Alors, Et Toi? is a quarterly magazine of the arts, digitally published on the world wide web.
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Mark Hartman
Interview by R.J. williams
This young documentary photographer was born in Boston, Massachusetts in the early 80’s. Now living in New York City. Mark Hartman has among his credits such name brands as NIKE, Mass-appeal, DiME, to mention just a few, and he has also worked with The Village Voice. He sees himself as a visual anthropologist, and admits that at times he doesn’t know how the stories he’s captured will end, but he the strives to record moments in time, suspended by light and shadows. We are honored to exhibit some of his work in this first issue, and talk briefly with this visual artist.
AET: What attracted you to photography?
MH: What first attracted me to photography was it was like discovering I had another voice. In high school my photography professor saw my talent and encouraged me to pursue (photography) as a vocation. She told me something to the effect: “it comes with a lot of ups and downs but in the end it does pay off.” I think that’s when I really knew it was for me. The more I did it the more I discovered this other voice and at the same time learning about myself. Photography has allowed me to tell stories even if I am not sure how they end, but it’s much more fun for an audience to come to their own conclusion. I also see my work as a form of visual anthropology. I learn about other people and at the same time I learn about myself.
AET: Which do you prefer, color or black & whites?
MH: I started out photographing in black and white; it wasn’t until college that I discovered color. It was like falling in love all over again. Photographing in color allowed me to show more subtleties in light, and seemed like a more effective way of expressing my vision. I love black and white photography, and I still like the option of choosing one or the other. This all depends on the story I am trying to tell, or on a less exalted level whichever looks better for what I may be photographing.
AET: You photographed Buju Banton. How did that come about?
MH: I met Buju Banton completely randomly in an airport in Puerto Rico as I headed to my cousin’s wedding in Antigua. In the terminal he sat down next to me. I finally got up the nerve to tell him I was a fan. I told him I was a documentary photographer and we began to talk. We ended up being on the same plane so when we got off, he turned to me and said, “lets go!” and let me follow him around. The access you can get when you have a camera is truly amazing. I think it’s one of the most exciting parts of photography for me, being able to go where you never would be allowed if you didn’t have a camera. It opens up doors you can’t believe. It is also especially gratifying when you can photograph someone’s music you admire.
AET: Are you a fan of reggae?
MH: I am a huge fan of reggae! I love reggae because it represents voice and struggle of the people, but more importantly everyday people. Reggae performers in Jamaica are viewed as modern day prophets, and in fact are. They are there to speak on issues that are important to the people and give them hope for betterment of themselves. This takes more than talent—it also takes an incredible amount of clairvoyance, to be able to speak for the people that do not have a voice or may not be readily heard. To be a reggae artist you need to be able to represent the people. You can also hear more than words and great music when you hear someone like Bob Marley sing, or contemporaries like Sizzla, Jah Cure, or Buju. They sing with so much emotion in their voice it gives you goose bumps. In this way reggae to me is so authentic, a celebration of life or the human condition. In this way the music becomes universal. You can hear it and more importantly you can feel it! I remember being in Cuba and afro-cubans asking me if I knew Bob Marley, they would utter a few misconstrued lyrics with a big smile. Even if they didn’t know all the words, they understood that this music was intended for them.
AET: As a photographer, do you feel detached from your client or is there an acceptable degree of involvement, in your opinion?
MH: The client is always in the back of my mind. You want to be happy with the images and you also want the client to be happy. This was tough for me at first, because this can be a lot of pressure. There is also pressure to show whomever you’re photographing in a way that they would be happy with. You usually don’t have much time to do this, which makes it even more of a challenge. When it comes down to it, I try to challenge myself a little more each time I have a shoot. Some of my clients don’t pay me but will give me money for my expenses but give me great access. This makes it worth it for me; I also don’t have an art director breathing down my neck. I have learned to please myself first when working on jobs. Most of the time when you are happy with the pictures the client will be too. In the end you have to trust yourself, and be honest to your vision and believe you are good enough. You also need to challenge yourself constantly. Each shoot I do I try to push it a step further. I know I am good at what I do but I also know I could be a million times better.
AET: What role has MySpace played in promoting your craft?
MH: To me MySpace is just a great way to showcase your work to your friends and to strangers. I am not sure if this has promoted my work, but I also could be doing a lot more with my page. People occasionally write me and tell me they appreciate my work which always feels good.
AET: You where born in Massachusetts; why make the move to New York?
MH: As long as I can remember I wanted to be in New York City. Being into pop culture as a kid so much of it was starting in New York. My art heroes lived in New York. I moved to New York to be in an environment surrounded by people I looked up to and be around other creative people doing interesting things. Being in an environment full of peers is both challenging and inspiring. There are thousands of photographers in New York and it is incredibly cut throat. I think if you have talent and work hard enough and persevere you are bound to be eventually noticed. And if you can do it in New York, you can do it anywhere, right? I think the race is won not by the swift but those who persevere. The photo industry is incredibly hard to break into. You just have to keep pushing and prove people wrong and eventually it will pay off.
