GAYLETTER

When did you come out? I was never in or out, I was always more on. On for anyone and anything peculiar and interesting. Starved for a circus. And if you use enough big hand gestures, you never really have to come out.

When did your attraction to Marines start? I have lived near the Intrepid forever, and year after year, spring came, another batch of buds on the trees, and lines of Soldiers in May for Fleet Week. This time I wanted to get involved.

How did you come up with the name for your show ‘Service’? It was simple and to the point, and this is the first part of a voluntary life sentence on the subject of ‘Service.’

What is it that intrigues you most about men in uniform? A uniform can be a miracle, although I never had a weakness for them particularly.

How did you find all these services members? During Fleet Week the service men outnumber cars, so it is not difficult.

Why did you choose to use a vintage Polaroid SX 70 camera to take these photos? To come up to a stranger with a big professional camera is more intimidating than coming up with a camera you wind up, that everyone sort of remembers their Dad had in the basement. It’s nonthreatening and intimate.

How do you choose your subjects? Everyone has one good side. It was democratic photography. Everyone participated. It wasn’t enough to find merely handsome soldiers on the street. I also had to locate a blank white wall, no more than a block from where the servicemen were so they wouldn’t run away. Well a few ran away.

Are the men you photographed comfortable having their photos taken? The thing I was most surprised about was how open the subjects were. I was just a stranger on a bike with a camera, asking to take their picture. And most were open. I have not had subjects look into the camera with such truth as these soldiers. Maybe they were so open because I was simply an anonymous guy off the street willing to listen.

The film you used for this series started to deteriorate days after you took the bulk of your photos, was that terrifying? After my five day photo shoot on the run through NY, and seeing my stack of developed portraits had all but vanished. Instead of crying about it I thought this is obviously part of the story. Everything is temporary, especially for these subjects. Actually, I was just relieved I scanned some of them. The surviving faces are what you see in this series.

Who’s are your favorite photographers? Christopher Makos, George Hurrell

You’ve published many books including Bloom (2005), Puppies Behind Bars (2006), Tyrants + Lederhosen (2010), and Tattoos, Hornets & Fire (2012). Are you going to turn this series into a book? Yes I am. Next year some time.

Would you rather have the power to fly or to be invisible, and why? No interest in being invisible because I would be afraid of an accident; hit by a car or the button you push to be seen gets stuck or something. The same with flying. I would have to really be assured of the wing quality. Are we assuming I’m born with these wings? Are they factory made? Or bespoke wings? If bespoke I want winglets. But, sure, I’ll give flying a try.

Paul Solberg‘s ‘Service’ is opening this Thursday, March 7th, 6-9pm at Casa de Costa, 11 Stone St, 6th Floor. NY, NY.