Sacrifice for it: Interview with Tod Seelie

Tod Seelie has photographed in fifteen countries on five different continents. His work has appeared in publications such as Rolling Stone, The NY Times, New York Magazine, Spin, Men's Journal, Marie Claire, Jane, Vice, i-D, Paper, XXL, Parade Magazine and Hamburger Eyes among others.

Select clients include Fat Wreck Chords, Jagjaguwar Records, Secretly Canadian Records, Deitch Projects, Flavorpill, Workman Publishing, as well as fashion/streetwear labels Rogan, Loomstate, Anon Optics and Carrot Clothing.

Tod has exhibited work in solo and group shows in New York, Berlin, Tokyo, Paris, Sydney, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Cleveland, Miami and at Mass MoCA. His work has also appeared in various photography books, such as The Vice Photo Book, Street World, Backyard Shakedown, Hijacked, and Various Photographs curated by Tim Barber.

Tod, for our readers that aren't as familiar with your work, can you please introduce yourself?

I was born and raised in the mid-America city of Cleveland, Ohio. I moved to Brooklyn in the late 90s to study sculpture, but switched to photography near the end of college and haven't looked back since.

What is your weapon of choice when to it comes to photography?

I usually shoot with either a Hasselblad or a Canon 5D.

What are your thoughts on post-processing photographs?

It's not for me. I will lighten shadows, or adjust color sometimes, but I'm a pretty straight shooter. I don't typically do anything to a photo that you couldn't do in a dark room. There have been assignments where the nature of the photo required some post-processing assemblage, but those are unique cases. I think that digital manipulation has given birth to a new type of artist similar to a collage artist... but I would consider that to be different than the description of a photographer.

Have you ever experimented with film? Or is your work strictly digital?

I learned to shoot on film and continue to use medium format film. Up until I graduated from college, digital photography was too unrefined to be considered for serious shooters. So it wasn't until I was finished studying photography that I ever picked up a digital camera.

Is there any special projects (beside collab with Carrot and lookbook) your working on at the moment?

I am focusing on two projects this summer. One is a trip I am doing with my friend and artist SWOON. Along with about 30 other artists we are building junk rafts to travel the Adriatic Sea to Venice. The other project is a two month bike trip through Indonesia and Japan with some friends from the Black Label Bicycle Club who tour on tall bikes.

Thanks for the time. Any closing words or suggestions for aspiring photographers?

Do what you love and be prepared to sacrifice for it. And never underestimate the value of your friends.