Where did you grow up and do you think your home life has any reflection on the art and photographs you have created?
I was brought up in a very conservative Catholic family that was very liberal at the same time and I was given great freedoms to do what I wanted. I spent the summers in Wildwood, NJ where I hung out with skaters, surfers and punks on the boardwalk. I suppose my greatest influence as a kid was skateboarding and being around goofy fun people.

When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?
I don't know if I ever thought about that. I suppose I just wanted to be an artistic jack of all trades.

When did you become interested in photography?
I started shooting photos with an old 110 camera with a peephole from a door stuck in it to make a fisheye lens. I used to shoot photos of my train sets when I was about 8 but I really got into it when I was around 15.

Did you have any formal training with photography?
I worked in a one hour photo lab. It was the best thing ever. Shooting skateboarding was really hard and taught me a lot but I also went to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and majored in photography.

What's your favorite photo project you've done?
Everything I do is so different that it's hard to say. I love photographing artists in their studios though.

What do you think initiated your obsession with the ocean and making the octopus chandeliers?
Growing up next to the sea.

Do you shoot more digital or film?
I'm not interested in technical things and film was annoying to me, once I started shooting digital, it totally got me excited to keep shooting and to shoot so much more.

How long did it take you to put together your book?/What made you want to do a book?
I was asked by my friend, Roger Gastman, why I don't have a book so I said “I dunno, wanna do one?” We worked on it for about 6 months. It was kinda easy because there was no theme, just a bunch of random photos mixed in a flow.

I see you've photographed a lot of artists and musicians, who was your favorite to photograph?
I don't have a favorite because it was supposed to be Lux Interior from the Cramps and he just passed away.

Do you consider photography your "career"?
It used to be but my chandeliers are taking over now. My career is being an artistic jack of all trades, just as I hoped it would be.

What do you want to shoot that you haven't yet?
A Sperm whale battling a Giant Squid.

Who are some of your favorite photographers?
I can't say I have a favorite, I collect art books but not photo books. I just don't think about it much.

What do you shoot with?
I use a Panasonic Lumix point and shoot and a Canon 5d right now.

What has been your favorite exhibition yet?
I really loved the Kustom Kulture show that was at the Maryland Institute of Art, in 1993. It was just so inspiring to me when I was younger. Recently, it was Banksy's Village Pet Shop in NYC October 2008.

Do you think you'll make another book?
I'd like to do a book just of artists and studio spaces.

What are you working on right now?
I have to shoot a self portrait for something but in general, I've been shooting local bands and shooting friends at the FDR skatepark for fun.