LLL:
You’re so synonymous with New York. Do you consider yourself essentially a New York photographer?
RP:
Yeah, maybe, but I’m just shooting my life wherever I go. If visuals pop up I shoot them. I use my cell phone a lot but still have my old little camera. I’m not into all the fancy equipment. Shooting is about the eye, the heart.
LLL:
So the images on the t-shirts, tell us about them.
RP:
I love the one of the girl smoking the blunt. I call it my gangster bitch. I took that picture at a Paper Magazine party in Central Park. She came home with me, too! The one with Slick Rick is from a video shoot. Run came to visit the set and I just took that one shot, which is what happens a lot with me. Just see it, shoot it, and keep it moving. I tell people I’m not taking a picture, me and you are creating an image. I’m the photographer, you’re the subject, and we’re doing this together.
LLL:
So today, what are you into?
RP:
I don’t like being grouped in with other photographers. I’m not trying to ascend the world of photography. I’m just being me. The accolades I get are great but a lot of people want to be famous and use the camera to get prestige. I’m not like that. I do it out of love and whatever happens so be it. I became fashionable by accident and if I can maintain and do what I do I’m stoked. I’m working on a new book – this one will have more text than my last four, as well as plenty of images – so it’s all good. I’m just a mad happy lazy hustler and the t-shirt collaboration with Dedicated Brand is nutrition for my soul.
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