Entrevistas  /  Interviews

  PHOTOGRAPHER  PIET CORR

by Jose Carlos Neves

My main attraction to photography was because of it’s almost instant results, one of my first cameras was a Polaroid Land Camera.I loved this camera for it’s instant pictures however, the film was rather expensive plus the prints produced were rather small. I decided to purchase a 35mm SLR type camera, my first one was made in Russia, it was inexpensive compared to the Japanese and German cameras. The results were quite good and eventually after learning the basics my father purchased for me a Nikon,I then went on to use Medium Format cameras such as the Rollerflex and Hasselblad. My influences are rather varied but Diane Arbus,David Bailey,Terrance Donovan were my first real icons,however,I went on to discover Wee Gee,Cartier Bresson.I think Wee Gee is still my main influence today! My first job experience was as a photographic assistant,this was really what's known in the trade as a,’’Bag Carrier’’.Jobs like these gave me valuable experience in working practices,I also spent time in film processing,developing and printing film both for the amateur market as well as to professionals specifications.

-How you first become interested in comics? 

I first started reading comics at the age of 5,these were the British type like the Dandy & Beano,I read these until the age of 8.American comics like Superman,Batman,The Flash,Green Lantern,started to appear in our newsagents,after reading these I soon began to choose these over our British comics,feeling they were more exciting. 

-As a child, did you spend a lot of time indoors reading? 

Yes,I read a lot,mostly Science Fiction, this was presented in comics like the American,’’Strange Tales’’,comics.

-What was the first comic by Alan Moore did you read? 

The Birth Caul was my first Alan Moore  comic,although I’d previously read the,’’Voice of The Fire’’,given to be as a present by my good friend Tom Hall,he was a friend of Alan as well and he got Alan to dedicate and sign the book for me.Both The Birth Caul and Voice of the Fire impressed me,also both works being set in my home town of Northampton held a special place in my heart.I also quite like Alan’s Promethea as well.

-Did it had a special impact on you? Why? 

The impact on me was tremendous as some of the story in VOTF,centred around an Iron Age hill fort,’’Hunsbury Hill’’,right next to where I lived at the time.

-What is for you the best work had him done till now? Why? 

All the works I’ve read have been  magnificent,however, Voice of The Fire,in my opinion was the best as it centred around my home and local history.I was rather impressed with From Hell,I read it soon after Alan presented me with a copy,a truly brilliant work!

-What do you think about Big Numbers, if you have read the published two issues?

 I haven’t read Big Numbers as yet but Alan has discussed the Chaos Theory with me a number of times,I’ll no doubt get to read it one day.

-What do you think Alan would intended to convey with this verypromissefull story? (as you know, Big Numbers is for me his truest magnus-opus, and had reached already the status of a mythic work, the state-of-the-art comics,literature and culture concerning)  

 Alan is a true intellectual so he finds this easy to understand,my ordinary mind cannot grasp the complexities in such a work as Big Numbers.

-Do you agree with Chaos theory that our world (and the Universe as a whole by extension) is ruled by fractals, strange attractors and so on, where a little alteration on inicial conditions could cause big and imprevisible alterations on the final ones? Could a comicbook or, better saying, a graphic-novel, to comprise all this complexity of human existence, common life, the whole Universe and so on, as an unique, united system, as AM intended to do with Big Numbers? 

I neither agree or disagree with the Chaos Theory,as I’ve mentioned,my mere intellect isn’t sufficient for all this.Alan is the type of man who thinks nothing of reading publications such as the,’’New Scientist’’,magazine,I’m more interested in light and shade as well as form,then making photographs with these elements.

-Do you think someday Alan could change his mind and thinks about it again? 

 Anything is possible with Alan Moore,if Alan was to paint or draw again then I’m sure he’ll be successful.For instance,if Alan were to take up photography then I’m certain with his gargantuan talent he’d be world class in no time at all!

-Have you seen already the script for it, with that already mystical A-1 large sheet covered by 480 
little squares written and scribed and almost cryptographed and story-boarded by Alan?  

I’ve not seen this but I have looked at one or two of Alan’s scripts.

-We all know that you is a friend, neighbour and have had already some personal contact with Alan so,  please, tell us a little bit about it. How is he personally?  

 I sometimes see Alan every few weeks or so,sometimes it’s months before I either call on him or we meet in the town.Alan,being very busy isn’t able to see many people for long periods of time,however,I’ve spent some memorable hour with him,he’s most enlightening and of course most hospitable regarding myself.

- What was your motivations in photograph him? Do you think you have a, let’s say, "market"for these photos of him?

 I first photographed Alan in the mid 1990’s,just a couple of shots on a night out,I then asked if it would be possible to perhaps photograph him at home some time.A few years later I was working on a project involving portraits of people in my home town of Northampton,the subjects ranged from local dignitaries right through to street people.I suppose you could say it was a collection of portraits depicting the highest and lowest people in our town,the famous and infamous,Alan being both famous and infamous.I merely took them out of pleasure with no real commercial agenda,however,many people have expressed interest in the pictures of Alan Moore!

