IDRIS + TONY INTERVIEW
Idris + Tony.
Combining technical and creative skills since 2005. Idris Rheubottom — New Yorker, Emory Economics grad, drawn to the power of the camera. Tony Craig — from rural Illinois to The New School, documentary filmmaking to fashion. Two minds, one lens.
2011
Their debut exhibition — documenting contemporary Native American life — premiered at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Three years in the making, now in the canon.
Greatest inspirations or influences?
There are always ideas floating around in our heads — but I think we're most inspired by the subjects that we shoot.
We tend to work very organically, which allows us to really feed off of their personality and energy.
Most memorable shoot — and why?
We had to photograph a subject named Angeline, a self-proclaimed celebrity. We had just finished shooting Wilmer Valderrama and Seth Greene — people we had fun with. With this lady and her stipulations we could only walk away with one frame. Every time we took a picture, she'd come off of set, off her pink Corvette, look at the picture and approve or not. If she didn't like it we'd have to delete it. Then back on set, take another picture, then back off.
It was kind of the worst shoot I've ever had to deal with — Tony got so irate that he shut down.
I was done *laughs*
Memorable in a negative way. But we got the shot — that's kind of all that matters.
"We got the shot — that's kind of all that matters."
— Idris Rheubottom
Most interesting response to your work?
We recently got posted by Danny Schmippler on a blog called the Underwear Expert. He wrote this interesting write-up on one of our editorials.
reading:
"One of the better photography duos out there, Idris and Tony hit one ball after another right out of the ball park. They're seemingly capable of working in a variety of photographic mediums, transferring from color for one series to black and white in another, using different backgrounds, effects, lighting and angles, like they are a master of all."
Up and coming projects?
We have a coffee table book of portraits coming out in February — we've been working on it for the past three years.
It's a 21-year retrospective of talent that has worked with LA-based production company World of Wonder.
And then we're working on our next exhibition, plus some other projects that you'll just have to wait and see.
Best part about living and working in Brooklyn?
There's a lot of culture in Brooklyn, and a lot of innovative things happening — whereas in a lot of areas you don't really get that, it's kind of stagnant. In Brooklyn it's constantly changing, evolving.
Not to mention more space for the money.
Since 2005
World of Wonder · 21-Year Retrospective
Antakly Projects / Ninu Nina
Ksenia Kahovich, Idris +Tony
Inside Laguna
