29-year-old photographer Jason Davis interviews his son, 4-year-old photographer Tristan Davis.
Tristan Davis is not a typical photographer. Only 4, Tristan has been shooting with various cameras for more than half of his life. It is a hobby he shares with his father, and one he plans to pursue when he “gets bigger.”
When asked about his photography, Tristan recounts his last “fifty weeks,” and says that his favorite camera is “lots of film cameras and regular cameras—like my Mickey Mouse one. I pretty much like them all.”
Like most photographers, Tristan enjoys taking pictures of everyday life—the stuff we see often and don’t think twice about, “like old buildings and houses and plants.” His forty-inch perspective on the world is fascinating, in that it is not a creation or embellishment of an eye that wishes to see more than what is real. His work captures the world as it is presented to a 4-year-old, as if it were no different than what is presented to a 40-year-old—a stripped down, 1:10 scale version, with ten times the soul and none of the filler.
When asked about his inspiration and specific training, Tristan said that no one taught him. “I just learned how to take pictures.” He responds as though it is remarkable that others his age are not doing the same. When other kids are playing video games, Tristan spends his time reading and playing with toy cars. In fact, he has many digital pictures of his cars—and his dogs, and shoes, and family, too.
His next project, he says, will be about hiking.
“I want to take pictures up in Mammoth in the summer. Hiking and lots of old buildings in the summer that we haven’t seen. That’s pretty much all I know.”
All he knows is a pretty good start.
“Once I get bigger,” he says, “I’m going to still be a photographer. I’m going to have lots of cameras when I get bigger.”
Just like his dad.
[Below are some of Tristan’s latest photos, taken with a 1960s Kodak Instamatic camera his dad bought him for $5. Captions by the artist himself.]
Jason, This is wonderful – whimsical, refreshing and wonderful! I’ve thought your little guy has a talent for big things for as long as you’ve written about/photographed him. When you stick a copy of this in your professional file you might just think about starting one for him too 🙂
re: squirtsdad:
This might be a little too nice for a three year old, but it would be nigh indestructible:
http://www.adorama.com/IFJFPZ33WPGR.html?emailprice=t&utm_source=rflaid21866&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Other&utm_term=Other
SquirtsDad, The Mickey camera that Tristan speaks of is a Disney Digital that I bought at Target for $50. However, a simple digital point and shoot camera would work as well. Any of the Nikon and Canon offerings are good, too. But if it’s just for the kid, my recommendation is for you to log into shopgoodwill.com and browse the digital cameras on cheap. Like eBay, you get what you pay for and run the risk of a camera arriving DOA, but in my experiences, this hasn’t happened. If the camera is for you, then buy an “SLR” in your… Read more »
Awesome post. I love the photos and captions. Photography is also a passion of mine but one I do not practice–I don’t own a camera and rarely snap pictures. But, you’ve inspired me and I would also like to get my son hooked on it, he is three years old. Do you have any recommendations for a good camera for him?
Love the tone of the piece, the flashes of humor. Must be interesting to write about yourself in the third person. Pretty cool that your kid has a film camera.
Beautiful photos – I especially love the one of Evelyn. I would say Tristan is going to make a great photographer one day, but he already is a great photographer.
I love this article. Awesome stuff seriously, for a man who has pissed in both the Tigris and Euphrates who can produce a 4yr old photographer from his seed, I say kudos my neighbor, my friend.