Text and Images by Lanna Apisukh

Interview by Ora Heard

How did your project Freshman come to be?

Prior to the pandemic, I was making portraits with youth at the skatepark and all around the city. I connected with Atticus Stannard in late 2018, the subject of Freshman through his friends I was photographing for another project. They all went to a specialized high school in Manhattan which prepares students for careers in fashion and design. He was only fifteen at the time but he had big aspirations of becoming a designer.

It was exciting to see a young person with such great enthusiasm for creating streetwear looks, photography and skateboarding. I was also fascinated with his ability to adapt to city life so effortlessly coming from the desert. (He had just moved from Arizona to New York City with his mother in 2018). As our friendship grew closer, I began documenting Atticus on a weekly basis for about a year. My camera followed him to the skatepark, around his Chinatown neighborhood and into his home as he navigated the city as a free and young adult.

Curiosity about his former suburban life led me to travel to Phoenix, Arizona the summer of 2019 where I photographed him in the suburbs with his older brother, skateboarding, swimming and being back home with family and friends. It reminded me of being young again and I wanted to chronicle as much of his life during this time of growth and change and in two very different environments.

Were there any challenges that came up while working on this project?

The pandemic really made it a challenge for us to photograph and stay connected. It was impossible to meet up in real life since we were quarantined and naturally the project lost momentum in 2020. But we did meet up a few times when the city began to open up more. We didn’t even shoot that much, it was just neat to see him again, like an old family member.

It’s funny, during the pandemic he had grown a few inches and a mustache and eventually graduated from high school. Covid really made the time fly! So I’m happy I was able to capture those moments of his life, when he was just entering high school and before the world turned upside down.

Describe your creative process in one word?

Explore.

What inspires you to pursue image-making?

I make images for so many reasons. It helps me remember things, it connects me with people and communities, it helps me communicate a feeling and explore the world. It feels very natural to photograph. I grew up around photography; my brother was our high school news photographer, my mom and dad documented our family all throughout our lives. It’s just what we do. Photography is life!

What was the last book you read or film you saw that inspired you?

I love Naomi Harris’ photobook Haddon Hall which highlights an aging community living in South Beach, Miami around the late 90s and early 2000s. The photographs are so fun and rich in color and life. Before learning of her work, I had been working on a project which centers around my parents who are also retired seniors living in Florida. So when I came across Naomi’s work, I knew I had to meet her – and fortunately I did! We connected at the ICP book fair where she was doing a book signing. She’s amazing and I love following her work.

What advice would you give to people just starting out in photography?

Just like anything else, practice practice practice. Experiment with different subjects, different cameras, different lighting. Shoot film. Study the work of other photographers. Explore what’s in your backyard. Eventually you’ll find your voice and style and what works for you.

What is your favorite podcast to listen to?

Gem Fletcher’s The Messy Truth. I’ve discovered so many great photographers and artists through her podcasts. The interviews are thoughtful and I always learn something new.

How do you take your coffee?

Piping hot. Splash of milk, pinch of sugar.

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