Los Angeles based photographer Chris Anthony fills the frames with shadows and bathes his prints in sepia tones, embellishing some with flashes of crimson and gold.

Internationally recognized photographer Chris Anthony was born in Stockholm. He was awarded the 2007 Grand Prize in American Photo’s Images of the Year Competition for his ‘Victims & Avengers’ series, which was shown in its entirety for the first time at Corey Helford Gallery in January 2007. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

Music has been an integral part of your career. How does it affect your working process and your creations?
These days, not much at all. Music was always very informative when I was directing and could inspire all sorts of scenarios, but I don't feel much of a connection between music and the still images I make.

When did you realize your inclination towards photography and what was the first object you shot?
I started very young, shooting rock bands, in able to gain access to concerts and the bands I liked, so photography was really a means to an end. It probably wasn't until at least a year or two in that I began to take it seriously and that's when I started studying and learning my way around the darkroom. The first concert I shot was Iron Maiden and I forgot to push the button before winding up the exposed film and I ended up shredding the whole roll!

Before becoming a professional photographer, you worked as a film director. Today, which of the two interests you more? Which directors do you find closer to yourself in terms of visual comprehension?
I would say I'm equally passionate about both art forms, and I actually just directed a commercial for the first time in ages and it was loads of fun. I watch films incessantly and would say I'm a greater student of cinema than I am of photography. Directors close to my heart are Billy Wilder, Orson Welles, Bergman, Terry Gilliam, David Lean, John Huston, Vincent Minnelli.

“I watch films incessantly and would say I'm a greater student of cinema than I am of photography.”

People like to talk about their 'lucky breaks' but I think it's more hard work and passion that leads to a breakthrough to becoming a professional photographer. When was your breakthrough?
Gosh, I don't know that I've had a breakthrough... but I guess when I first exhibited Victims and Avengers in Los Angeles. It was very well received and the sales were good.

You have received numerous awards in your career. Hasselblad Masters, American Photo and Lucie Awards are some of them. Which would you say has created the biggest impression in your life?
American Photo, I won, but the others I was only nominated for. It's all an honor and a pleasure.

“Music was always very informative when I was directing and could inspire all sorts of scenarios, but I don't feel much of a connection between music and the still images I make.”

Your works have been published in many publications like Los Angeles Times, Photo District News, Eyemazing, to name a few. How does it feel to have reached the pinnacle of success?
It's very gratifying to see one's work shown in the mass media, but I would say I'm far away from any sort of pinnacle. I'm struggling to make my work known like everyone else.

As a photographer, do you find yourself seeing photographically all the time or do you turn it off and on when you’re shooting with a camera?
It is hard to shut off, but it's not as if I constantly see images in my head. It's more akin to being obsessed. Always seeing faces, textures, patterns, colours etc. that might find their way into an image.

“It's very gratifying to see one's work shown in the mass media, but I would say I'm far away from any sort of pinnacle.”

What kind of camera equipment do you use?
Mostly 4x5 and a bunch of old lenses from the 19th century.

Looking back at your work, which of your pictures make the strongest impression on you?
None of them make a very strong impression on me. After all the work you put into them and the constant scrutiny, you lose objectivity, and it's almost as if that level of intimacy nearly breeds contempt. I feel like I have a certain sense of whether one of my photographs is good or not but I'm never fully satisfied. Perhaps that's a good thing; keeps me working towards the next image or project.

	Quick8: Favourite Camera: Ebony Favourite Printer: Epson 9900 Favourite Shoot: The next one Preferred Location:  Warehouse studio Favourite Photographer: Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Julia Margaret Cameron Most memorable story:  Watching two dolphins chase away a small shark while shooting in the ocean Current photographers you like: Sally Mann, Joel Peter Witkin Toughest day at work: Any day, waist high in the ocean with a view camera is a pain in the neck.

More Photos by Chris Anthony / Fotosocial

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