Photographer David Corio
Photographer David Corio has been snapping his shutter for the likes of NME, The Face and the New York Times for 25 years. His latest exhibition is being held in Dusty, a store run by a fan in Mongkok. He gives Alexandra Carroll tips on how to shoot a celebrity and explains why black musicians are more fun.
HK Magazine: You started as a photographer when you were really young – how did you get into it?
David Corio: I took my first shots at 15 or 16. I went to college from 16 to18 and then went freelance straight after that. I was just glad to get out of school at the earliest opportunity. I thought – what can I do that I like doing and that can still earn me some money? And it was great – I could get into shows for free and meet all my music heroes.
HK: And was black music always the thing for you?
DC: At the age of 13-14, trying to play guitar (badly), I got into blues - simple 12-bar blues on the guitar – and it really started there. Then I got into jazz and funk stuff and there’s always been a lot of reggae in England so I’d hear it on the radio quite a bit anyway, and it feeds in. I shoot all sorts of musicians but a lot of the black musicians seem to have more character in their faces, that’s what I think anyway; they’ve had a tougher life or whatever.
HK: You’ve done this a long time – what’s the best freebie you've gotten?
DC: Music has always been good for getting into concerts for free. The best freebie, though, was when I photographed this little old reggae band called the Jolly Boys in Jamaica. It was sponsored by the British Council, so we were flown out for two weeks, stayed in the top hotel and everything was laid on. Then I did the photos in like 20 minutes. They used to have those sort of things a lot more but I think people have been cutting back on how much they’re going to pay for that sort of thing.
HK: Has the industry changed a lot for you?
DC: Yeah, definitely. At concerts now you usually only get three or four songs to take your picture and then you get thrown out. You used to be able to photograph the whole show – you usually capture musicians at their best near the end of the show after they’ve warmed up. Like Prince; the last time I photographed him they allowed me to see the first verse and chorus of the first song during the soundcheck – that was it. And no flash. What are you going to get out of that? I put the flash on my camera and took one shot and the bouncer hoiked me out of there. But at least I got one good picture. It’s almost a game: You try to get a picture and they try to make it as hard as possible for you.
HK: Your last book was “Stones” – as in Mick and Keith?
DC: No, I did that book with my wife on prehistoric stones. I’m interested in history and it was really nice to do. While musicians often show up three hours late, at least you know the stones are going to be there – they ain’t moving too far.