- When you talk to him, do you talk about comics and writing also? Has he revealed to you something about his new projects? 

When I’m in conversation with Alan the subjects are very varied,one of the subjects covered on my last visit was,’’reincarnation’’,UFO’s,’’parallel universe’’,etc.As you are aware these subjects have been covered in comic literature for many years.

-What are your concerns about Watchmen´s innovations ? 

As yet I haven’t read Watchmen but intend to read this and other AM works in the future .

                                            Very Good New Photo of Uncle Alan by Piet Corr

-And for From Hell, do you think it could be considered a history of the cradle to the 20th Century, with 
all it´s paranoia, conspirators and corruption?

 I’m not sure but it’s certainly an important work with it’s fine historical detail,a great deal of research was done for this work as is with all of AM’s creations.

-What are your impressions on Brought to Light and it´s denouncement´s tone on the illegal C.I.A. covert operations around the world? Do you think comics can be a political instrument, that it can reach and appeal to a large audience?

 Alan has discussed this subject a number of times,he’s obviously well informed in this subject as well as all the others he’s commented on.Drawing conclusion from this that comics can be a political instrument,yes certainly,as there are many examples to support this theory.One good example being the Kalashnikov rifle operating manual being illustrated with cartoon characters,so to teaching it’s use to a person either illiterate or with no knowledge of Russian.

-And AM´s debuting in mainstream literature,Voice of the Fire ( it has been just published here in 
Brazil, if you did not know) do you think it accomplished it´s intention, to tell the history of Magic, witchcraft, paganism and so on, through the history of Northampton? Do you think AM tried to self redeem since in the introduction for "V For Vendetta" he has almost demolished it as a city?

 I’m sure if it was Alan’s intention to tell the history of magic via Voice of the Fire,he’s at least partly succeeded,I personally think it was more about shamanism than the other branches of what people see as magic.I cannot comment on any redemption regarding ‘’V for Vendetta’’,as I haven’t as yet read the book.

- Do you have any new other project related to Alan ? 

Not at the moment,however,this may change in the near future,I hope to see him before I make my new home in Canada,this will be within a few weeks.

- What do you think about Magic and about Alan’s lyrics, CDs, The Birth Caul and Snakes and Ladders?

 I’m a believer in magic myself.Alan’s lyrics are in my opinion an extension of his literary works,as for The Birth Caul,  I strongly identify with the work.

-Movies and mainly music, can affect us deeply, rousing imprevisible emotions. So it is Poetry. They all can 
transcend it´s limitations as a genre. What about comics? Could it has this quality, also? Could you mention examples? Would AM be the pioneer and maybe the main representative of this wider scope of the genre, as a true art form? 

If anyone can make an art form from the comic medium,then it’ll be Alan Moore,he’s already transcended the boundaries,yes he’s a true pioneer!

- Returning to your photography, tell us a little bit about, them, their's motivation, generation, objectives and so on.  

One of the reasons I started what is known as street photography was to overcome personal limitations,a type of personal odyssey,even a catharsis.  Photography allows me to communicate with other people,often people considered outcasts from the system,by taking a persons photograph who otherwise would be overlooked or shunned,by this act I grant them dignity and of course a type of fame.

-What do you think is your best work till now and why?  

 I have many works that I’m kind of pleased with,I always find some fault in everything I produce,nothing is 100% satisfactory.Regarding my Alan pictures,one of the last ones I took,a close crop semi profile,this I rate as maybe 90%,I’ve yet to take a picture I consider to be without some fault.

- How is it different in do a , say, regular photo and a true piece of art as you do? Do you just make the photos, using a good camera or do you enhance them also, graphically speaking, using computer manipulation?  

I use conventional film cameras,a Medium Format 6x7 and 35mm SLR type cameras,well built good quality equipment,I’m not a fan of the,’’Auto everything’’,camera,I choose the F stops,set the shutter speed myself rather than a computer chip do it for me,however,I think auto focus cameras are useful in certain photographic scenarios.The type of subjects I photograph can be treated with more feeling using my equipment type and 
interactive methods.I use Photoshop but not for manipulation purposes,merely as an extension of a conventional darkroom as I still believe,’’Wet Process’’,has that special quality!

- Where or reader could see your amazing art? ( I mean, sites, magazines, journals and so on...)  

I’ve had a number of published photographs over the years.I prefer conventional exhibitions but have a collection on the web  ( http://www.photographic.de/pietdesnapp/ .I’ve exhibited in my home town Northampton,Home Counties and a few years ago a small showing in Amsterdam.

- Besides Alan, have you photographed also any other comic artist, actor, actress? 

Alan is the only well know person to have graced my lens so far,I am open to offer though!

.Well, Piet, it was good talking to you! Many thanks to sharing your precious time.