artiste d'mon >>> howard austin feld

digital master: HAF
the works of Howard Austin Feld
Interview by: silverio pantalla

"Miss H. "

What is the best thing about being Howard Austin Feld, the artist?
That I have total freedom to create my art using the female body as my inspiration. My work has become reconized through out the world as a different approach to creating images through a photographic and computer medium. I can shoot, color and print any image I want and sell it through my signature gallery. I do not have deadlines, art directors or clients that I had in my commercial studio. I can shoot anytime, anyplace, anybody... all at my discretion.

What made you decide to become the artist you are today?
I started as a fashion photographer of sort, shooting catalog fashion for major retailers. Catalog fashion is not as exciting as shooting for major designers so after 20 years I decided to go in another direction.

Digital Photography happened for me in 1995. Testing for a client in Miami and saving them over $800,000 per year in production cost I received a 3 year contract, bought $350,000 worth of equipment and went digital. After 1.5 years they went bankrupt and here I was with 350,000 worth of equipment and not many clients interested. So I started to shoot fashion digitally. Then started to change colors and add textures and print it on large canvas prints.

The fashion didn't work so I started to shoot nudes and then the art started to sell. So I opened a gallery in South Beach and that's were I am today.

"Nightlite"

Run by us a typical in your life?
I get up and my dog takes me for a walk. Check my email orders get dressed then go to my studio. I still have a large commercial studio that I still have to be at. After checking in with everyone I will go to my gallery. Spend sometime there and then go back to my house to shoot.

If I do not have a shoot then I will play tennis or golf. At night there is a large social scene in South Beach, which I will be a part of an occasion. I also do a lot of shows at the lounges or nightclubs, which keeps me pretty busy. No real pattern which makes life new and different each day.

Why digital photography?
Digital photography is so easy to work with, no polaroids, no waiting for film, no contact sheets, etc. As soon as I shoot an image I can see it in the computer. Change what I do not like. Retouch anything I do not like. Print it out and all in a matter of minutes. I have been shooting digital for 6 years now and to me FILM is a dirty FOUR letter word.

How is it like to be work with Playboy playmates?
I recently photographed the finalist for the Miss Playboy TV. There were 12 girls I photographed them in Miami and for one week in Acapulco, Mexico. They were collectively the best group of models I have ever worked with. Each one was great to shoot and to be around. No ego problems (which you would expect). Each girl was there to have fun and we had plenty of that.

Working with Playboy is non-stop fun. The girls were treated like rock stars everywhere we went; hundreds for people were lined up to photograph them. The funny thing about that shoot was that it was for network TV so they could not be nude. It was my most conservative shoot I have done and it was for Playboy! You can see the images at howardaustinfeld.com

"Amber 3"

What is your most important goal in life as a person and as an artist?
As a person it would have to be respected by others for being HAF the person, not the artist. As an artist, that I was one of the first ones to take a shot at digital images changing the way we do photography. I have not been in a darkroom in over 6 years. I have not used film in over 6 years. I print with inks instead of developer. I print on canvas instead of photographic paper. I have put that combination together and took a shot with my own gallery in South Beach FL.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet and why?
Richard Avedon. He was the fist photographer whose work inspired me. In the early 70s, my cousin, George Feld was Vice President for advertising for Revlon. I would go visit him in the General Motors Building in New York. Behind his desk were the Revlon ads for the month. I would just stare it them and finally asked it there was any money in shooting beautiful women. George laughed! About $5000 per ad! That was it, I now knew where I was going! Avedon was one of their photographers.

"Bubble"

What is the biggest misunderstanding about you?
That I sleep with every model!!!

Who have been some of your main influences as an artist and a person?
As a photographer - Avedon
As a person - My father

What are your immediate plans for the future?
I am finishing my new gallery at 663 Lincoln Road South Beach FL USA. My gallery will have not only my art in color and black and white but also a full gift shop of creative items with images printed on them. So if you want art for your wall or a lamp for your table I will have it. Until the gallery is finished you can see and buy the work at howardaustinfeld.com or call me at 305-888-9999.