Young Gun: An Interview with Gabrial Deacon

What Manchester photographer Gabrial Deacon may lack in the candles on his birthday cake, he makes up for in experience and wisdom. Lomography Magazine sits down with Gabrial and talks to him about his creative work, his style, and everything in between in this quick interview.

Who is Gabrial Deacon when not photographing? What do you do in your down time?

My name is Gabrial Deacon, I’m 22 years of age and have recently graduated from Manchester’s School of Art. Other than taking photos, in my spare time I tend to skate, chill with friends and listen to a lot of music. Music definitely has a high influence on how I take and edit my photographs. Photography is what I do for my down time though but it’s nice to mix things up once and a while.

How did you discover photography?

From a young age I’ve always grown up in a household covered in paintings, photographs and drawings. I’ve always been a creative person but I was never naturally good at drawing or painting, I never had the patience nor the discipline with art. Photography however kind of found me. I remember being in Barcelona when I was about 12, I took a photograph of some crazy old Spanish lady… I can’t even explain what happened when I took that photograph of her.

I just felt some mad energy run through my body and it was literally from that moment that I knew what I had to be and become. I then started documenting and shooting photos of my mates skating, this is when I started to learn more about the relationship between the camera and light, movement and colour. It’s an array of so many things which has led me to finding my style of photographing. I’ve always wanted to create something a bit exotic, a bit weird, a bit mad.

What can you say about photography as an "art or expression?"

The thing about photography is that it never ceases to surprise, amaze or fascinate me. In a sense it acts as a tool for me to exemplify my perfect reality. Or my impression of what reality could be seen or perceived as. It takes the mundane realities of life and shapes them into something far more interesting. It makes life seem like one ever expanding work of art. It is a tool for self-expression as it gives me the opportunity to control the world around me. Its limitless possibilities mean progression is endless. For me personally however, the way I perceive and use photography purely depends on what mood I’m in or what I’m trying to accomplish through an image.

What's your favorite photograph?

This is such a hard question to answer because all my photographs are so different from each other, and therefore have different levels of importance and value to me. However, if a gun was pushed to my head and I had to pick one it would most likely have to be the black and white portrait I shot of my uncle ‘Mad Mick’. He’s 60 but looks 40 and acts like he’s 20. He thinks he’s God and said he’s been abducted by aliens. He was also a football hooligan back in the day for Manchester United.

Character is everything when I photograph someone, it’s my main priority to capture and reveal an essence of that person’s character. When I shot that photograph of Mick I just asked him to give me one photograph that sums him up. He took out his fake front tooth and literally revealed everything I knew about him through one single pose. So far it’s probably one of those photographs that has so much sentimental value to myself as a photographer.

Who are your favorite photographers?

I admire the OG photographers. David Bailey, William Klein, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, Cartier Bresson, McCullin and Man Ray. I could name an endless list of photographers but these are the guys that have really inspired me to try and achieve something big and different with my photographs. I want to give photography something back just like they all have.

What's your dream photograph?

This is a tricky one? Because I don’t plan my photographs it’s hard to say what my dream photograph would be. However, I’d love to go live with and document a tribe somewhere around the world. Other than that I’d love to photograph the Yakuza; that culture fascinates me immensely.

What cameras and accessories do you use?

Every camera has its own personality; it’ll capture a moment in time completely different when compared to another camera. I mostly shoot on film because in comparison to digital, film will always be king. I love the way how the light reacts to the emulsion of the film and that’s what creates your photograph. Whereas digital it’s all pre-programmed colors, it ain't natural. Therefore, most of my cameras are film.

I mainly use my Leica Z2x, it’s a point and shoot camera with a beautifully sharp lens and a variety of flash options which means I can use it in the studio. Other than that I have a few Rollei point and shoots, a few Olympus Trips, a few Canon Sureshots and an underwater Canon point and shoot. I also have a Lomo Holga which despite being a plastic camera gives remarkably amazing photographs. It’s variety of flash colours means you can proper creative when photographing.

Alternatively, I also have a Lomo'Instant. It’s a very interesting camera as it teaches you to become far more disciplined in regards to how you photograph. It has taught me so much more about the relationship between the camera and light. Plus having folder after folder of mini Polaroids is a nice thing to flick through on a grey day. I use that camera purely for memories… I recently have been brought a Kodak 177x Instamatic 126 camera, which I’ve modded to shoot 35mm… It’s always good to keep things fresh by trying out new stuff.

