An interview with HS Joe Fornabaio
We are now only hours away from the Hey, Hot Shot! Winners’ Showcase and what an event it promises to be! For now, get to know Hot Shot Joe Fornabaio.
Current place of residence?
East Village, NYC
Birthplace? Where were you raised?
Born-n-raised in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
Your age?
37
What do you do to pay the bills?
Shoot.
What initiated your committed romance with photography?
Boredom and a very smart high school teacher.
What artists inspire you––whether they be photographers, musicians, politicians, painters, or the like?
Edouard Boubat, Karl Bissinger, Leon Levinstein, Modigliani, Egon Schiele, Alexander Calder, Leonardo DaVinci, Bernini, Gianni Berengo Gardin, Pat Metheny, David Darling, Tom Waits, Duke Ellington, Brian Eno, that’s a very short quick list, there’s really too many.
What do you like most about being a “photographer”?
At least once a day it puts a smile on my face.
What formal training, if any, do you have?
BFA in Photography from SVA, and too many years of assisting.
What camera do you use?
Mamiya RZ 67, Yashica T4.
What piece of equipment do you fetishize the most and/or what is your guiltiest tech pleasure?
FILM!
What do you find to be the biggest cliche in photography these days?
You really want me to answer that? It’ll piss off people.
What are your loftiest goals?
A career behind the camera.
Do you have any other creative talents?
Another? LOL, ya killin’ me!
What are the top three movies on your queue?
Charlie Brown Christmas Special
What book connects with your life the most?
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Who are your favorite musicians?
There’s a few above. Bob Marley, Grateful Dead, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Ayub Ogada, Etta James, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Bland, Claudio Villa, The Rolling Stones, The Ramones, AC/DC, Rage Against The Machine, Juan Carlos Formell, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Flamingos, Radiohead, Ali Farka Toure, Neil Young, Annie Lenox, Steely Dan, Marvin Gaye, Led Zeppelin, gotta stop, too many to list ‘em all.
If you were on a deserted island and could only take one luxury, what would it be?
A woman.
Favorite color?
Black.
Favorite food?
Italian.
Favorite possession?
My Mamiya RZ.
Favorite way to kill time?
Watching the world go by.
December 13th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
“What do you find to be the biggest cliche in photography these days?
You really want me to answer that? It’ll piss off people.”
oh what, do you really think your answer is so devastating that you cannot share it on the HHS blog, will it change photography from here on out or something. Just answer the question and quit being cute, I would really like to read the answer.
PS. Your photo that got into this edition, is the best image in the show.
Good Luck, Joe.