David Drebin Talks 'Smoke & Mirrors'

by Cuba Charles
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13 Jun, 2017
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Text By Cuba Charles

Arts | Culture | Interview

New York based photographer David Drebin is celebrated for his cinematic storytelling photography that feature dangerous beauties or “Femme Fatales” in dreamlike or fantasized settings. Sometimes described as epic, dreamy, smart and sexy, his
visualized phantasies always trigger the viewers imaginations. His dramatic and almost surreal “Dreamscapes” of cities and landscapes take us to faraway places, often speaking to the viewer’s own imagination, emotions and thoughts. Through
David’s lens, we experience the charming boulevards of Paris, New York City’s impressive cityscapes, the stunning beaches of the Amalfi Coast, daydreaming in LA, and the bustling energy of downtown San Francisco.

Drebin’s images have been compared to the likes of Helmut Newton, Paolo Roversi and Peter Lindbergh, known for working with famous models often pointedly highlighting the primary features of female sexuality. David’s depiction of the female body
is more reticent, melancholier and more stylized, leaving his “muses” somewhat anonymous to keep the mystery of a woman alive. The women in his images live in high rise luxury, toy with their friends, run off to secret hideaways, conquer photo
booths, escape with a bundle of balloons, or kiss their lover in a taxi, amidst the evening rush hour.

Before his next solo show „Smoke & Mirrors“ will open on June 29th at the Hamburg-based gallery Only Art Club, we got a chance to speak to him about what his inspirations, on what´s driving him and what else is on his artsy menu:

ROUGH UK: Could you tell us about your first experience with photography? How did your love for the craft begin?

DAVID DREBIN: My mom was a photographer and growing up, she always photographed me and my sister and everyone else she knew. The last thing I ever wanted to do in life was to become a photographer. I didn't choose it; it chose me. When I was 24, I had a cathartic moment when I realized making photographs was magical…and I was hooked. I was trained at Parsons School of Design in NYC with traditional film and darkroom techniques. The discovery of the magic of photography started the moment I used to print my own photographs.

ROUGH UK: Your work is quite diverse, how do you pick your subject matter and what inspired you to create your signature style?

DD: I feel it. I don't overthink it too much. Recognizable style is what makes people stand apart. With signature lighting techniques and a unique understanding of lightness and darkness in everyday emotions, this combination of feelings and magic translates into the creation of making imagery that tells a story, your story.

ROUGH UK: How would you describe your images and where did have you traveled to photograph these pieces?

DD: I let the viewer describe how the images make them feel. I rarely describe my own work as would rather leave it to the viewers imagination and own experiences. I don’t tell people how they should feel or at least I try not to even when I know, and they know, I know:)
I have travelled millions of miles around the world 🌎 multiple times, chasing paradise and the most epic or magical landscapes and cityscapes, transforming them into perfect “dreamscapes.”

ROUGH UK: What/who inspires you?

DD: Freedom and creativity and my own imagination that is so demanding it can be exhausting catering to it.

ROUGH UK: Most interesting place you’ve ever visited?

DD: It’s never the places...but rather always the faces in the places .

ROUGH UK: Your career began as a commercial photographer. What made you make the switch from a “service” to a “product” in the art world?

DD: I was tired of waiting for the phone to ring to be hired for someone else's vision so I created a brand and products and my own world. I built a global team that support the vision while I support theirs. Creating the future instead of waiting for it was one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made. And it’s been a team effort worldwide as there is no "I" in team:)