Emmett Shine Interview | Presented by Culture Shoq
Posted by Greg Weinstein | Filed under Feature, Features, News
We talked to Emmett Shine recently about his beginning, his middle and where he wants to be in the end. With his foot in the door with LOLA and Gin Lane Media he is definitely on the right path. Talented guy, good interview, great photographer and nice fella means everyone wins.
Do it yourself. Make a plan, research people you like and reach out to them. Research magazines, companies you like and reach out to them. Keep doing that. Forge your own path. – Emmett Shine
Check out the interview on the flipside.
CS: Being so young, what was the inspirational figure or idea that pointed you in the direction that you are now? How much does skateboarding and grafitti play in to your work?
I loved skateboarding and its culture in the early and mid 90s. Those were like the Golden Years. 411 Videos, Plan B, Chocolate, Girl, Zoo York, going to the city skating at the Brooklyn Banks, visiting Supreme, seeing Kareem Campbell, etc etc. The do-it-yourself, individualist culture of skateboarding really influenced myself and the rest of the LOLA team. Moving forward in my life I try referencing that time and thinking. Walk your own path, do what pleases you, not others. Graffiti is the same. Same thing. Same culture.
CS: You now run Gin Lane Media. Where do you want to be with it in 5 years? and what about LOLA?
In 5 years I’d like to create a business at Gin Lane that I can more direct like an orchestra. Have it be self-sustaining with a vibrant team that will carry the baton. Keep creating culture. I would like to travel a lot more. Have a classic car; convertible, and drive it really slow, too. Do some big paintings outside in a field too.
For LOLA, I’d like to build it out as a lifestyle brand that people can relate to in different pockets across the globe. We are getting more and more international submissions for art, feedback, and interest – I like that.
CS: Is there a shoot/company that you have yet to work with that you are interested in working with?
Yea there are a ton. I’d like to work with more artists as well. I respect artists who are pure artists, I’d like to talk to more people. Meet more people with incredible stories who are wise and can teach me about life.
CS: What is your best project overall?
We just won the account for Stella McCartney for adidas for all of 2010. It is the most professional job we have undertaken to date because it is working for adidas; a multi-national bureaucratic German-based brand. It is the big leagues. Professionally, that is exciting. Art wise, I like the events we do that feature emerging artists – Fingerpaint, and Art Rocks. Also working with Tim Barber on tim-barber.com, his show at the LOLA Gallery in Southampton, and now on Tiny Vices (tinyvices.com re-launching in October) has been fun.
CS: Whats your favorite camera to use?
I love the large format camera so much. Also really sharp but light point and shoots. Film is so organic and feels like a moment. Digital is convenient and cost- effective but feels a bit soul – less at times.
CS: What advice do you give someone who wants to get into photography?
Do it yourself. Make a plan, research people you like and reach out to them. Research magazines, companies you like and reach out to them. Keep doing that. Forge your own path.
CS: Beyond LOLA and Gin Lane, what is the goal you want to achieve.?
Be a cartoonist. Do my drawings more CS: I do Downtown STATionary in my free time – downtownstationary.com. The drawings are a release.
CS: Favorite female celeb you want to shoot, if you have not already?
haha, I don’t know. Beyonce?
CS: age old debate.. better skate scene.. NYC or LA?
I think LA is like a Tony Hawk video game – the whole place is skateable it’s crazy. New York you get that rush of flying down Broadway between the taxi cabs. I love that.
CS: any last words or shout outs?
Yea go check out the LOLA team in Atlanta; killing it. They just opened a boutique/gallery called Wooley Street – the name of the street where we basically grew up. Ian, Ian, Alex, & Tommy. And happy birthday to my sister Amanda; also killing it.
