Nathan Apple
Photographer
Tell us a bit about yourself:
I'm 36. Single. No kids. I live in California, have most of my life. I went to the San Francisco Art Institute, I loved that school. I couldn't afford to finish classes there, and moved onto SF State, fell in love with a girl, broke up with said girl, lost my mind, lost my job, lost my motivation, lost desire to take pictures, make movies, and sculpt, lost my sobriety and finally lost my house. I lived in my car, finished college(living out of my car), was pissed of at the world, moved into my friends kitchen in Oakland, started to regroup, and take pictures again.
What do you make?
The last couple of years I've been taking alot of pics. I like to work on visual projects like collages, sculptures, etc. I studied with installation artists at the art institute and SF State, and if I could, I'd be an installation artist. I'm more known for my pictures. I prefer photographing women.
Where else on the web can we find you?
my website, my flickr page, my deviantart page, also nerve.com
What did you dream about last night?
I was with this one girl, and it felt like I was in love, like beginning of a relationship love where it's in danger of getting fucked up quick, but it's more exciting that way. The dream wasn't linear or didn't have a story really, but I felt really really happy.
What inspires you?
When I work with a girl/model, she does. Her personality, her stories shape how I photograph them, and their looks are very important. Mostly, I am very attracted to these girls, and that provokes a reaction from how I shoot.
Where do you live and what do you like about it?
I live in Santa Maria, CA. I grew up as a kid here, I still have a few friends from when I was a kid, I like that I can still hide out at the local riverbed, but I don't like that the rest of the city is one big stripmall... On the other hand I never felt totally safe anywhere in Oakland or San Francisco, not even at school or at work or whatever. I'm still searching for my city/town/whatever...
What is your biggest fear?
I have stage fright, so I took acting and dance classes. It didn't work. I'm also afraid of heights, so I went skydiving. I also spent a summer working on the rooftops of skyescrapers(no shit). It didn't work. I'm still afraid.
Name a few of your favorite movies \ books \ websites \ bands:
I love movies, some of my favorite movies are: "a very long engagement" "the thin red line" "gangs of New York" "million dollar baby".
Online, I check out photo blogs like "eat ur hearts out" "modsmut " "sexinart.net" These are fun because they link back to photographers and I can check out alot of cool work.
Music wise, I enjoy darker stuff, like doom metal. I also like aphex twin, lately I've been listening to alot of '60s music as well, like the kinks, rolling stones, bowie.
What are you really good at? What are you really bad at:
I'm a really good bartender. I've worked in bars for a few years. I am really bad remembering names. I have horrible short term memory.
What is your favourite thing to eat?
How would you like to be remembered?
'that guy, i liked his stuff...'
What is the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
Personally I can't say. When I was in high school, I was so self conscious and afraid of girls, I just kind of dropped out. I'd hide at the comic book store or in the movie theatre. I only knew a handful of people. And as a joke the senior class voted me most talkative. Fortunately, I was a late bloomer, and college was more my scene.
Anything else you would like to say:
Thank you Ned, thank you Aya. It was a pleasure meeting you!!!