Exclusive Interview: Every Second Counts Photo Contest Winner Dylan Hollingsworth
- Author: Faith-Ann Young
- Posted on: Tuesday November 1, 2011 at 11:00 AM
- Filed under: justin timberlake, talenthouse, dylan hollingsworth
(Photo Credit: Andrew Williams)
Before the film In Time opened in theaters, we announced the winner of the Every Second Counts Photography Contest - Dylan Hollingsworth and his award-winning photo "Of Human Bondage." Today, we are honored to share his unique story with you. Born outside of Dallas, in a town called Kaufman, Dylan first picked up the camera only four years ago - but you'd never know from the breadth and depth of his stunning portfolio. After battling addiction for years, he's chosen to use his art as a tool to accomplish a greater good - making other peoples' plights known via photography. Read his story below. And for more information on the other winners or the contest itself, go to Talenthouse's website.
JT.com: How did you choose your photo?
Dylan: Because it is memorable and seems to evoke feeling in people. I feel like this is one of my stronger conceptual efforts and that it has the ability to make a person stop and think.
JT.com: Where was it shot?
Dylan: The photograph was shot on a blustery, overcast day in an abandoned field in industrial South Dallas. The model is a dear friend who i have shot with quite a few times. I don't think that either one of us wanted to shoot that day and were skeptical as to whether the idea would translate properly but we went for it anyway. Getting the ladder to stand up was the most difficult part of the shoot and once we finally accomplished that, we could tell we were on to something.
Dylan's winning photo, Of Human Bondage (above)
JT.com: What is the meaning behind the photo?
Dylan: It implies that if we aren't free and making progress, then we are misspending valuable time. I've come to believe that and I try to live my life accordingly. The idea had come from waking up at 3am a few nights earlier and I stayed awake for a bit figuring out how to relay the message and also shoot something that was visually strong. Sometimes it works and I'm glad it did in this case.
JT.com: Where did you grow up?
Dylan: I grew up in a rural town called Kaufman outside of Dallas. Though i live near downtown Dallas now and have mostly been a city dweller the last 20 years, my heart is out there and I return every chance I get.
JT.com: When did you start shooting?
Dylan: I first held a camera 4 years ago. It wasn't something I planned or had even considered before. My friend Hal Samples introduced me to the camera and quickly showed me it could be a tool to tell stories worth telling. He focuses on social conscience work and projects that humanize the homeless and he took me along for the ride - encouraging me, teaching me and empowering me to pursue it along with him. I abandoned myself to it and within about a year, i knew that i would be doing this for the rest of my life.
JT.com: What did you do before shooting?
Dylan: Prior to finding the camera, I went through a pretty intense bout with addiction and all of the struggle that entails. Having escaped that 7 years ago, i have a strong sense of gratitude to just be here, a deeper appreciation for life and it's people and a sense of urgency about how I will spend the rest of my days and what I will contribute to life while I have the opportunity. The camera allows me to do that and hopefully some of my work removes the lines that divide us and reminds people that life is indeed good and should be lived to it's fullest.
JT.com: Wow. Do you continue to do community service today?
Dylan: I still work extensively with people struggling with alcoholism and addiction, but in the last year my efforts have broadened to include other in need as well. In the winter, I share photographs of local homeless friends on my blog and Facebook and invite people to bring clothes, sleeping bags and basic necessities like that to my house, which my oldest daughter and I then distribute on the streets.
I also am currently working on a project to help a young boy i met while on assignment in Nicaragua receive a surgery that he will need if he is to survive. A really cool story and definitely worth checking out.
A lot of people want to help but aren't sure how to go about it and once they have have a story and imagery highlighting a problem in front of them, then they can then direct their kindness towards it. I hope to continue doing things like this and it is definitely time well spent.
JT.com: Do you have anything else you'd like to say to our readers?
Dylan: There are a lot of details about life that I have yet to figure out but here are a few i am clear on. I am here to be of maximum service to those around me and my gifts are to be shared, to raise my daughters well and teach them how to give and receive love and to continue shooting all i can and pump it in to the world to show people life from another perspective. When i get up in the morning and do these three things with sincerity, everything else seems to work out. I don't know where it will lead me but I'm definitely enjoying the ride.
(Photos courtesy of Dylan Hollingsworth)
Visit Dylan's website for more information
For more info on the other winners, check out Talenthouse's Every Second Counts Contest Page. Special thanks to Talenthouse and In Time for making this happen! And remember to go see the fllm!!!
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