While contemplating the famous « Easton Nights » photographic series from Peter Ydeen about the city of Easton Pennsylvania, I have been immediately subjugated by the atmosphere of this urban landscape that is a mix of lights and many grades of colors. Quickly, I also noticed the absence of people, nevertheless very present by cars, houses and other constructions. If I let my imagination do its work : Where are all the persons ? Are they all at home, leaving streets empty for the aesthetic of the city or maybe is it a ghost city? I let your imagination do its work anyway with this wonderful series to discover on photoplanet360.fr.
Tell me one thing you would like us to know about you?
I love seeing. Interactions, patterns, shapes, geometry, light, color, and shades, are to be seen in everything, and I never tire of looking.
What were your initial sources of inspiration in photography?
My background and training were in painting and sculpture and then I spent a good time working in architecture as well as set construction and advertising display. Because of this, my major influences were painters, such as Arthur Dove, Charles Burchfield, and Paul Klee among others. The architecture and staging also gives me a good sense of spatial relationships and a flare for the theatrical. The main photographer whose work I looked at was that of George Tice; who still lives not far from here. His night photos were the first to inspire me. There is also always an underlying influence from Romantic literature that wants to bring you inside and tell you a story.
What is your secret to keep energy and inspiration on a daily/weekly basis?
This is a difficult question. I have never been one for “writer’s block”, or the photographers equivalent. I do not walk around with cameras strapped all over my body, but I have an incessant need to make things.
Do you follow technical evolution in photography? In other words, do you consider the technic as a fundamental pillar of photography?
I am generally not a technical person, and word “update” is nasty word to me. I have a need to act and act quickly and so do not like figuring out the machine in the field. When I go out and shoot, I decide the general settings before I leave, and do minimal adjustments in the field. “Technique” is fundamental to good photography, but best lives in the background when shooting. Keeping up with advances is necessary, and when I put my mind to it, I am good with analyzing and putting them to use, but great shots can be made with any camera as long as you respect the limits.
Are you interested in new technics like 360° and VR ? And what do you think about them?
I just googled “what is a VR camera?” in order to answer this question; which answers the question. Seeing other people use the new techniques is fascinating, but it does not fall into what I am doing presently.
Note from Panhobby:
Thanks to Peter for his confidence and the time he granted me. I think you have been also fully captivated as I was by the incredible and magnetic atmosphere that emerges from his pictures. A pure moment of pleasure ! I encourage you to discover more of his work on this website or his Instagram account.
Interview done by Panhobby in August 2017
Images presented in this article are the property of © Peter Ydeen.
They are reproduced here with his permission
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