Up close with Kyle Stone

Posted Dec 10, 2009 by Angus Shafer

Updated Dec 10, 2009 at 08:26 AM

Kyle Stone is showing some new work in the artist window at Urban Outfitters this month. Below are some photos from his installation along with some words about his work.

Window Overview

TART: Introduce yourself and your art

KS: I was born in the small town of Bristol, Connecticut in 1975, and in 1980 my family moved down south to the small town of Valrico, Florida, this is when the Tampa Bay area became my adopted home. Art was always around, in my life. My father was a sign painter and worked with wood, making both signs and small pieces of furniture, shelves, things like that. Skateboarding was later added into my influences and photography seemed to somehow come easy for me. Yet photography isn’t the only form of art I do. I also draw and write.
My life behind the camera spans about seventeen years and I’ve always maintained a steady, solid foundation in my body of work. I love playing with different and weird angles when I shoot urban landscapes and skate photos especially. I just do my own thing.

TART: Is all your photo work based around Tampa?

KS: No, not all my work is based in Tampa. I guess it seems most of it is just because of the fact it’s my [adopted] home city. I really just always dug urban/city life. A lot of it stems from also being a skateboarder and cruising the city streets of downtown. I would wander off solo and find some dead end alleyway, burned out building with an eroding fire escape, just stuff like that. Old brick buildings - most of Tampa’s past history that’s unfortunately being destroyed. I have been shooting around Tampa and Ybor City since 1993, but I have also lived in other cities and have my journeys. The list includes San Diego, New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Ohio, Orlando, there’s been other places and there will be more. Outside of shooting urban landscapes, throughout the travels I’ve started shooting a bit more out in the country, small towns, etc. other than that, I also shoot skate [boarding] photos and concerts.

Custom picture frames

TART: Can you explain your work process?

KS: As for my processes of how I work, I guess it depends on my subject matter and whether I’m shooting film or digital. When I go out shooting landscapes I usually tend to just park my truck, carry my camera gear, and just wander around a city or where ever I may be. I don’t really worry too much about who’s around. I’ve been known to climb fire escapes, get onto rooftops, hop fences, walk around inside burned out old buildings, etc.
However, when it comes to shooting skate photos or concert photos then I stay more aware of my surroundings and who’s around me. I mean I do pay attention as well when wandering a city. It’s just, I’m off in my own little photo world in a city a lot easier.
Unfortunately I don’t shoot too much film anymore, and I do miss it. Mainly due to the cost of developing these days and I don’t have darkroom access anymore. When I shoot with digital, I use full manual modes. I try to keep it as original, raw and pure, old school as possible. Using natural lighting and exposure, I also don’t usually do too much Photoshop work either. I will do adjustments on contrast, exposure, brightness, minor tweaks like that. Even in a darkroom a photographer does their own technique of some form of editing. Burning and dodging. I like to keep it simple.

A run of t-shirts Kyle has made

TART: What drives your work?

TART: Art and life. Music, skateboarding, books, films, and a lot of my friends here in Tampa who are amazing artists. Such as Anthony Zollo, Adriana Tomassi, Chris Hull, Zach DeSpiegler, Eyeznpowa, and of course there are others.

Check out more of Kyles work: