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| COURTESY CANON |
We're used to watching Norman Reedus flex his crossbow skills as Daryl Dixon on The Walking Dead. But the actor—who you might also recognize from cult film Boondock Saints—isn't always shooting down the undead. He's also an avid photographer: Earlier this month, he hosted Canon's City Senses interactive gallery in NYC, where he and two other photographers showcased images inspired by the smells and sounds of Coney Island. We took a few minutes to pick his brain (yeah, sorry) about life in rural Georgia, his most recent show with Canon, and why roadkill reminds of him zombies…
How did Coney Island inspire your photos for the Canon exhibit?
I think "Coney Island," and I think freak shows and the food and the sounds. I tried to evoke feelings of memories that I had of Coney Island, rather than just documenting Coney Island. I had one very peaceful shot that sort of reminded me of getting to the very top of the Cyclone: everything goes peaceful before you plummet to the ground.
I think "Coney Island," and I think freak shows and the food and the sounds. I tried to evoke feelings of memories that I had of Coney Island, rather than just documenting Coney Island. I had one very peaceful shot that sort of reminded me of getting to the very top of the Cyclone: everything goes peaceful before you plummet to the ground.
The Walking Dead films in Georgia. How have you liked living there?
It's beautiful. I love it there. It's a different lifestyle; it's slow-paced, and it's very friendly. I live in this town called Palmetto—our set's about one and a half hours south of Atlanta, and I went even further into the woods. It's a very eco-friendly sort of village, and I see the stable across from my kitchen sink.
It's beautiful. I love it there. It's a different lifestyle; it's slow-paced, and it's very friendly. I live in this town called Palmetto—our set's about one and a half hours south of Atlanta, and I went even further into the woods. It's a very eco-friendly sort of village, and I see the stable across from my kitchen sink.
Your time on the show also inspired a roadkill photography exhibit.
That was a show I did in Times Square. It all went to charity for Oxfam. They wanted behind-the-scenes photos in Georgia… I'm constantly going through back roads, and I see so much roadkill on the way. The death and gore, it all just blended into one. I was doing a lot of interviews [at the time] about zombies and about how they make them so scary. I was saying it's not really the monster makeup, it's the way you see the lost, dying sick person behind the monster. That was sort of the theme in my mind; when they asked me about doing the show, I saw it in the roadkill. It was someone's pet—the fear in that animal before they were squashed by someone's car.
That was a show I did in Times Square. It all went to charity for Oxfam. They wanted behind-the-scenes photos in Georgia… I'm constantly going through back roads, and I see so much roadkill on the way. The death and gore, it all just blended into one. I was doing a lot of interviews [at the time] about zombies and about how they make them so scary. I was saying it's not really the monster makeup, it's the way you see the lost, dying sick person behind the monster. That was sort of the theme in my mind; when they asked me about doing the show, I saw it in the roadkill. It was someone's pet—the fear in that animal before they were squashed by someone's car.
What advice would you give aspiring photographers?
I remember trying to learn to play bass guitar. A friend of mine says, "Pick the guitar you want to hold the most; that's what you'll play the most." It's the same with cameras. Whatever one feels best in your hand, that's the one you should travel with. If you have something in your hand that you like to take with you, you'll shoot it. That's really the trick.
I remember trying to learn to play bass guitar. A friend of mine says, "Pick the guitar you want to hold the most; that's what you'll play the most." It's the same with cameras. Whatever one feels best in your hand, that's the one you should travel with. If you have something in your hand that you like to take with you, you'll shoot it. That's really the trick.
Where are you off to next?
I'm headed to Tokyo, and I'll probably spend Christmas there. It's a press trip that I'm sort of extending. I'll go down to Kyoto. I've been all over Japan, I love it there. Tokyo makes Manhattan look like Provo, Utah.
I'm headed to Tokyo, and I'll probably spend Christmas there. It's a press trip that I'm sort of extending. I'll go down to Kyoto. I've been all over Japan, I love it there. Tokyo makes Manhattan look like Provo, Utah.
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| COURTESY CANON |
What's the reaction to the show like overseas?
It's crazy. It's become a huge show all over the world. There were people who met us at the airport just to say goodbye; they broke through security and made it all the way to the metal detectors. I think the show started off as sort of this heavy breathing with heart thumping, and then it went to this exhale. Now it's back to the original, sort of terrifying—I'm very excited to have people watch [this season].
Can you tell us anything about this season?
No, I think AMC is tracking me from space, they'd get me through a satellite or something.
No, I think AMC is tracking me from space, they'd get me through a satellite or something.
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| COURTESY CANON |
Do you go for the window seat or the aisle?
Window guy. I like to zone out on a plane. I'm not really a get-up-and-go-to-the-bathroom guy.
Window guy. I like to zone out on a plane. I'm not really a get-up-and-go-to-the-bathroom guy.
What's one travel rule you wish everyone would follow?
No loud conversations on loud flights. I sometimes sit next to someone, and it's like they've never had human communication before. I don't even mind babies [crying]; it's that one guy who talks really loudly on the phone the minute you land, and the minute you take off he's talking to whoever he can.
No loud conversations on loud flights. I sometimes sit next to someone, and it's like they've never had human communication before. I don't even mind babies [crying]; it's that one guy who talks really loudly on the phone the minute you land, and the minute you take off he's talking to whoever he can.
Are you recognized now when you travel?
I was on a plane the other day, and I sat down in my seat, people are filing on, and I have a baseball hat on. I lean down, and I'm texting, and someone stuck a camera an inch from my face and snapped a photo directly in my eyes. I look up and he gives me a thumbs up, "big fan, big fan!" I'm like, are you kidding me? The plane takes off, and we get up to Wi-Fi level, and I open up my computer, and someone sends me a photo of the back of my head from the plane I'm on. I look over to the girl sitting behind me and say, "Nice picture." She says, "Sorry, can I get a better one?"
I was on a plane the other day, and I sat down in my seat, people are filing on, and I have a baseball hat on. I lean down, and I'm texting, and someone stuck a camera an inch from my face and snapped a photo directly in my eyes. I look up and he gives me a thumbs up, "big fan, big fan!" I'm like, are you kidding me? The plane takes off, and we get up to Wi-Fi level, and I open up my computer, and someone sends me a photo of the back of my head from the plane I'm on. I look over to the girl sitting behind me and say, "Nice picture." She says, "Sorry, can I get a better one?"
What's the best food you never thought you'd eat?
I've had snake in China on top of the Great Wall. I did a film there, and it was sort of about Eastern medicine and the different properties of food for medicinal purposes. They came out with whipped egg whites with baby scorpions, three frogs in a tripod formation that were bloated and white, and a snake with a head cut off with a cantaloupe. I went for that one—it was actually pretty good.
I've had snake in China on top of the Great Wall. I did a film there, and it was sort of about Eastern medicine and the different properties of food for medicinal purposes. They came out with whipped egg whites with baby scorpions, three frogs in a tripod formation that were bloated and white, and a snake with a head cut off with a cantaloupe. I went for that one—it was actually pretty good.
Did it taste like chicken?
Kind of chicken, but more chicken-y eel.
Kind of chicken, but more chicken-y eel.
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| COURTESY CANON |
Source: http://www.cntraveler.com
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