Interview: COREY WEINER

I am interested in many types of photography and as I went surfing photographer websites I ran into Redsquare Photo . Corey Weiner has one of the most beautiful portfolios of work I have seen. It doesn’t hurt that he’s working in some of the most scenic mixes of natural splendor and beautiful designs on the planet.

How did you get into photography? “My father was a talented amateur photographer and his images were probably my first influence. Then, I was the photographer for my high school newspaper. Later on, when my 8-year advertising career was burning me out, I was looking for a way to make a living when an interior designer saw some snapshots of mine and suggested I do architectural photography professionally.”

Do you remember the first set of photos you felt satisfied with? “One of my earlier shots that I am still very proud of is the black and white of the Manhattan skyline during a rainy day (in the Institutional section of my website). I was on a tour of Rockefeller Center and while on the roof, it started to rain. I just took a few snapshots with my Nikon F3 which had cheap drugstore b/w film in it. When I got the shots developed, I was stunned at the beauty of the city on such a wet, ugly day.

Do you have an area of specialization? “Architecture, interiors and other inanimate objects.”

What kinds of subject matter do you prefer? “Anything that doesn’t move, show up late or have an attitude.”

What will be your next project? “Over the next month, I am scheduled to shoot custom homes in Ft. Meyers, Florida, window coverings in Miami, a resort in Barbados and a bakery in Delray Beach, Florida.”

Do you ever use exotic materials or techniques? “Not really. I like selective focus and vignetting but otherwise, I am fairly traditional.”

What kind of equipment do you prefer? “Right now I am shooting with a PhaseOne P20 digital back mounted on a Silvestri Bicam. I also use a Canon 1Ds. But, I do miss my Hasselblad equipment from my film days. Digital has changed the way I choose equipment and manufacturers have yet to make the perfect solution for architectural photographers.”

What are your sources of inspiration? “Beautiful, tasteful and thoughtful design. There is not much of that in my home base of South Florida. Luckily, I get to spend a few months of every year in Europe and they are still the best designers in the world. The Italians, Germans and Belgians are my favorites. While we Americans use intrusive marketing to tell everyone how great our products are, the Europeans just design things that make you fall in love.”

What photographers do you admire? “Todd Eberle and Simon Watson and Margaret Bourke White . “

What was the toughest subject or shoot you’ve encountered? “I can’t remember many tough shoots but when the design is uninspiring or just plain tasteless, it usually takes me a few hours (and a few beers) to get over it.”

What are your interests and dislikes in photography? “Things I don’t like in my job are dealing with airports and the incredible pace at which my equipment becomes obsolete. Another distressing thing is the decline in the quality and thoughtfulness of American architecture. I blame our culture for not demanding interesting hallways, beautiful ceilings and gardens. Instead, all we want is frilly “curb appeal” and zero lot lines with massive square footage to impress our friends and ourselves. This is our culture from Miami to Malibu. The other day, I shot a $19 million spec home where doorways and balconies were not properly aligned with each other. How much should someone have to pay for accuracy? The Romans were able to design roads, buildings and entrances that were perfectly aligned within millimeters of the sun’s path and they didn’t have a computer to help them.”

“The most interesting aspect of photography is that each day brings a new project, challenge and creative solution. It is great exercise for the right brain. I also like the great technological advances that allow me to work from my home in Florida and then fly thousands of miles away while seamlessly providing images to clients. I have always loved travel and while I was shooting a temple on the island of Bali, I couldn’t believe that someone had paid me to go there. I’ve been shooting professionally for over seven years and it is still the best job I have ever had.”

Thankyou Corey. Besides the incredible images, your responses are interesting and informative.

Daniel Ferris