There are over 2,000 bridges that make
up the veins and arteries of New York City,
feeding people to and from the heart of the
city, but few are as formidable as the iconic
Brooklyn Bridge. It is in the shadow of this
mammoth land-tie that Darren Singer, learned
photographer and architectural life breather,
settles in to listen for the quiet articulation of
these well-worn structures, so that he may
capture their whispered stories on camera,
and show that these gentle giants are but only
appearing to sleep.
INSPADES caught up with Singer for an
inclusive interview to discuss the importance
of artistic education, how he has learned the
ability to wake these noble giants from their
supposed slumber and why he desires to
suffuse them with a spirit that is truly larger
than life.
Where did your path begin in the world
of photography?
I started drawing when I was pretty
young, and found that I could lose myself in
my craft. It was the one space I could find
quiet, where time stopped. My drawing and
painting background continues to inform and
inspire my aesthetic to this day. However, my
path to photography really started through
my fine arts background in drawing and
painting. I attended Tulane University for a
Fine Arts and Biology dual major, with the
original goal of pursuing medical illustration.
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However, in my second year, as part of my
studies I took a photography class which,
at the time, meant working with film, and a
large part of the experience was working in
the darkroom. I got "lost" in the darkroom,
spending hours on end, not having any idea
whether it was day or night, and not caring
either way! This was the beginning. My first
manual camera was a Nikon FE10 with a stock
35-70mm, and learning on a manual camera
with 24-36 exposures really allowed me to
gain an appreciation for, and the value of,
composing an image. You did not have the
luxury of having thousands of throwaway
shots like you do with digital cameras
nowadays. My photography style is deeply
rooted in the classical tradition of drawing.
The objective vision of balance and beauty
has been consistent throughout history, we
just apply our technology of the time.
How does your background in art play
a significant role in your current style of
photography?
I am of the strong belief that one must
have an intuitive understanding of strong
composition, and the elements of the art
- including value, form, pattern, rule of
thirds and positive/negative space - are the
foundation of the artisan for any medium. I
internalized the basic mechanics of creating a
strong, balanced image that is grounded in a
classical, timeless tradition. I like to challenge
myself in working with different media,