I wanted to try something different from the usual formulaic “link+commentary” blog posts, so I decided to conduct a blog interview with the mysterious urban explorer behind the Sleepy City photography project and website. I was very pleased with the insights the interview generated, and I’ll certainly be doing more of them. Enjoy!

Jean: First of all, it seems to me that there is a fair bit of creative urban documentary photography happening at the moment (e.g. Satan’s Laundromat) but what you’re doing is more unique. What inspired you?
Dsankter: Perhaps you should say uncommon – there are people world-wide documenting similar environments. Inspiration comes from everywhere, the more you observe the greater range of experiences and ideas you have at your disposal. It’s like a novelist trying to write without ever leaving their room. I guess thats all a bit vague, specifically I get inspired by discarded bits and pieces and the hidden places I never noticed.

Can you share some stories or anecdotes about how you accessed various locations and set up shots?
Boating is my favourite way. The boats are cheap, nasty and not puncture resistant. It’s dangerous because in the drains the tidal water rises fairly quickly and the implications of airspace running out are obvious. However if you time it right the tides carry you along nicely and you don’t have to paddle. It’s lots of fun, I just wouldn’t recommend it to anyone stupid enough to actually try it. Sometimes I wonder about the sanity of our little group!

Taking photos underground can be difficult because it’s confined, damp and dark. The setups vary as much as the shots themselves. The setup is different depending if you are painting with manual flashes, wireless flashes, torches, fireworks, natural light or any combination of the above. Sometimes you just aim and hope for the best.

I remember trying a fisheye shot from underneath a passing train. The tripod was flat on the ground wedged under the rails. The camera was pointed up at 45 degrees or so. From memory the exposure was about 25 seconds at F8. It was triggered via IR remote control. The noise of the train was deafening and we werent 100% sure the train would clear the camera. At the time the risk seemed worth taking. The camera was fine and the final shot came out okay. I’d love to try it again though.

How about the technical stuff – equipment, digital manipulation etc.?
Film! ISO 100 or slower for reduced grain. Digital is too expensive but if Canon offers me an eos 1ds then I’d jump in a minute 🙂 Honestly you could take any of my photos on a manual focus oldschool slr. That is the cheapest option, though it is nice to have AF when you’re shooting action and sports.

I love the wide perspective and it’s suited to the tight places but I shoot a little telephoto for variety (and to justify buying a long lens!). You need the option for the perspective that best suits your subject. A good tripod is your best friend. Independent leg adjustment and low angle options are things I couldn’t give up. The ability to mount the centre column horizontally has gotten me photos I would have missed. When I get the photos back I quickly forget the cost of camera gear 🙂

I keep digital manipulation to a minimum, being about to control everything at exposure is practically a science. I would love a full set of colour correction filters but at 77mm they get expensive quickly. I use tungsten film (64T) and gels to colour correct, but small colour adjustments are easier and quicker in photochop.

Can you tell us something about your professional background or life story?
I started taking photos mid 2002, it’s amazing how much information is on the internet at places like www.photo.net. They make it easy to find the answers to difficult questions. If the answers aren’t there then break it down to first principles. I’m not a professional photographer (I wish!) but I get enough sport photos published to cover film and processing thankfully.

Instead of a proper life story, I’ll say you never know where the things you do today might lead tomorrow. That first step into urban exploration has taken me to places I’d never guess. Screw thinking outside the square, I’ll be off looking in the corners for secret exits.

Do you see yourself as an artist, an explorer, a photographer, or perhaps a combination of all three?
It’s like the 3 magi in evangelion 🙂 Anyway, I don’t consider myself as an artist – my camera is a way of documenting what’s around me. To me the artist label has the wank factor and the ‘artistic interpretation’ attached. Obviously a stereotype, but one I don’t really need to explain. I don’t see myself as creating art, I feel like I’m shooting the story of my life. The places I go and the people I’m with. The explorer label fits more easily. I think the more soot, dirt, bruises and cuts you have when arriving home the more fun you had. I take photos, so photographer fits also.

What do you think of Brisbane’s transformation since the late 80s/early 90s into this gleaming postmodern/creative city?
I was born in the 80’s so I won’t comment on the earlier periods I know little about! However even in recent years you can see how much Brisbane has been pillaged. Massive amounts of historical real-estate has been converted or demolished to make way for apartments. Even heritage listings are not safe, the old Newstead gas works is on the chopping block for development.

Still the changes to brisbane are making it more livable, less of an eyesore (to most people) and probably more attractive to tourist dollars. There’s nothing to gain by thinking of what’s gone, but I still cringe when I see the ‘renovated’ CSR sugar building (.pdf) at Newstead. Next up is probably the Tennyson Power Station. […] Ultimately it’s for the greater good I guess, though its nice to entertain the selfish thoughts sometimes!

I love the little cracks of old that shine between the polished front of the city. The old gutters, manholes, lightposts and buildings are there, you just need to look a little harder.

Do you have any plans for your work beyond your (seemingly anonymous) website?
I would love to shoot commercial/industrial photos, something along the lines of Tom Paiva’s work or Bob Sacha’s. I’ve only just begun to consider shifting it from a hobby to a profession after the popularity of my site lately. Since metafilter picked it up the traffic has been amazing.

Would you like to see other people taking up the themes of “underground” explorative photography, or embarking on similar projects?
The loneliness and quietness of the underground appeals to me. It’s a temporary sanctuary from the advertising, pace and problems in the world above. I sincerely hope that the underground never becomes popular and exploited. As time passes the mainstream absorbs the more obscure hobbies and the greedy chase minds and dollars. I hope the underground can avoid this and remain a little haven for those lost souls who find their way downwards. No doubt that sounds terribly elitist, but we are very attached to the places we visit. Noone wants to see them trashed, locked up and demolished.