INTERVIEWS



























all images © Paul Gonella 2007

Paul Gonella
Written by Dan Boulton

Paul's internet bio reads "coming predominantly from a skateboarding and film making background I've been progressively falling in love with photography over the last ten to fifteen years. Although not principally the subject of my photography, skateboarding and it's inherent eye for forgotten or ignored views of the everyday world definitely has a strong undercurrent in my own personal perspective as is time and it's effects on the physical world and the subsequent emotional reprocussions. or something."

I couldn't really top this as an introduction to Paul and his photography.

Like Isaac, Paul's involved in various projects worthy of your attention. Get to know him through our little interview I did a while back.

Age:
34

Location:
I move around a bunch, I was in Colchester until recently, now I'm inside the M25 force field in Croydon.

Number of years taking photos?
I kinda started as a kid and it was then off and on until I got my ‘proper’ camera in ’97, so I guess 10 years.

So what was the first camera that started you off?
My mums 110 film camera. You know the ones? The handle folded out like a transformer and it had flashcubes and everything! Took couple of films of my friends skating our little jump ramp and got the bug. I lost and gained interest in waves until around the mid 90’s when I got a compact and would take loads of photos even though the plastic lens was on the wonk. Dixons £10 with a case, film and batteries, can’t go wrong! Soon after I really wanted to have complete control over focusing, exposure and shutter speed as the compact was so frustrating to use, so I bought a second hand fully manual Olympus OM10.

What does your current camera kit consist of?
I still use the OM10! Ten years on and it still is full of pleasant surprises. I also regularly use an Olympus Pen ee3 half-frame camera. I also have a Holga, a Lomo sequencer that’s really fun to use plus a Polaroid and some other bits and pieces.

Do you have any favourites?
Depends on my mood, it kinda switches between the half-frame and the OM10. I guess I get the most satisfaction from the OM10 as it forces me to think. It’s like a 3D puzzle with the focus, exposure and the shutter.

What would you say is the attraction for you with the half-frame camera? You use it effectively, I’m thinking especially of the shots used in ‘After the fall’ skate DVD. Do you approach photography in a different manner when using the half-frame or do you make no distinctions between your equipment?
I think the half-frame format has to be approached differently than the normal format, which is what makes it interesting. You get to use it in two different ways you can use it with two images that compliment each other and give you a more complete feel on what the subject is. The second way is to have two seperate subjects, then its the abstract or visual connections and/or differences between the subjects that become interesting. Its just another dimension i guess.

Do you have a favourite film?
Fuji Pro 400 for colour and Ilford XP2 for black and white. Even though its not true b&w it does have a nice contrast.

Where do you stand on the Digital vs. Film debate?
I take a lot of digi snaps with my Sony phone. They are decent enough for quick glances but nothing compares to film and actual prints. Tactile, physical photographs and how they look with natural light…no computer screen can come close to that. Saying that though, I burnt through a whole film the other day taking a couple of skate photos, I would have loved a digi SLR for that. Cheap and easy results. Horses for courses I guess.

How often do you shoot photos?
Depends, sometimes it’s a roll of film a day, sometimes its one a month. Depends on if I’m doing anything interesting. I think your inspiration wanes if you live in the same place for too long, so I need to get out and about more often. Little road trips. I also take about 200 digi snaps a month but a lot of these are just bits and pieces as I walk about doing day to day things.

Who are the photographers who have significantly inspired you along the way?
Tough one. I mean, I’m self-taught, so most of the photography I see and I was brought up on is principally by skate photographers. Daniel Harold Sturt is incredible. Apart from the weird recent tilting thing he is doing, his photos are unique and striking in that they strip away so much of the superfluous detail and just leave the textures and shape. In the mid to late 80’s I loved the Grant Brittian photos from his European tours and trips. That black and white photography was so new to me it burnt in to my brain. The heavy contrast, the architecture. More recently I’ve loved the work by Lance Dawes, Ari Marcoploulos, Gabe Morford, Mike O’Meally, Brian Gaberman, Sam Ashley, Bob Kronbauer and Tobin Yelland. Not forgetting most of all my friends, the biggest influences of all.

