Nick Zinner is best known for being the guitarist of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but he's quietly been getting accolades for his photography for a long time. His latest show opens on November 20th at Lethal Amounts in Downtown Los Angeles, and showcases 601 photographs taken over several years. We caught up with Nick to find out more about his photography, Los Angeles, and tacos...
How did you get started with photography?
my girlfriend in high school had a camera and let me shoot a bit with it. i took a photo class after that, and then when i went to college i ended up majoring in photography .
What or who do you like shooting the most?
mostly small moments, either my friends or bandmates. i also like walking around new cities with a camera and just getting lost, and taking photos of strangers or anything that seems interesting at the time. one of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten was from larry fink, my photo teacher, which was ' shoot first, ask questions later'.
Can you remember taking every photo in the show?
definitely not, i have a really bad memory. taking photos really helps with that though but then i wonder if I'm just selectively creating my future memories when I'm shooting or not shooting now.
Who's on your Mount Rushmore of photography?
Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Ralph Eugene Meatyard, William Klein, Sophie Calle...i know thats 5 but i am going by the cover of deep purple 'in rock' which has all the band members heads in mt. rushmore style.
Do you have an all-time favorite image you've made?
i took a photo of some nuns when i was maybe 19. i was prague and i was in this phase of being secretly aggressive , where i would sort of pop right up in peoples faces, shoot, and then quickly disappear because I'm small. anyways , there's a photo of 4 nuns i took very closeup that looks like it could be taken anytime/anywhere and i like that quality about it.
Do you have a lucky number?
i have a few
What do you do to relax?
sleep, or walk around
What's your favorite taco spot?
In New York, it would be Tacos Morelos which is a taco truck on 2nd street and Avenue A. its really tasty. I'm still learning about spots in LA but i like cactus taco.
Describe Los Angeles in one word.
possible
Nick Zinner on Instagram. The show opens on Friday, Nov 20th at Lethal Amounts, 1226 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017.
