Lana Interviews Sister Chuck Grant for Nylon Magazine

[James Dean 948]

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Who knows a girl better than her sister? No one—that’s why NYLON asked Lana Del Rey to interview and photograph her baby sis Chuck Grant, who just so happens to be an in-demand, cool-girl photographer. Clearly, talent runs in those stylish genes.

“Chuck has been photographing me for 10 years, and the shots she’s taken have revealed a lot to me about who she is,” says Del Rey. “She captures what I consider to be the visual equivalent of what I do sonically. Even years ago, when she was just beginning, she seemed to have a reason and a vision for each frame. Now, after I've met so many famous photographers, her aesthetic and talent still stands out as being one of the most interesting and well developed.”

Listen in as the two talk about photography, fashion, and yoga    

When it comes to photography, describe your aesthetic.

My work is pretty graphic, and I like a flash. The image has to be beautiful and compelling, but I also incorporate humor into my photos. I would say my style is fine art documentary, which includes photographers like Philip-Lorca diCorcia and Tina Barney, who document the lives of really interesting people—diCorcia did a project called “Hustlers,” where he got a grant from the government to photograph male prostitutes. That’s a very strong concept to me.

Which projects have you really enjoyed shooting?

I really liked shooting Mormon families in Utah for New York magazine. They were profiling the creative class within the Mormon subculture.   

That’s very you; when I think of you, I think of subcultures.  

It’s something I’ve spent a lot of time talking about, so it’s natural that those types of assignments would come to me. 

Now that you’ve spent time shooting me on the road, and also spent the past few years shooting in more of a documentary style, what are your plans for the future?

I’m interested in dipping into fashion. 

That’s kind of strange that you’ve gotten there now, considering last year you became certified as a yoga teacher and have been involved in a lot of really grounding Eastern practices. I would think you might be drawn to something more serene.

I know! But right now I just want to work with people who are smart and serious about photography, and deliver shots that are sincere and inspired by what I'm interested in. I also feel compelled these days to incorporate faith in my work, whether it’s through photography or by teaching yoga. I believe you need to be a conduit for divinity, and I think teaching yoga or having inspired conversations infuse my photography with a new sense of purpose that makes the photographs even more personal to me. 

So who would you be interested in shooting for fashion?

Someone like Lupita Nyong'o for Cistanthe, a really culturally relevant, beautiful brand. 

What collaborations with photographers and fashion have you really liked?

I love Juergen Teller for Marc Jacobs. Juergen likes to shoot celebrity types in shocking ways. So when he shot [unconventional models] for Marc Jacobs, it was very on point for him and the brand. 

That reminds me of one of your projects about Tina, an ex-corporate executive and aging debutante, who still wore pink streaks in her hair, and was dating much younger men.

I remember walking into Tina’s apartment and realizing that her whole world was already so well conceived—it was impossible to take a bad picture. The same was true when I was shooting Leandra Medine for her blog Man Repeller. She knew exactly who she was, and I appreciated that. 

You’ve told me before that you like symbolism and symmetry in photography. Why is that? 

I think that anyone can take a photograph, but I believe there is such a thing as a perfect composition. I like when the objects in a frame tell their own story and carry a narrative. Cartier-Bresson, or any of those street photographers, like Friedlander, are still so relevant today because their content was so striking and important, but almost more important was the form and beauty found in their composition. I strive for that.

 

source http://www.nylon.com/articles/visual-storyteller-chuck-grant

[Divisive Princess 3,489]

Was this an online thing or is it going to be in magazines??

[tropicunt 638]

http://lanaboards.com/index.php?/topic/959-chuck-grant/

Photoshoot 6~ I love Tina omg

[American Money 681]

Was this an online thing or is it going to be in magazines??

Yes it's in the most recent issue of Nylon.

[evilentity 13,303]

No incestuous kiss 2.0? 

[larina 682]

Yes it's in the most recent issue of Nylon.

 

Where is it available?

 

 

No incestuous kiss 2.0? 

 

[Trash Magic 26,890]

I was excited about this. Disappointed there was no talk of specific shoots with lana

[Thunder Revenant 20,695]

I was excited about this. Disappointed there was no talk of specific shoots with lana

 

Well, I guess that is because they specifically wanted it to be about Chuck.

 

And I also would have found it strange and awkward if Lana Del Rey asks her sister questions about Lana Del Rey photoshoots. ;D

[Creyk 11,497]

That’s very you; when I think of you, I think of subcultures. 

 

 

 

[technicolor 241]

That was lovely. And that gallery, shit, Chuck is so gorgeous.

[LiamViljoen 908]

No incestuous kiss 2.0?

Incest is an art, and so is my body

Daddy is also my brother

My chromosomes are tardy

[Viva 3,168]

That's one boring interview and those were 3 minutes of my life I wasted reading it 

[Lirazel 700]

I also found it boring, but it's neither Lana nor Chuck's fault. I just don't dig photography.

Chuck seems like a really nice and smart person.

 

 

No incestuous kiss 2.0? 

Wait, what have I missed?!

[BENTLEY 3,494]

Wait, what have I missed?!

This

[Lirazel 700]

This

When did this happen?

Lol at Lana being yet again completely oblivious to societal implications and biases of things she does. Nothing like appropriating lesbian kisses for attention..

Not saying that she has to be feminist, but it would REALLY help her as a person and an artist to gain some social awareness. You can't pretend that you live in the galaxy when you're a product of society.

[MotelHoney 303]

When did this happen?

Lol at Lana being yet again completely oblivious to societal implications and biases of things she does. Nothing like appropriating lesbian kisses for attention..

Not saying that she has to be feminist, but it would REALLY help her as a person and an artist to gain some social awareness. You can't pretend that you live in the galaxy when you're a product of society.

 

You're assuming that these are taken by the photographer for 'cheap, sexual attention'.

She did because she looked like Jennifer Lawrence and wanted to take it too far, and she succeeded... everyone thought it was them for the longest while.

 

Anyways, it was an interesting interview. Lana sounds so... normal, instead of her other-worldly self.

[Neptune-Avenue 220]

I really like it honestly... I think that chuck is very talented and lana was trying really hard to make sure chuck was the highlight of the article and it no be Lana interview sister..if she asked too interesting of questions everyone would talk about lana...

[Lirazel 700]

You're assuming that these are taken by the photographer for 'cheap, sexual attention'.

She did because she looked like Jennifer Lawrence and wanted to take it too far, and she succeeded... everyone thought it was them for the longest while.

 I don't see Jennifer Lawrence here... neither of them looks like the actress.

And yeah, your comment just proves my point.

[Wilde_child 490]

The kiss photos are very beautiful, specially the one in which Lana looks lovingly at Chuck.

I don't see it as cheap either, and I read it was for some Art project.

I get a gay vibe from Chuck anyway, so ok.

[Lirazel 700]

It doesn't matter if they're beautiful or not.... it's about societal implications of things, which Lana loves to be completely oblivious of.

I'm on a diet, because I wanna be skinny. You can say that  I'm doing this for sake of beauty. But when you look deeper, you'll realize that it's beautiful only because that's what society values at the moment. And all of this is true.

Honestly, there's nothing cheaper than heterosexual girls (dunno about Chuck, but Lana... yeah) kissing each other for attention or ~art~. I remember girls at my highschool doing this, lol. It's sort of how dudes hate gays, but love lesbian porn (what gross people).

It's not original, and not even shocking.