Introduce yourself..
Casey Doran, type one diabetic artist from Hell
Where are you from?
Canton, GA
How old are you?
Just hit that THIRTY
What got you into photography?
I started filming skateboarding as a really young teenager in the early-mid 2000s after my mom won a VHS-C camera at the drugstore. It was with my best friend Danny and this random redneck from the neighborhood. I did that on and off for years, then I started shooting music videos with a DSLR. I had this random thought that I should be shooting stills too and I was going out with my friend Brandon shooting photos a lot and he did work that was inspiring to me at that time. I don’t remember what made me switch from digital to film but I started using point and shoots when I went on a trip out west to shoot photos of my friends with loaves of bread in intense locations or situations. I still basically only use point and shoots still now (lol). I remember watching Fred Phelps being an asshole when I first got the internet in high school and didn’t know where to direct the feelings I got from that, so I think that's when I started wanting to troll right wing ideology through imagery. The props I use are basically catalysts for religious icons or what people in AA would use as a symbol of faith if they weren't religious. It's shit like that that inspires me to go as hard as possible.
What's your camera set up?
I have a new mirrorless that I've been shooting with but I use the point and shoot Olympus for most of everything. Starting to like the digital a lot again. For video, I have a bunch of mini-dv cameras and VHS cameras that barely work. I have two DVX100s that I think barely work, if at all.
How does living where you live affect your work and how you look at things?
I see a lot of the right wing shit around Cherokee county that I like exploiting and documenting, and occasionally laugh at. I see people's ignorance every day, and I want to troll right wing ideology. I’m not sure if being around the country inspired me to love adventuring out to remote spots, but I love finding weird shit in remote areas and in towns that are so remote, no ones ever really documented them. I started taking photos of people with fish to spoof the typical redneck holding up fish after they catch them. That shit is so funny. Atlanta has definitely inspired me because I love the scene here (for the most part) and working with the people there. It's a different experience every time and I love meeting and working with new artists I haven’t met yet. Also, I don't want to create a totally negative image of the south, but the negative aspects are usually what draws a stronger reaction from me.
How would you describe your style of photography and where do you draw inspiration from for your photography?
I don’t even know how I would describe my own shit because I’m not sure how self aware I am. I think of something or the people I’m shooting with think of something and we attempt it. I’m more inspired by reading people's writing rather than anything visual. It’s easier to visualize a story or concept that way. I try to manipulate something that's already going on to make it a different scene, or coming up with a joke theory like the sun being flat or diabetes being a hoax to sell insulin and shit like that. That kind of sarcasm really inspires me, and it's interesting to explore why people think these things are correct in the first place. It aligns with real things people say that read as satire like anything the Westboro Baptist Church or any kind of group like that says. I’m open to studying any kind of niche belief like that, no matter how implausible it seems, and that inspires me to create images.
You seem to incorporate a lot of dark tones and grunge like subjects tell me what draws you to shoot the style of people you shoot.
Those subjects are the one that speaks the loudest to people, to know you're not alone in struggles a lot of people don’t talk about. I think that's what inspires people the most is digging into deeper thoughts or subjects people don’t bring up. A lot of people are uncomfortable with their body, so seeing my 300+ lb ass naked on the internet might do something for people, like making them feel more comfortable in some way, but I’m not really sure what it actually does. That probably sounds crazy to some people. Even subjects like FOMO are interesting to cover. Are you going to the event because you want to, or because you’re afraid you’re going to miss something? Also, Don’t be afraid to be political because that's generally what’s important. Use your camera like a WEAPON!
What's the key to capturing people in a raw and vulnerable state I notice you capture lots of intimate moments.
I'm not sure. Some of the things I try to set up are just dangerous enough to appear raw. I don’t really know how to answer this one! If you're shooting something and being yourself and not trying to force anything, then it's raw.
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Do you feel like it’s hard to find originality with shooting photos sometimes because in a sense everything’s been done or do you not believe in that phrase?
Everyone's experience and expression of common ideas can still be different, I suppose. Everything technically has been done but you can always tweak a concept. Even when you think outside the box, or try to, there has to be another version of that somewhere. I haven’t seen anyone pose with a toilet in the middle of the highway, so I'm doing that. This sounds ridiculous but I think things like that open people’s minds to unexplored imagery and this can lead to inspiring others. I mean if you watch my movie, it comes off as a complete rip-off of Gummo. I even use one of the same actors. People draw inspiration and it's just whether or not you’re just straight ripping someone and making money off of it and damaging them. I guess everyone can be a little corny sometimes.
How important do you feel college is for people who want to be photographers or let alone people in the field of art?
I think creativity comes from inside and you generally can’t teach that. I’m not gonna knock college for anyone that gets something from it and is able to do it. I dropped out of tech school after one semester because my whole body would shake every time I talked in front of a group of people (lol). They also told me I couldn’t study “rhetoric” as a major, and that was funny, but I get it now.
Do you make money off photography and if so who have you worked for?
Yeah, if someone hits me up with a job or some paid work, I’m usually going to do it but I don’t reach out all the time or seek out work very much. I have a love/hate relationship with that. It’s easy to get taken advantage of so you really have to watch out.
Tell us your involvement in the music scene. I notice you do a lot of stuff with danger incorporated.
Musicians are just really fun to work with and are an important part of the community. All artists share a common goal and it's fun to work together on projects with them. I thought of this recently but in 10-20+ years, it will be interesting to look back at photos of active artists in specific time frames, especially now, because live music is basically at a halt because of COVID and we’ve unfortunately lost some of our beloved DIY venues. You can’t redo those moments and documenting them leaves a legacy. Shooting Irrelevant Fest for days straight or booking shows with Atlanta musicians has been some of my favorite times ever. Like i said earlier, for the most part, I really love this scene and can't wait to work with other artists in different ways for years to come.
Tell us about what @nomoresundays is?
It’s a collective my friends and I started a few years ago, but don’t do anything with anymore. We all still have the SUNDAY tats so its homies for life either way.
What advice would you give to people wanting to get into photography?
Art is fun and necessary for some people. I guess you have to analyze whether you’re looking for a career, doing it for superficial reasons, or you actually really love it. I'm going to focus on doing it because you love it for this answer. There's already so many people doing it, you have to be fearless and not afraid to drop shit. If you show people your soul, people will respond and feel it. No one cares who you were around for ten seconds and got a paparazzi photo of. That's corny as hell and bears no artistry. Overall, don't do it just to impress people, and be yourself.
Do you think that the way you're perceived online is similar to how you really are in person?
Most likely no for me and everyone. Everyone hides or exaggerates parts of themselves and miscommunication is basically like water.
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