Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Flynn.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’ve had a strong urge to create ever since I was a kid and that led me to skateboard and later to photography. Growing up, my father was a photographer, so I was always surrounded by photos, cameras, and the occasional darkroom. I found it somewhat interesting at the time, but it wasn’t until my college years, where I ended up getting a degree in Fine Art, that I seriously picked up a camera and understood the power it had to help me create and express myself. I realized it was very much of an art form as drawing and painting. Skateboarding taught me to how to study my surroundings and utilize whatever was in my environment to create a skate spot. This hyper-observant quality later became beneficial to my photography, where I could use it to quickly scout out interesting subjects, perspectives, and light in my vicinity.
A few years after college, I started working as a professional photographer in Washington, DC (where I lived for 11 years), shooting portraiture and events for paid work, and street and travel photography as personal projects. I can’t imagine doing anything else for my career.
Please tell us about your art.
I’ve been shooting street photography on and off for about ten years now, and I started to focus on it more in the last five years. I recently started to shoot film again and really enjoy it – I shoot a fair amount on my iPhone, and with various digital cameras too, I try to always have a camera with me. When I moved to Los Angeles from Washington, DC in late 2015, I became fascinated by the classic car culture and the uniqueness of Angelinos. I appreciate how Angelinos put effort into showing off their personalities, interests, and eccentricities whether it’s through their cars or their clothes. I’ll see someone driving a vintage car from the 1940’s, and they’re dressed like a writer from that era, and then down the street, I’ll see someone in an all-white tux like John Travolta from the 1970s. After seeing this type of stuff on a daily basis, I was compelled to document it, even it was just for myself. Getting a good shot takes me back to the days when I skated all the time and the feeling I would get when I landed a new trick. You want others to see it, but it still feels good if you’re the only one there.
I just want to chronicle and share what I see every day, especially in the city where I live. I love it here. I hope my photos inspire others to become more curious and explore every day.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I think the conditions now are the same ones that artists have always faced and I don’t think things have gotten any easier. There may be more outlets, like Instagram or this site, to get your work seen, but I believe it’s still very difficult to make a living off just doing your art. A lot of people seem to have a steady paying gig and do their art as a side hustle or only for the pure enjoyment or cathartic release that it gives them. The cost of living is pretty high, especially in LA, and likes on Instagram, unfortunately, don’t pay the bills just yet.
I feel LA already does a great job of helping support the arts because arts and entertainment have been the soul of this town for so long. Other major cities, however, could encourage street art the way LA or Barcelona does. These cities set aside walls and other public spaces for artists. This, in turn, immerses the residents of those cities in art every day. I feel when you’re surrounded by art in every facet of life you start to appreciate the value of it and are more willing to spend money purchasing art or creating spaces for artists to show their work.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
For my personal projects – street and travel photography, follow me on Instagram @chrisflynnphoto. You can also find my commercial work on my website at www.chrisflynnphotography.com If you’re interested in collaborating or purchasing a print, you can DM me on Instagram.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chrisflynnphotography.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @chrisflynnphoto
Image Credit:
Tim Hennessy, Chris Flynn
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