Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to David Casteel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, David thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
In the mid 2000s I closed my San Francisco studio and took a big risk by moving to Los Angeles. The first few years were pretty rough. Though I was getting along fine with existing technology clients, I had hoped the move to LA would bring more interesting work. Just as I was starting to question my decision to move it happened: I got a call from Adidas. They found me through an agency I had previously worked with. The project was amazing-a national campaign for Adidas Originals. It was a highly disruptive concept that involved east coast and west coast street artists painting a pair of giant Stan Smiths. Each one was the size of a car and was build on wheels. My job was to shoot the artists at work, and then document them as they pushed their giant shoes towards each other on the Venice Boardwalk. East meets West. The resulting images were made into point of sale posters in every Adidas Originals store across the country as well as a web site takeover. This shoot elevated my career and opened up a whole new market of name brand clients.
David, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I have been obsessed with photography since I was 4 years old. I thought it was magic when my father would return from the drugstore with an envelope full of pictures. They saw my interest and gave me a simple camera loaded with black and white film. I used it to take pictures of my neighborhood friends. As my journey continued I acquired better gear and learned to develop pictures in the darkroom. Along the way I was fortunate to have crossed paths with some of the most coveted creatives of our time. Eventually, I had found a niche creating marketing photography for technology companies including Apple Computer and fashion companies including Gap and Adidas. I followed my passion from San Francisco to Los Angeles, then New York and Miami, where I currently reside. I am known in my industry as a master of lighting, an empathetic director and a calm professional on set. My work involves extensive travel at times and I have been published in Italian Vogue, French GQ.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
For much of my career, the driving motivator has been a combination of money and creativity. In all honesty, finding balance has been a challenge. As an artist/entrepreneur I have had to pay bills like all of us, and while I had a fortunate upbringing it was decidedly middle-class. I have, at times taken in-house positions for a steady paycheck. One notable employer was Amazon Fashion in Brooklyn. My learning in having worked in corporations is the incredible waste of resources, human and natural required for giant corporations to function. I recently made a decision to seek clients who share my interest in sustainability. I also allow myself time to create art. While I do sell some of my pieces, I make art for my favorite client: me.
Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
NFTs seemed like the “future of art” when they arrived. It turns out that was bullshit driven by blockchain bros and greed. I can’t think of a bigger hypocrisy in the arts (besides taped-up bananas) than art that can only be appreciated on a screen, locked away in code that uses tons of energy to produce. I feel a little bad for the suckers who bought them. I could be proven wrong eventually, but for now I’m only appreciating art in the 3rd dimension.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.davidcasteel.com
- Instagram: @davidcasteelpictures
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcasteel
Image Credits
All photos by David Casteel.