摆拍、夸张造型和各种化妆不怎么感冒，这不是我的菜。我不知道谁和其他的摄影师不同。有一些小孩子们整天在instagram发的照片就非常的帅气。对于我来说我仅仅是拍我周围的事物。我仅仅见我所见。所以这些会使我显得和你不同，同样的道理，也使你和其他的人不同等等。我们都有着自己的视界，因为我们有着不同的经历。我从来不去学习其他人的风格，我从不关心，因为那完全不是我。
6.你对未来有什么打算，从个人和职业上来说？
啊哈！得了吧，这是个狡猾的问题，或者说至少很狡猾。谁知道呢…这个世界很狂野。我完全不知道什么将会来临。一些孩子会变的很酷！我希望在我16岁时我能拥有她们，而现在她们已经老了，我本可以和她们一起相约出去玩。听好了孩子们！！！早点怀孕啊，不要听哪些等一等的废话。现在就开始做！你可以做任何事情，在你年轻的时候。然后去追寻它！
在职业这个问题上，我只是希望在我离开这个地球之前一直保持这份开放的心态。知道我说什么吗？我就是想一直做下去，我为此而生。
