Nope Fun: Tim Mahoney

Tim Mahoney

Lives in Los Angeles, California. Studies in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 1993.

q: You’re currently pursuing your BFA in photography at Maryland Institute College of Art, how has that helped you as a photographer?
a: So far at MICA one of the most influential things has been the people. Being surrounded by such a talented group of new people has allowed me to build on ideas and concepts I pick up from classmates and teachers. As a freshman in a foundation year program, I’m taking classes in painting and drawing I never really thought I’d take. It’s definitely beneficial to have an overall understanding of some of the core concepts of visual art because everything is built on each other and vastly intertwined — like learning structural forms in drawing and color theory in painting. It all melts together to give you the most knowledge possible and you can therefore do what you want with it.

q: What do you want to show through your pictures?
a: I’m most interested in people’s reaction to space and place. The majority of my work is based around the concept of the portrait and what it means to take somebody’s photograph. Everyone responds to the camera in a different way. In my most recent series “how to live forever”, I documented the transitional summer from high school to college. I wanted to capture my subjects’ raw emotional response to such a pivotal time and interaction with their environment.

q: Favorite artist or photographers at the moment?
a: I’ve been super into Dana Lauren Goldstein, Joe Skilton, Daniel Shea. Also Mark Peckmezian has a super unique style. I dig it.

q: Any new music to recommend?
a: Listen to my friend Kimi’s band Wifebeater!
They’re awesome. Future Islands just came out with a new album. You should buy it. Other than that, Which Magic and Two Bicycles are fun.