Photographer Spotlight: Andrew Harrington
Name/Nombre: Andrew Harrington (He/him)
Location/Ubicación: Bushwick
Walks Attended/Caminatas atendidos: 2
Occupation/Ocupación: 1st Assistant Director (film/tv)/1er Asistente de Dirección (cine/tv)
Links:
Español abajo.
How long have you been into photography?
10 Years
What got you into photography?
When I was 18 I decided to take one 35mm photo per day on an old point and shoot, as a way of preserving that stage of my life, to find something each day to preserve, and to become more comfortable taking a camera out in public and around friends. I also went to film school and through assignments came to appreciate making images in many ways. When the pandemic hit, I lived in Milwaukee, WI and became unemployed. My passion for photography exploded, I started exploring the empty industrial city with my camera almost every day and developing my film every night.
How many walks have you attended?
2 with Uptown Photowalk, but seven total with other communities since February (NYC photostroll and B&H creators)
Which walk was your favorite one and why?
Chinatown. The community that showed up to this walk was huge - I don't know the total count, but definitely the largest walk I've been on, it was great to connect with so many folks. Chinatown is so dense with scenery, streets that have vanishing ends, decoration, and its own cultural identity. I liked how we took time at each park to allow the group to explore, I didn't feel like I was rushing to keep up. I also decided to challenge myself a bit more on this walk to shoot out of my comfort zone - I don't normally like shooting in tight or crowded spaces, but in so many areas of that neighborhood it's unavoidable, so I chose to embrace that uncomfortableness and see what would happen.
What are your favorite types of photography and why?
I like photos that feel intimate and personal, purposefully composed, either colorful or with strong B&W contrast. I like images that make me feel peaceful, have a connection to history, or have a sense of timelessness. I'm not sure why other than the feeling these things give me.
What are some of your favorite photographs that you've worked on?
I love being surprised when exploring new places. Some recent gems have been Governer's Island, Flushing, NY Transit Museum, and the old City Hall station.
Can you give us a story about one of these great surprises?
It's so intoxicating when you explore a new neighborhood or area for the first time, and there's no better way to do it than with a camera in good lighting conditions. The first time I went to Governor's Island, it was a warm Tuesday morning in November, and there was almost no one else on the island. There are so many beautiful disused buildings there that tell stories of its former culture for the soldiers that lived there - an old theater, a library, garages, homes - the emptiness set a mood that seemed to fit the liminal state of the buildings. The NY Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn was also a great discovery - staged in the disused Court Street subway station, both the location and the exhibits felt haunted with history. There are restored cars from all different decades of the subway's exhibits, staged with period-accurate advertisements, and you can walk right into them and touch everything. It's a very photogenic museum, I felt inspired to create images that captured that tangible connection to the past.
Do you have a favorite camera?
Topcon Super DM & Polaroid SX-70. The Topcon feels amazing ergonomically. I love the front-mounted shutter button, the fully mechanical operation, the weight, and how advanced it was for its time. The 58mm 1.4 lens is also a gem - just sharp enough but still gives photos a painting-like quality. The SX-70 fits my point-and-shoot needs - when life is busy it still allows me a photographic creative outlet where I can see the image instantly, the high contrast is a fun limitation to work within, and it's a great icebreaker when meeting new people. I love being able to give someone their polaroid - it's a different experience than either 35mm or digital.
What do you do outside of photography?
I work in the film industry, but on the logistical side. I love photography as a way to explore creativity in a separate mental space.
What ethical considerations do you take into account when photographing people or sensitive subjects?
I tend to avoid taking photographs of people because I'm uncomfortable with the ethical implications. There are a ton of great portraits and street shots out there, but I'm generally more interested in finding emotion and mood without it being interpreted from a human face. I like being a fly on the wall with my camera, and I often feel creepy if I shoot strangers or friends unknowingly. Particularly f there's a class or cultural gap between myself and the subject, I become pretty uncomfortable with the idea of representing them without taking advantage of their likeness.
What is your favorite part about being Uptown?
Access to nature, the geographic height of the neighborhood, and the age and history of the buildings.
