Leon Diaper (Bournemouth, UK)

Leon Diaper is only 23 years old but has photographed subjects with a variety that spans from an obsessive Dolly Parton fan to deserted towns in Colorado. He finds a beauty within a seemingly obscure subject and the resulting photographs always manage to shine a positive light on that subject be it a back yard wrestler or a cheap motel on a highway.

What's
...your work all about?
My work is about finding the romance within a subject. Seeing the grand ambitions and ideas in the unlikely, be it the people or place.

...the one photograph you wish you'd created?
I don’t think I can say there is one photograph that I wished I had made, there are far too many, but it would probably be a William Eggleston image.

...the world coming to?
The World is coming to? Who knows? A little more exciting that way.

...the most important thing for an artist to remember?
The most important thing an artist should remember is keep doing what you do throw money and time at it and someone might like it one day!

...the most inspiring thing you've ever seen?
I don’t think there as been one single inspiring thing that I have seen, but driving across America from New York to Los Angeles, really inspired me.

...the cleverest thing you've ever done?
The cleverest thing I have ever done, got a credit card

...the stupidest thing you've ever done?
The stupidest thing I have ever done, got a credit card

...next?
Next? Keep chugging away, taking photographs, exhibition at Printspace in late July, play music, night job at Sainsbury’s.

...the point?
The point? To be cool!

How do you come up with the particular projects to work on - e.g. Dolly Parton, backyard wrestling?  What compels you about these particular subjects?
Normally what compels me to do certain projects is how things look in my head before hand, when I can see it then I get excited to go photograph. The subject matter I choose normally involves a hint of American culture, or imagery that I could find in a Harmony Korine film or people in a Louis Theroux documentary.  

In your series 'The Last Free Place' - how did the people in your pictures react to being photographed?
When photographing The Last Free Place, the people were more than happy to welcome me, they wanted to tell stories, drink and smoke cigarettes; me being there was just an excuse for them to indulge more.

What equipment/film do you use?  What do you like about what you use?
I use an Old Russian medium format monstrosity that looks like it’s an underwater camera. Bright yellow held together with duck tape, very professional. I like to use it as its very temperamental, but when you get used to using it you can get some really great photographs, it always surprises me!

Who/what are your influences - art/film/literature/other photographers?
With photography my influences are quite traditional, William Eggleston, Stephen Shore, Richard Avedon, Jacob Holdt, Larry Clark and many more. When reading, Hunter S Thompson always gets me buzzed to go out and be a little dangerous. Films by Harmony Korine, Vincent Gallo etc.