All time favourite photographer?
I'm really uneducated in professional photography, plus I’m terrible with names and very fickle, but someone whose work I’ve always loved is Leonard Freed. His books 'Made in Germany' and 'Police Work' always leave me speechless.

Do you print yourself?
I just recently got the kit to begin developing film at home which is something I’m really excited about. It’s like connecting the circle really. Being involved in the complete process from capture to creating something physical. I think it’s only when it becomes physical it can really become (excuse the cheese) 'art'.

Have you had any of your work in any shows?
Just once as a side show to a video premiere which the photography was supporting. It’s something I really want to work towards this year. I think I have the work I just need to look at the new aspect of its presentation.

Opinions on showing work in galleries as opposed to in print and the web?
I think the environment allows people to spend time on the work they like, allows them to investigate the detail, get in close. Plus the complete physical image is ultimately its most natural form and I think will always be its best. I do also love zines. It allows everyone to cheaply buy and look at whenever they like photography from someone maybe the other side of the world who may never exhibit over here plus again it’s a physical presence. Tactile. Human beings need that to build emotional attachments and to bond. It’s something that the internet and digital photography is doing less and less these days. Images become disposable and fleeting.

You mention a love for zines, apart from Kissing Bread, what others have you been involved with?
I’ve recently been working on a couple of interesting collaborative zine projects with friends. I’ve had some work in the harmony's 'blood and rust' and in a Belgian zine 'life support' too. Also had a few things in some magazines recently as well thanks to some dist.one hook-ups!

You seem pretty involved in a number of projects such as Monster Network, Skateboardingis.com, Whenitrains alongside stuff for The Harmony, what’s the deal with all these?
The Monster Network is something I'm very proud to be apart of. It started around 1990-91 and was a close knit group of friends I grew up skateboarding with. It wasn't so much a gang or anything, just something that complimented our friendships and allowed us to be creative with graphic design (tees and stickers), photography and video. Over the years some people have moved on and some others have come along and been part of it but the fundamentals are the same, friendship, skateboarding and creativity. The other projects are just ideas I have had over the years that i've run with. Skateboardingis.com has been going for about 6 years now and is just a collection of images and video I personally feel are iconic within skateboarding. I do need to update it more often! I've been helping out The Harmony for a while helping with dvd authoring and occasionally some photography with one of the owners David Dixon. I recently had a couple of photos of him published in this months (issue 128) Sidewalk magazine that I'm stoked with. Shooting skate photos with film, no flash and no fisheye is a pain but very rewarding when people are stoked on the results!

Is there anything in particular that your working on right now that you’d like to mention?
Currently it’s finishing these collaboration zines. I recently finished some other work for some other zines and some for magazine print (if all goes well). Photography-wise I’m just trying to continue to keep my eyes peeled I guess. Keeping on keeping on. I've also been compiling a monthly music podcast on quiet corners thats been going well and seems to be getting people stoked which has been fun.

Future plans?
Get developing at home. That’s the main thing I’m looking forward to doing. Also put together some work for exhibition and get moving on making some solo zines too.

Anyone you want to name check?
Just my friends and family really for being patient with me. You know how it is, you're out doing something with friends and I’m the straggler at the back slowing everyone down because I’m taking a photo of a pigeon on a wall. So thanks for putting up with me and supporting me. Thanks too to the gnar pad, 1-800gayshoes, the monster network, my girl Meghan and our new cat. Also a big thanks to you Dan for including me in kissing bread and thanks to your get up and go and commitment to making things happen!

We'll have more of Paul's photo's in Kissing Bread no3, until then...
For more of his work and varied projetcs check out:
www.quietcorners.com
www.monsternetwork.co.uk
www.skateboardingis.com

© 2007 Kissing Bread Industries