Fotógrafo En Foco: ANDREW HARRINGTON
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas en la fotografía?
10 años.
¿Qué te trájo a la fotografía?
When I was 18 I decided to take one 35mm photo per day on an old point and shoot, as a way of preserving that stage of my life, to find something each day to preserve, and to become more comfortable taking a camera out in public and around friends. I also went to film school and through assignments came to appreciate making images in many ways. When the pandemic hit, I lived in Milwaukee, WI and became unemployed. My passion for photography exploded, I started exploring the empty industrial city with my camera almost every day and developing my film every night.
¿A cuántas caminatas has hido?
2 with Uptown Photowalk, but seven total with other communities since February (NYC photostroll and B&H creators)
¿Cuál fue tu favorita y por qué?
Chinatown. The community that showed up to this walk was huge - I don't know the total count, but definitely the largest walk I've been on, it was great to connect with so many folks. Chinatown is so dense with scenery, streets that have vanishing ends, decoration, and its own cultural identity. I liked how we took time at each park to allow the group to explore, I didn't feel like I was rushing to keep up. I also decided to challenge myself a bit more on this walk to shoot out of my comfort zone - I don't normally like shooting in tight or crowded spaces, but in so many areas of that neighborhood it's unavoidable, so I chose to embrace that uncomfortableness and see what would happen.
¿Cuáles son tus tipos favoritos de fotografía y por qué?
I like photos that feel intimate and personal, purposefully composed, either colorful or with strong B&W contrast. I like images that make me feel peaceful, have a connection to history, or have a sense of timelessness. I'm not sure why other than the feeling these things give me.
¿Cuáles son algunos de tus fotografías favoritas en los que has trabajado?
I love being surprised when exploring new places. Some recent gems have been Governor's Island, Flushing, NY Transit Museum, and the old City Hall station.
¿Puedes contarnos sobre una de estas sorpresas?
It's so intoxicating when you explore a new neighborhood or area for the first time, and there's no better way to do it than with a camera in good lighting conditions. The first time I went to Governor's Island, it was a warm Tuesday morning in November, and there was almost no one else on the island. There are so many beautiful disused buildings there that tell stories of its former culture for the soldiers that lived there - an old theater, a library, garages, homes - the emptiness set a mood that seemed to fit the liminal state of the buildings. The NY Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn was also a great discovery - staged in the disused Court Street subway station, both the location and the exhibits felt haunted with history. There are restored cars from all different decades of the subway's exhibits, staged with period-accurate advertisements, and you can walk right into them and touch everything. It's a very photogenic museum, I felt inspired to create images that captured that tangible connection to the past.
¿Tienes una cámara favorita?
Topcon Super DM & Polaroid SX-70. The Topcon feels amazing ergonomically. I love the front-mounted shutter button, the fully mechanical operation, the weight, and how advanced it was for its time. The 58mm 1.4 lens is also a gem - just sharp enough but still gives photos a painting-like quality. The SX-70 fits my point-and-shoot needs - when life is busy it still allows me a photographic creative outlet where I can see the image instantly, the high contrast is a fun limitation to work within, and it's a great icebreaker when meeting new people. I love being able to give someone their polaroid - it's a different experience than either 35mm or digital.
¿Que haces afuera de la forografía?
I work in the film industry, but on the logistical side. I love photography as a way to explore creativity in a separate mental space.
¿Qué consideraciones éticas tienes en cuenta al fotografiar personas o sujetos sensibles?
I tend to avoid taking photographs of people because I'm uncomfortable with the ethical implications. There are a ton of great portraits and street shots out there, but I'm generally more interested in finding emotion and mood without it being interpreted from a human face. I like being a fly on the wall with my camera, and I often feel creepy if I shoot strangers or friends unknowingly. Particularly f there's a class or cultural gap between myself and the subject, I become pretty uncomfortable with the idea of representing them without taking advantage of their likeness.
¿Cual es tu favorita parte de Uptown?
Access to nature, the geographic height of the neighborhood, and the age and history of the buildings.
