Adam DeGross; founder of SubCulture Photography
SubCulture Photography is a d.i.y. labor of love. A take on the world of emotion and attitude emergencing in the landscapes of punk, crust, hardcore, and metal . Over a thousand pictures of touring, bands, social gatherings, staying up late, the music, the energy! Inducted into the Anderson Archives at the University of Minnesota! Adam DeGross taking over the world and capturing the culture of music one picture at a time!
Pink Death: Tell Us how it all got started?
Adam: I got started in 2005. i bought a small point and shoot camera, because I booked/went to a lot of shows in town, and saw no one was documenting them. I shot a band called Monster Squad, thought the photos turned out pretty good (looking back on them, they sucked) and just kept shooting shows.
PD: Have you always been passionate about the music?
AD: I honestly don't know what my life would be like without punk, oi, or hardcore, i don't even want to think about it.
PD: What do you interpret with your camera when your watching bands?
AD:I think i just inexpert what they're putting out. if its a punk band, or hardcore, i try to keep the photos pretty true to the original shot, i won't over edit them. if it's for a like a crust/black metal band, ill edit the shit out of it, and make it look as gross as the music they are putting out. i'm just capturing a moment in time, and the musicians/people i shoot are the ones creating the art.
PD:What was it like touring Europe & the U.S. capturing the energy & attitude of the music / the culture?
AD: Just touring Europe in general was amazing, and it was awesome, because i never would have gotten the chance to do that if i had never picked up a camera. I went with this awesome punk/rock/psychobilly band called AL AND THE BLACK CATS, and it was fun going with them, because i never got sick of their live shows. touring the US is way different, a lot more DIY, sleeping on floors, being broke, etc. but touring, and the punk scene's are generally the same everywhere, thats what i love about it, you could be half way across the world, see someone in a Blitz shirt, and more then likely, you'll get along with them. its fun shooting in other towns, countries, because its just a new breath of life into your shots, new venues, new people, new lighting, etc
PD: Taking over a thousand pictures; attending at least six shows per week, touring, in addition to working a full time day job! What keep you going?
AD: I love doing it, i love the scene, i love my friends, the music, etc. plus if i'm not there shooting it, then who is? i might miss the shot of a lifetime
PD: What pictures/interpretations are you most proud of?
AD: I don't know really, they're all special, they're all one of a kind, a moment in time that will never happen again. One of my favorite photos has to be the cover of my book, it's of a band called WILD CHILD on Deranged Rec.
PD: How did the self funded book come about? How did the culture of DIY influence it?
AD: Of course the DIY culture influenced it, because if i didn't do it, it wouldn't get done. i was working, and realized that i had to do something with the 8 years of photos i had backed up, so i made an event page for a book release, and gallery show. then i realized that i had to get started on making a book and getting prints haha. I made it a public thing, just so i'd do it, because then if it didn't happen, i'd look like an idiot.
PD: How did your photo exhibit @ Brickmania for your release of your latest book, "Pay Attention" go?
AD: it was amazing, really well received by the punk community, the art community and just people in general. the first run of the books sold out in 35min, so that's saying something i guess. all in all, the one night event had around 800 people in attendance.
PD: Did you take any pictures at your release exhibition?
AD: I took a few, but i was so out of it, i didn't want to burden myself with shooting the show. i was sober, but felt like i was drunk the whole night haha i was pretty nervous
PD: Is there is a second wind of printing for the book?
AD: Actually i'm on my third run of the book, I've sold around 400 now.
PD: How can people pick up your book?
PD: What's next for Subculture Photography?
AD: i'm working on a new project where I'm going to be shooting the suspension community, you know, the people who hang from hooks. its pretty intense, i'd never do it, but its cool to photograph. I'm gonna do an exhibit, photos hanging next to people hanging haha that will be done later this year. as far as the subculture photography, I'm gonna keep at it, make a new book eventually, hopefully get it published, so i don't have to pay out of pocket. who knows.
PD: What does it mean when you say "social media has changed your whole game with photos"?
AD: things like myspace (back in the day) Facebook, tumblr, etc have changed everything, it gets your name out there, people all around the world can see your stuff, easy to connect with people. its honestly a great tool. hell, you got ahold of me through a social networking site, if they weren't around, this interview wouldn't happen
PD: When your in the moment just you & the band; locked in the energy with your trigger finger snapping pictures. What are you taking away (from that experience)?
AD: At the moment, nothing really, just hoping i'm not bugging them with my flash haha. then at the end of the night, ill go home and look at the photos.
PD: Since the beginning to the present day, how has your personal style developed over the years?
AD: It's obviously gotten better, just from practice, and learning as i go. i feel like now i know how to edit, and give up on photos if they're blurry. back in the day, id be super excited about the composition in one of the shots, but it would be blurry, and id still post it. now i just delete it without question, move onto the next one. also now, i just know what I'm looking for in the shot. it took a lot of practice.
Please follow along - take the acid, tune out, and fall in @ SubCulture Photograhy at https://www.facebook.com/AdamDegrossPhotography
at https://www.facebook.com/AdamDegrossPhotography
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