Finally, I do have two digital cameras for work that’s more on the professional side. My Nikon D300 is my baby, however I have recently invested in an old Leica V-lux camera. Even though it is outdated the photographs it can give you literally look like they’ve been taken on some old 70’s 35mm film. It’s great for my artsy stuff.

For you, what are the characteristics of a good photograph?

There are no rules in photography, so therefore there is no right or wrong way to create a photograph of pure exuberance and depth. It’s down to who’s viewing and judging the image at the end of the day. However, there are a few things that can make a photograph evolve into something incredible.

A good photograph must instantly captivate the viewer. Whether it be the photographs content or the way it has been created; it must instantly gain the viewers’ attention, making them analyze every single aspect of the frame.

It must show or teach you something about life or humanity that you weren’t aware of. Some of the strongest photographs I have ever seen are the ones that make you just stand there and think about what you are looking at and how it reflects upon the world we live in.

Finally, my most important characteristic of a good photograph is that the image must have character, it must be RAW. It should suck you into the photograph, making you feel as if you were present at the exact moment it was taken.

How does your professional work differ from your personal shots?

I’m at a stage in my life at the moment where my personal photography is my professional photography; and where my professional is my personal. From a young age I’ve worked with a variety of photographers within a variety of different photographic areas. After working with each of them, I noticed that all they cared about is money. To the extent where they weren’t progressing, nor were even attempting to create something interesting. Since then I’ve decided just to do photography for myself, and it is this decision which allows me to have no restrictions. However, when I am offered the odd fashion job, I find that the photographs produced are simply restricted versions of my personal photographs.

How would you describe your style in five words?

RAW, colourful, surreal, intimate and rebellious.

What area in photography do you feel most comfortable in?

Without sounding too big headed I feel comfortable with whatever I’m photographing. I’m trying to follow in the footsteps of William Klein in the sense that I don’t want to be pigeonholed to just one style of photography. I get bored easily so I like to just be spontaneous through the way I photograph. Some days it could be fashion, the other it could be creating something far more abstract. Either way I always have a camera with me so it’s whatever life chooses to throw at me that day.

What would you be if you weren't a photographer?

I have no idea. To be honest not being a photographer isn’t an option for me. I have no other talents but I don’t really care about that. I’d sooner be really good at one thing than be average at many things.

How does photography shape your personal life?

It’d be more accurate for me to say that my personal life shapes my photography. Whether it be walking to work, out with my mates on a night or simply chilling, I incorporate photography into every aspect of my life to make sure not one moment is wasted or underappreciated. Plus, it’s nice to know I have thousands of photographs to look back and reminisce upon when I’m older.

How do you stay creative?

There are many ways I stay creative. Smoking bud really has an impact on my work, especially when editing…It’s how I enter the psychedelic aspect of my brain. Alternatively, I try to not look at or focus on anything that other photographers my age are doing. I want my photographs to be purely influenced by myself rather than ripping off someone else’s work. However, to stay creative my best bit of advice is to not think about what you’re doing. Whether it’s shooting or editing, just let your mind be free. Create something that you love, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

How would you describe the "decisive moment?"

My interpretation of the decisive moment is when something just happens. You’ll know what I mean. When you're photographing someone or something and literally something changes… it can be something big or something minute. Either way your brain will acknowledge it. It’s a like flight or fight, you’ll either get it or you won’t.

Any upcoming projects?

I have recently brought out my first book entitled "MCR." It’s a 99 page book which acts as a photographic insight into my adventures since moving to the city of Manchester. I brought out a short seven minutes long video to help reinforce the photographs. It features a vast array of photographic styles, ranging from fashion to portraiture, to reportage and street photography.

However, since that all done and dusted I’ve now turned my attention to creating a new book based around Manchester’s China Town. If you’ve ever visited there you’ll know how small it is. The more I go there the more mysterious it gets; I notice more and therefore see more. It’s something I’ve been working on for the past few months and features a broad variety of characters who I have personally chosen to be part of the series.

What’s next for Gabrial Deacon?

I want to get my own studio and properly establish myself further into the Manchester scene. But most importantly I just want to make waves within the photographic world. I want to give something back to photography just as my idols have done.

Thanks to you guys at Lomo for the feature! Your film and cameras are the best!

You can see more of Gabrial's work here.

We would like to express our gratitude to the artist for letting us interview him for this piece. All images in this article were used with the artist's permission.

written by cheeo on 2016-11-09 #people