DIRK MAI - photographer profile
DIRK MAI - photographer profile
Written by Sacha Young   
Tuesday, 04 May 2010 10:35

[Photo Credit: Dirk Mai | Demi Lovato]

Hustling American photographer DIRK MAI, took a few minutes out of his crazy schedule to answer a round-up of questions for us! If the name doesn't sound familiar to you, then maybe you're more well acquainted with the faces OR bands that he has shot; Demi Lovato, The Maine, 3OH!3, NeverShoutNever, Gossip... to name just a few.

Starting off with a... QUICK-FIRE-FIVE!

COUP DE MAIN: Favourite toy when you were a child??
DIRK MAI: G.I. Joe's.

CDM: Paisley Shirts?
DIRK: I'm gonna say, no thanks.

CDM: Word that never comes out right?
DIRK: Documentary.

CDM: Ice Cream / Ice Block?
DIRK: Cream of course.

CDM: Late nights...
DIRK: EVERY night.
[Photo Credit: Dirk Mai | The Maine]


CDM: So... how did you get into photography?
DIRK: My Father gave me my first camera when I was about 16 (the one I now have tattooed on my chest). And from the beginning, I always had a strong interest in shooting people and capturing "real" moments.



CDM: When you were younger, did you always know that you wanted to pursue photography/art?
DIRK: Yes, always. My father was a fourth generation cabinet maker and I was supposed to be the fifth. I always knew even before I even picked up a camera that I wanted to be a photographer, even though I always felt I was supposed to carry on my father's trait. It was just something instilled in me.

CDM: Teleporting and time machines are yet to exist... What is the first thing that comes to mind if they were real?
DIRK: 'Leave It To Beaver'. I'd go check out some malt shops and take a girl out to the drive-in. Maybe start up a little in the car. I just like the way that sounds. I like the way they talked and I feel it was just such a fresh new era in the coming of youth impact. But that's just the first thing that comes to mind. There are a million and one other, (probably much more important) things/places/era's I'd love to experience.

CDM: ...Even better yet, what would you photograph if there were no constraints? Anywhere in the world, past, future...?
DIRK: I've always said, if I had 3 wishes one of them would be to be invisible (camera included), so I could go into ANY situation and capture the most real, raw, heartwrenching photos anyone's ever seen. The possibilities are endless. You could be in the most insane life threatening situations, witnessing things most people could never imagine, and get photos SO pure and real because no-one knows they are being photographed. It gives me the chills thinking about that and how much impact those photos could have.

CDM: What inspired your passion for photography, was their a specific moment or event, that triggered it all?


DIRK: Not really. I've just always known it's what I wanted to do and when I was about 18, something clicked and it became a passion like nothing else.


CDM: You regularly update your photography site, do you have a favourite photo of all time?


DIRK: That's very hard to choose, but I'm going to go ahead and go with this one  [ photo on the left ]. It's just one of the most real, raw, beautiful moments I've captured in my opinion, and it was a time in my life where I was going through some big changes and that photo always brings me back to that and inspires me.

CDM: I noticed that you are also a main contributing photographer for Cliché Magazine, which looks amazing! This must be a really fun project, tell us a little bit about it...
 DIRK: Yeah, I've been working with Jeremy Fall on Cliché since the first issue. It just started as a one-time thing but it just felt so organic and natural between us, we just kept working on it together. It's been a great experience and fun working on it with him.

CDM: You also photograph a lot of bands, how does this all come about?
DIRK: Well that's actually where I got my start back in Michigan. There's not much fashion there, so I'd just shoot all the local bands. Michigan actually has a pretty good music scene. I strayed away from that when I moved to L.A. because I wanted to focus on fashion, but before long, music just started falling back into my lap. I've been working pretty steadily with some great record labels, and touring with a couple different bands, and it's been a dream come true. I couldn't be happier. It's a dream to me.


[Photo Credit: Dirk Mai | Demi Lovato]

CDM: Have you had a favourite shoot? If so, why was it your favourite?
DIRK: Not so much a shoot but, touring with The Maine and Demi Lovato as their tour photographers, is by far the most fun I've ever had in my life. It blows my mind that I can call that my job.

[Photo Credit: Dirk Mai | The Maine]

CDM: "We are all far too fast to judge… take a step back and really think about what you 'think' you know… Is it fair to criticize someone when you have never met them and really have no clue who they are? Where they’ve come from… what they’ve been through… where their heart stands… we are all of the same. Judge no-one more than you’d want to be judged yourself." - I came across this quote on your site. I really believe in this quote and feel like it is a powerful message to everyone, but more so our generation, that are far too quick to judge. What are your views on this particular quote?
DIRK: It's just something I felt strongly at the moment. I tend to mix feelings and quotes of mine in with my photos on my blog. People can interpret them how they like, just as they can my photos.

CDM: What future projects have you got in the works? Do you have a wish-list of projects you would love to work on in the future?
DIRK: Well I'm working a lot with The Maine still. I'm shooting their next album cover soon and touring with them again this Summer. That's about all I really want to put out there for now. For everything else, you'll have to wait and see.

CDM: Coup D Main is all about young, talented people, pursuing what they love! Do you have any wise advice to share with our readers?
DIRK: No matter what field of interest you are in, if you have a passion and drive for what you do, you can do anything you want. You either have it or you don't. It's a feeling that overpowers you and is bigger and more powerful than anything else in your life. If you have this, run with it, and follow your heart. Never ever give up. Dreams are not easy to obtain, it takes years of passion and dedication. No matter how many obstacles you encounter, never ever let them slow you down. But if you have a pure passion and drive, you already know this...

[Photo Credit: Dirk Mai | GK Spring 2010]

 

www.dirkmai.com
 

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