Chase Castor

Kansas City, MO, USA

Who are you?

I'm a thirty year old male from the Midwest, USA. I grew up in a small rural town in southern Missouri. I make pictures for a living.

What do you want?

I want to find a way to make a life making pictures. There seems to be something off balance right now where I fluctuate between inspiration and burnout.

Why photography?

I don't know, I've never felt like I have a "good" answer to this question. It's a thing that's piecing itself together over time. Right now, I'd say that I was drawn to it because I needed something very literal to make something that could be detached from what it literally is while still being meaningful.

What gear do you use?

I have too many cameras. A bunch of 35mm and medium format film things. My main "work" camera is a Canon DSLR. I think my favorite camera is the Ricoh GR. I can always have it with me, it's wide, and it doesn't get in the way of shooting.

Any interests, hobbies, or passions outside of photography?

Rock climbing. It's this incredible tunnel vision activity for me. There's no room to focus on anything but staying on the wall.

Music, movies, books, TV, games. What are some of your favorites? Any recommendations?

Alex Webb's La Calle photobook on Mexico.

Steinbeck's East of Eden.

Robert Frank's photobook Paris.

Who or what is inspiring you?

I’m inspired by other’s work, it doesn’t even have to be in the same category as mine. Seeing good work makes me want to make pictures.

What's your funniest or most embarrassing story?

I sold a self portrait as a stock photograph once. It ended up on an article about erectile dysfunction. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Got any words of wisdom or a favorite quote?

Take a camera everywhere. Shoot a bunch and don’t second guess it, every time you release the shutter you learn something.

Any other photographers you think people should check out?

Ashlin Wang — IG: @wajigang

Joseph Rushmore — IG: @no_jackson

Stacy Kranitz — IG: @stacykranitz

Vincent Tullo — IG: @vincenttullo

What do you wish someone would ask you?

Is done better than perfect or perfect better than done?

What’s the answer to that question?

I’m a done is better than perfect person.

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Chase Castor

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