The thing about being a photographer that's so cool is that you get to participate, but you also get to disappear. The camera is in front of your face all the time.

Ryan McGinley

Categorized in : Faces Photographer Cameras

I'm always interested in an atmosphere where dreams and reality m... by Ryan McGinley

I'm always interested in an atmosphere where dreams and reality mingle on equal terms.

atmosphere dream reality

I'm just a photographer, not a movie star. by Ryan McGinley

I'm just a photographer, not a movie star.

movie-star stars photographer

I'm interested in reaching the masses with my work. It's one of m... by Ryan McGinley

I'm interested in reaching the masses with my work. It's one of my goals.

reaching mass goal

I went through a pretty big David Bowie period when I was younger, and that has affected me profoundly in my life and my work.

bowie bigs periods

I have absolutely no interest in creating depressing images. by Ryan McGinley

I have absolutely no interest in creating depressing images.

creating depressing interest

Everyone I'm photographing, I feel like I'm remaking a family, in a way. My brothers and sisters are my heroes. So many of my models resemble them.

brother hero way

All I do is make photos. It's my life. by Ryan McGinley

All I do is make photos. It's my life.

The cool part about New York is that you can do that. You can tal... by Ryan McGinley

The cool part about New York is that you can do that. You can talk to all the people you admire.

admire new-york people

I was studying graphic design at the time, when negative scanners and all that stuff was coming out, and you could do it all in your apartment. So I would shoot, make contact sheets, scan all the cool negatives, and make all these zines and books of my photos to give to my friends. I was really into zine- and bookmaking from skate culture.

zines giving book

Growing up, my room was covered in posters. I was like, "I want t... by Ryan McGinley

Growing up, my room was covered in posters. I was like, "I want to make posters."

growing-up want rooms

When I was in art school, the photo kids were separated from the rest. If you did sculpture or painting or graphic design, you were all taking the same classes, but the photographers just went straight into photography.

photography kids art

Whatever emotions you're going through, you somehow seek out the people that are going through similar emotions or that maybe have something you need.

emotion people needs

I spent all of my money on film. I remember I would do these set-design jobs or transcribe or just anything to get, like, a $100 check and go immediately to Adorama and buy expired film.

design remember jobs

I really don't want to be part of just one group. I'm interested in doing everything - making music videos, shooting campaigns, having -gallery and museum shows, making movies. Everyone wants to put you in a box, and I'm afraid I'm not that kind of person.

kind

Everyone started to have a camera. That's when I started to travel outside of New York and go into nature.

cameras new-york

I just remember how excited I was to have a boyfriend and be in l... by Ryan McGinley

I just remember how excited I was to have a boyfriend and be in love and to document it.

documents excited remember

When I moved to New York, I was still in the closet. by Ryan McGinley

When I moved to New York, I was still in the closet.

closets stills new-york

In a lot of ways I look at these old photos, and I don't know if I would have been able to communicate with these people on this level if I didn't have a camera. I think I would still be so shy.

cameras people thinking

The camera gives you some control. by Ryan McGinley

The camera gives you some control.

cameras giving

I think a lot about control nowadays, and I really want to let go... by Ryan McGinley

I think a lot about control nowadays, and I really want to let go and just be more in the moment.

want letting-go thinking