Holly Fabs, The Illest.

mossless:

John Battaglia is 21 and prefers cloudy days.

MOSSLESS: Part of what I love about your photographs is the element of nostalgia that is present in all of them. They’re so reminiscent of early America in both style and subject matter - do you consciously avoid photographing anything that would timestamp your work, or is it mostly instinctual? 
JOHN BATTAGLIA: As soon as I moved to New York I bought a 35mm camera and I just thought the format would fit the lifestyle best. I started making photographs of people around New York and traveling to Chicago with the camera. I had no knowledge of any photo history and I barely even looked at photographs, I had no references, but I knew what I liked and disliked. I have never done a location scout and have never waited for a photograph to happen, because it doesn’t work like that. I am not out to shoot an old looking photograph; it just happens that my strongest pictures usually slip a time frame. The camera can be so truthful and such a liar at the same time.

ML: You recently took a trip to Piter, Russia - what was that like? what were you most excited about?
JB: While it was some of the most fun I have ever had, it was absolutely terrifying. Russians are extreme, they climb roofs, dance, drink and fight. Their culture is such a mix between passion and brutality, it really made for some interesting times and photographs. I am dying to get back there to climb more roofs. I was most excited about meeting people and making photographs of some new things. I grew up around New York and at a certain point you need to take a break from this place. 

ML: I was reading your blog and you’ve posted a few quotes that stress staying away from “formulas” and replacing reason with spontaneity when creating. How do you justify this instinctual method of working in situations like a critique or when writing an artists’ statement? 
JB: No matter what you are shooting, whether you are making an ad campaign or just freely snapping shots, you are photographing from instinct. A photograph is a reaction to one’s direct reality. In the words of Robert Frank, “It is an instantaneous reaction to oneself.” Keep that in mind while looking at the Americans and you will realize those photographs are as much about America as they are about Robert Frank. 

ML: You site Charles Harbutt as being one of your favorite photographers - what was it like being taught by one of your personal photography heroes? Did he give you any priceless advice?
JB: That was a trip, his book “Travelog” is like the street photographers bible. He wanted to be a writer before a photographer and he turned out to be both, there is some seriously great photo philosophy in his books. He lays it out: what photo is, what it isn’t and what it could be. 
Priceless advice:
“If you want to judge a good photograph, ask yourself: Is life like that? The answer must be yes and no, but mostly yes” —Harbutt